Page 80 of Going Overboard

‘Pretty sure her kneecaps were unscathed,’ I add. ‘But yeah, that.’

‘And don’t forget you snoring the night away in my bath before stealing my tracksuit,’ he continues.

My God, he’s unrelenting – and impossibly charming.

‘I didn’t steal it!’

‘You didn’t give it back,’ he reminds me.

‘Didn’t I?’ I say as innocently as I can, although I think my smirk gives me away.

‘No, you didn’t,’ he replies, his hands shifting closer to the small of my back as we dance together.

‘Okay, yeah, fine, I know I didn’t,’ I admit. ‘I actually have it here with me – it’s just so comfortable. But when I realised you were here I thought it best I didn’t get it out, just in case you asked for it back.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ve got loads,’ he replies with a smile. ‘Would you rather have a fresh one?’

I shake my head.

‘There’s just something about stealing a man’s clothes,’ I confess. ‘They’re so much comfier when they feel a little worn in, when they still smell of aftershave.’

He narrows his eyes and cocks his head.

‘Jessa, have you been sniffing my drawers?’ he asks.

‘Mostly the top,’ I insist. ‘Whatever it is you wear… it smells really good.’

‘I didn’t think I’d worn any aftershave with those,’ he says.

‘Hmm,’ I reply. ‘Maybe they just smell like you.’

‘Come on then, give me a sniff, see what you think,’ he demands. ‘Because now you’ve got me thinking that I might actually be intoxicating, which I could get on board with. Imagine the power.’

‘Okay, I’ll give it a go, but don’t be disappointed if your powers don’t work on me,’ I reply. ‘It could just be your washing powder.’

‘There’s only one way to find out,’ he says, practically goading me.

We’re still over by the pool, away from the others, like we’re in our own little world. Brody’s invitation to get even closer to him is one I can’t turn down.

My nose brushes the skin just under his ear, and, yeah, he really does smell good. I don’t know if it’s just his smell or his aftershave or both but it sends my senses into overdrive.

My face lingers there longer than it should, my nose nuzzling into his neck like it has a mind of its own. His skin is warm and smooth, and I feel him shift, like he’s leaning in to me too, like we’re magnetised.

His arm tightens slightly around my waist so I press my body closer to his. I feel like his heartbeat just got much stronger, and faster, or maybe it’s my own beating out of my chest but the moment is dragging me in, refusing to let go, and I’ve never felt so alive.

I pull back ever so slightly, just enough to look at him. We catch each other’s eyes, and there’s something undeniable between us, something unspoken but loud and clear, it’s that perfect moment, the one where you both know you should kiss. We lean in so slowly it’s like an especially delicious kind of torture and…

I don’t know if we do actually kiss or if I just imagine it, but suddenly I’m gasping for air. Not because it was that good (although I’m certain it would have been), because I’m in the pool, fully clothed, flapping around like a fish out of water (ironically) as I struggle to my feet. Luckily it’s not deep, it’s the kids’ pool, but I’m even more relieved that it’s not too shallow because we could have been seriously hurt.

Brody is in the water next to me. He wipes it from his eyes and runs his hands through his hair to stop it dripping in his face.

I only have to wonder what the hell just happened for a second when I spot her, Nikki, standing at the edge of the pool, staring angrily down at us.

‘Oh my God,’ Kelsey says, rushing over. ‘Nikki, that’s not okay at all.’

Al, ever the hero, gets into the pool to make sure we’re okay. It’s not deep, we’re clearly fine, but that’s Al – a well-meaning hero.

After checking us over, he looks back at Nikki.

---