Page 15 of Freestyle
I arch an eyebrow, trying to suppress a smile. “So, you’re saying I should be grateful for your disruptive antics?”
“Exactly,”he murmurs, his voice dropping to a low, intimate tone. “It’s my way of reminding you that a little danger and unpredictability can make life a lot more thrilling.”
I smirk, raising an eyebrow. “And here I thought you just wanted an excuse to show off those abs.”
“Like what you see?” he questions, raising his eyebrow.
I roll my eyes, trying to hide the blush creeping up my cheeks. “Meh, I’ve seen better,” I lie.
“Oh, little liar, you’ll have to do better than that.” Gray’s grin widens as he takes the Kindle out of my hand and plops it on the chair next to me. Before I can react, he grabs me and, with a playful laugh, throws me into the pool.
I gasp as I hit the cool water, the shock of it taking my breath away. When I resurface, I see Gray standing at the edge of the pool, laughing.
I glare at him, my anger bubbling up. “Gray, what the hell?” I shout, splashing water at him with force.
He just laughs harder, clearly enjoying my frustration. “Come on, it’s just a bit of fun. Lighten up, sunshine.”
I swim closer, my heart racing, not just from the cold water but from the thrill of being so close to him. “You think this is funny?” I ask, trying to sound serious but failing miserably as a smile creeps onto my face.
“Absolutely,” he replies, his laughter infectious. “You should see your face!”
“Yeah? Well, you’re going to pay for this,” I say, my competitive spirit igniting.
“Oh really? And how do you plan to do that?” he challenges, leaning against the railing at the pool’s edge, his arms crossed, water still dripping from his body.
I smirk, plotting my revenge. “Just you wait.”
With a sudden burst of energy I swim towards him, my hands ready to grab his ankles and pull him in. But he’s quicker, jumping back just in time, his laughter ringing in my ears.
“Nice try!” he taunts, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Okay, you asked for it!” I shout, launching myself out of the water and grabbing the edge of the pool, pulling myself up. I’m determined to get him back.
As I stand dripping in front of him, I can’t help but admire the way the sunlight catches the droplets on his skin, the way his muscles flex as he moves. My heart races, not just from the playful rivalry but from the undeniable chemistry between us.
“Row, you’re not quick eno—” he starts, but I’m already lunging at him, and before he can react, I push him back into the pool.
He splashes into the water, his expression a mix of surprise and delight. “Okay, now it’s on!” he declares.
I jump back in and we spend the next few minutes splashing and laughing, the tension between us shifting from playful to something deeper. Each splash feels like a spark, igniting the air around us.
Finally, we both pause, breathless, our laughter fading into a comfortable silence. I look into his eyes, and for a moment, the world around us disappears. Despite my best efforts to keep my distance, I feel myself being drawn to him again, and the conflict within me grows even stronger.
Before I can let myself fall any deeper into his web, I make a sudden move, jumping out of the water and over the edge of the pool. My muscles protest, but the adrenaline coursing through me dulls the ache. I stand there, water dripping from me, and face Gray with a determined expression.
Gray’s eyes widen in surprise, but a mischievous grin quickly replaces his initial shock. “Wow, I didn’t know you had that in you,” he teases, his voice low and playful.
I don’t respond, my resolve unwavering. Instead, I grab my Kindle from the chair and make a beeline for the house. “See you around, Gray,” I call over my shoulder, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Row,wait!” he shouts, but I don’t look back. My heart is pounding, and I know that if I stay any longer, I’ll be tempted to give in to the magnetic pull between us.
I reach the door and throw it open, the cool air inside a stark contrast to the sun-warmed pool area. I slam the door behind me and lean against it, my breath coming in short, rapid pants. I can still hear Gray’s voice calling out to me, but I force myself to focus on the sound of my own heartbeat, trying to steady my racing thoughts.
As I stand there, water dripping onto the floor, I can’t help but replay the events in my mind. The way he looked at me, the playful banter, the undeniable chemistry—it’s all too much. Gray is a player, and I can’t afford to let my guard down, not when I know how easily he can break hearts.
Clutching my Kindle to my chest, I make my way to my room, determined to put some distance between us. I need to remind myself why I’m doing this, to protect myself from getting hurt. But even as I try to convince myself, I can’t shake the lingering feeling of longing, the thrill of being near him.
Once I’m safely inside my room, I collapse onto my bed, the events of the day replaying in my mind. I close my eyes, hoping to find some solace in the familiar comfort of my room but Gray’s image is etched in my thoughts, and I know thatstaying away from him is going to be harder than I ever imagined.
