Page 72 of Through You
He’s talking nonstop about a personal issue on the other end of the line, and I give him monosyllabic answers. I can tell he needs to vent, so I let him take over the conversation. All the while, I head down to the first floor and make my way through the sliding doors that lead to the pool. The place looks empty at first glance.
And then I notice someone sitting on the edge with their feet dangling in the water. It’s Claudia. Alex keeps unloading on the phone.
Meanwhile, I can’t keep my eyes off the redhead who has occupied my thoughts ever since she was a smart-mouthed child.
Claudia is wearing a plain floral beach dress in a shade of red that matches her hair, which is gathered in a high bun. A few unruly strands that have come loose lightly touch her skin. The warm tone makes a nice contrast with the suntan from time spent at the beach these past days. She appears absentminded, and is moving her feet back and forth in the water.
What’s going through your head, dummy?
Ever since she was a girl, she’d get so irked if I called her dummy.
I say good-bye to Alex and leave my cell phone on a lounge chair. I make my way in her direction, stopping by her side. She appears a little uneasy when she looks up at me, so I give her a friendly smile.
She turns her gaze back to the water. “Hello.”
“Do you mind if I join you?”
“No.”
I sit down next to her but make sure to leave some space. I’m fully aware there’s still tension between us, maybe even more after my confession that I wasn’t lying when I told her I didn’t have a girlfriend. Unfortunately, what I feared most happened, and I ended up confusing her even more by failing to explain the true nature of the arrangement between me and Cristina.
The pool lighting illuminates the water, which in turn shines brightly in her eyes, giving them a lovely glow. This reminds me of the night that Fourth of July, of how the fireworks reflected in her eyes the same way. A part of me has always wanted to ask her why she rejected me. I’d been sure the attraction and feelings I felt went both ways—until that night. Obviously, I’d misread the signals when I made my move.
I don’t ask her about it. I’d rather not know if she didn’t reciprocate the feelings I had.
But I do need to break the silence lingering between us. “Are you still good at holding your breath underwater?”
She twists her mouth, making an expression that’s hard to read. Annoyance, perhaps? “I’m still better than you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I’ve improved a lot.”
“Your lungs are weak.”
“Wow. No mercy.”
“You don’t deserve it.”
I nod. “You’re right. But I really have improved.”
She lets out a chuckle, mocking me.
“What? You don’t believe me?”
She folds her arms over her chest. “Prove it.”
“How?”
She tilts her head, indicating the pool.
“Right now?”
“What’s the matter? Afraid you’re going to lose again?”
“Fine.” I pull my shirt over my head, making Claudia blush and look away. My lips turn up in a cocky smirk. I can tell she’s attracted to me, even though she won’t admit it. I get into the water, which comes up to my waist since we’re at the shallow end.
There’s a trace of mischief in her eyes as she watches.
“You have to swim from one end to the other and give me two laps, keeping underwater without coming up for air.”
