Chapter 17
ALLY
Is there anything better than laying out by the pool on a hot day?
Not at least that I can do without a long drive, a flight, and money that I shouldn’t be spending because I’m sure we all dream of being on a vacation sometimes.
I mean, I guess I could be getting a massage on some tropical island, but this feels pretty perfect as is. Lucas and I have been relaxing today and are currently laying out in the sun, each with a book in hand and some delicious fresh lemonade and chopped fruit at our disposal.
It’s basically heaven on earth.
Lucas has moved on to the ocean seek-and-find book and has been finding different things for the last thirty minutes, giggling every time he finds one.
Glancing down, I see my phone lighting up, a message popping up with Cooper’s name, and I immediately feel…giddy? Are these…butterflies?
What the heck is happening to me.
Cooper: Hey How are you guys doing?
Me: *Image of legs by pool*
Me: Laying out by the pool—it’s incredible.
Cooper:
Cooper: I’m jealous.
Me: How’s the ice box treating us?
Cooper: Just fine, thank you very much
Cooper: Coach kicked our ass so bad it’s impossible to feel the cold.
Cooper: It might be impossible to feel anything.
Me: Did you guys deserve it?
Cooper: No comment.
Cooper: Would you guys want a milkshake?
I’m almost offended he’s even asking.
Me: Cooper, it’s far too early in the day for stupid questions.
Cooper: Someone feisty today, Ally Cat?
Me: …
Cooper: Noted
The way my stomach drops should be a crime. Hell, the excitement I get from a single damn winky face should be too. All it does is prove just how much this man has me wrapped around his finger. And I couldn’t even tell you when it started—or how I’m supposed to make it stop.
If I’m honest, I’m not sure if any part of me even wants it to stop. My body? Absolutely not. My brain and my heart are busy throwing punches at each other, but I’m tempted to let them duke it out while I see what happens if I give in to the tension.
But first—ice cream.
Me: Chocolate malt, please and thank you.
Cooper:
I shoot that last message and then set my phone back down next to me, making sure to turn the music back on before Lucas glares at me again, all joking of course, but he’s really enjoying having a “reading soundtrack” in the background for his relaxation time.
When we came out here this afternoon, the first thing we did was get the pool set up and our seats ready—then we jumped in and played Marco Polo for half an hour until we were both ready to get out and relax. It’s been the most perfect afternoon.
“Miss Ally,” Lucas says over a bite of watermelon, “what’s your favorite food?”
“Oooh, that’s a hard one,” I tell him, replacing my bookmark and setting my book down. “I love most foods, so it’s usually hard for me to pick a favorite, but I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a good taco!”
“I love tacos too! But usually, I just eat the shell with the melty cheese inside of it. They’re DELICIOUS…what are those things called again?”
“Quesadillas?” I ask with a giggle, and his eyes widen.
“That’s the one! My daddy says they need more flavor, but I think they’re perfect,” Lucas says.
“I agree with you. Not much beats a perfectly toasted quesadilla when you’re feeling hungry.”
“Can we have quesadillas for lunch one day?”
“Absolutely, bud! Do you wanna go swimming one more time before your dad gets back?”
He jumps up excitedly. “More Marco Polo? Yes, please!”
We splash around in the pool for the next hour, taking turns picking the music and having a dance party.
It’s so much fun that neither of us notice Cooper until he’s already laying on the lounge chair next to ours, watching us with a goofy smile on his face and three milkshakes, one half gone, sitting on the table next to him.
How much of my silly dancing did he just watch? Fuck meeee.
“Hi,” I say awkwardly as I swim to the edge of the pool while Lucas swims the other direction to the stairs in the shallow end and then immediately runs to his dad.
“Hi,” he says right as Lucas flies like Superman onto the chair with his dad. “Hi, bud, did you miss me or something?” Cooper asks as he messes Lucas’s hair up.
They’re so fucking cute.
“Yeah, and I wanted to come get you so that we can go in the pool together. Miss Ally taught me a fun game I want you to play.”
“Oh yeah? What game is that?” Cooper asks Lucas, but his eyes are now on me like we’re having a silent conversation—just the two of us.
I have no idea what he’s trying to tell me.
The only thing I know is that, right now, I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.
To the point that it’s almost terrifying, like I keep waiting for something bad to happen, for me to find out some terrible secret or for everything to fall apart.
And yet, I find myself having the biggest crush on him and an insane attraction that I can’t help wanting to pursue.
“Marco Polo! It’s so much fun. But you have to close your eyes, Daddy. No cheating or you get splashed!” Lucas says excitedly.
“Who made those rules up?” Cooper asks, and Lucas just points at me.
“Hey, no cheating!” I say with a laugh.
“How are you both feeling?” Cooper asks, because apparently having the flu, or whatever the hell that was, constitutes daily check-ins for at least seven to ten business days to ensure full recovery. At least that’s how he’s making it seem.
“Totally fine,” I tell him truthfully.
“Same, Daddy! We were lazy this morning and just read books, but we had energy, so we wanted to play!”
“Good, I’m just glad you guys are feeling better.”
“I am,” Lucas says, right as he yawns—our morning in the sun must be wearing on him a bit.
We did have fun though. He barely naps since I started here, unless you count when he wasn’t feeling well, but the heat affects us all differently, and I can only imagine it can be rough on a little body like his.
“Can we have people over and have a pool party tonight?” Lucas asks Cooper, immediately moving again, probably afraid he’ll fall asleep as he gives Cooper the best puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen.
Good thing I’m not on the receiving end of that because my answer couldn’t possibly be anything other than absolutely yes if those eyes looked my way.
Cooper looks over at me with a curious glare, and I just nod because why the hell not.
“Sure bud,” Cooper says, and Lucas’s whole face lights up over such a simple pleasure and it’s…refreshing. It makes me overly excited about a pool day too.
“Really?!” Lucas says as he fist pumps the air as he yawns yet again but quickly recovers, moving on to do a little dance that has us laughing. “Woohoo! Oh yeah, oh yeah!”
When Lucas stops his dance, he asks Cooper, “Will you call everyone? I want them to come have a pool day too.”
Cooper laughs. “Oh, you want that kind of pool day. I’ll send them all a text and see what they say, but if you want me to do that, you have to make me a deal.”
“What’s that, Daddy?”
“You’ve gotta take a little nap. I know you’re a big boy and big boys don’t nap, but if we’re going to be out in the sun swimming for this much of the day, I’d really think your body needs a little rest.”
Cooper says it so calmly, but I’m still sure Lucas is going to argue, so I’m stoked when he agrees with a smile.
“Miss Ally, will you take me up and tuck me in?” Lucas asks, and I find myself searching for Cooper’s eyes, not wanting to cross a line, but instead he’s smiling as he watches us, nodding his approval.
Why do I feel like I just passed another test?
“Let’s go, bud,” I tell him, grabbing the half-melted milkshakes so I can put them in the freezer before Lucas and I head upstairs. “The sooner you nap, the sooner it’s pool time!”
“Ugh, fine, but do I have to take a long nap?” Lucas starts to whine as we walk inside.
“Long enough that you actually get some rest, okay?” I tell him as we head inside.
“Fine, but can we at least have s’mores later?”
“I’ll ask your dad,” I promise him.
“And my milkshake!” he adds, reminding me of the frozen goodness I set on the counter.
Sneaking out of his room once he’s finally asleep, I head back down to the kitchen, putting the milkshakes away in the freezer before grabbing a lemonade.
I stand in the kitchen and look out to where I left Cooper, but instead, I find him in the pool, swimming laps.
He’s so fit it’s literally unfair. Every muscle in his back and shoulders flex as his arms cut cleanly through the water.
Just before reaching the edge, he flips under the surface seamlessly, kicking off and gliding the opposite way like it’s nothing at all.
I swear he’d been a competitive swimmer growing up, because that was flawless.
I don’t even know how long I stood there staring, but it was long enough to drain my lemonade while he finished. By the time I finally forced myself to move, I’d grabbed another lemonade and headed back outside.
Taking a slow, steadying breath, I will myself to relax—trying not to give away that I’m internally freaking the fuck out.
Play it cool, I tell myself…but it’s damn near impossible when he looks like that.