Page 37 of Take Two

“What’s the matter? Don’t want Lettie to see you lose?” My eyes narrow at Colt, and I turn to Charlie.

“Can you take him?” I ask.

“In my sleep,” Charlie says.

“You mean in your dreams,” Colt taunts.

“Crush him,” I whisper. Charlie’s head rolls back, but he grins. “Annihilate him.” I jump off the chaise, stand behind Charlie, and pull off his shirt before I start to massage his shoulders. Colt laughs and dives into the pool before swimming to the shallow end. Everyone congregates around the pool to watch the race. When Charlie stands, I grab his face in both hands.

“You Michael Phelps the fuck out of him, do you hear me?” I whisper so that no one else can hear.

“I didn’t realize Michael Phelps could be used as a verb,” Charlie says.

I ignore that and continue my pep talk. “As of right now, you have the spirit of Simone, Venus, and Serena.”

“Simone Biles? I don’t think she’s five feet tall, darlin’. I need the spirit of someone with long arms.”

“Listen, you can’t lose with them. And I already told you to Michael Phelps the fuck out of him. Go! Crush him!” Hiseyebrows crease, but he laughs all the way to the shallow end of the pool. “I’ll be right here!” I yell from the deep end. I jump in the air like a cheerleader and yell, “Charlie!”

“Queen Vee, aren’t you going to cheer for me?” Colt asks his wife.

“I was a mathlete, not a cheerleader,” she says. “But you better not embarrass me by losing. That’s the only cheer you’ll get out of me.”

Someone I don’t know counts to three, and the four guys start swimming to the other end of the pool. I yell Charlie’s name the entire time, even though he’s probably too focused on swimming to hear me. He’s fast, and his long arms slice through the water. Colt is fast as well, and the two of them are neck and neck. In fact, all four of them are pretty much tied until they get close to the end.

“Come on, Charlie!” I yell. “Remember, their spirit is in you! Be Simone!” I don’t know if he hears me, but he finally passes Colt. I yell his name again and he manages to touch the edge of the pool first. Colt and Alan are almost tied, but it’s Alan who gets second place.

“Yes!” I yell before I jump into the pool without bothering to take off my dress. “Loser!” I yell at Colt before I splash water in his face. Charlie laughs and does the same. I jump in his arms and wrap my legs around him. I throw an arm in the air in victory and turn to kiss his lips repeatedly.

Colt watches us with a scowl on his face.

“Third, Colt? Didn’t I tell you not to embarrass me?” Vickie says. She points at her husband, who wraps his hand around her wrist and pulls her into the pool.

“Lettie gave Charlie a pep talk, and you didn’t give me one,” he says. “You didn’t cheer for me like she did for him. This is on you, darlin’,” Colt says.

“You’re a professional,” Vickie reminds him.

“I’m not a professional swimmer,” he says.

“Well, I infused Charlie with the spirit of Simone, Serena, and Venus,” I tell him.

“You didn’t stand a chance then,” Vickie says.

Colt splashes water at us, and we do it back. The four of us get into a water fight until we tire ourselves out.

“Rematch,” Colt says.

“Nope,” I speak up before Charlie can. “He’s already won. There won’t be a rematch today.”

“Yeah, because you’re scared,” Colt says to his brother.

“Oh, please,” I say. “But you and me, Vickie. Let’s go.”

“Um,” Vickie says.

“No. I’ve seen my Queen Vee swim. I must object.” Vickie splashes water in her husband’s face.

“Anyway, I let Charlie and Alan win,” Colt says.

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