Chapter 29
Tenny
Alex pushes me out of the waves thirty minutes later, laughing so hard she’s making little squeaky sounds.
True to my word, I haven’t let go of her.
Though I’d initially made that decision for noble reasons, I have to admit, it’s the smartest choice I’ve ever made.
Having Alex’s glove-clad fingers in mine, my arm around her waist, or my personal favorite, picking her up to hold her over the crashing water, is dangerously addictive.
As our boots squelch with each step toward my backyard, I casually loop my arm around her shoulders. When Alex doesn’t argue or shrug out of my grip, I cheer internally.
“I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun without a board,” Alex says, tilting her face up to grin at me.
I tsk. “People giving up the joy of jumping through waves is one of the world’s greatest travesties.”
I decided the best way to keep Alex from panicking was to keep our cold-water swim fun.
Rather than just wade into the churning water, we jumped waves like kids.
It didn’t take long for Alex’s competitive streak to kick in.
Before long, we were throwing ourselves into the larger waves while splashing the other person. The whole time, I never let her go.
“Really? The greatest travesty? Not famine or wars?”
“Nope. It’s the loss of childlike wonder. Hands down.”
Alex shakes her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously correct.”
I hold open the little gate that separates my property from the dune cut-through and guide us through as if Alex is now as essential to me as my first baseman’s glove.
“You’re going to have to let go of me eventually,” she says through a giggle.
“Do I?” I squish up my face, pulling another laugh out of her.
“You do if you ever want to get your wetsuit off.”
We both pulled our hoods off on the beach, which in itself wasn’t an easy task. Everything else is still firmly intact.
I groan. “It was such an ordeal to get this thing on. I think I’ll just live in this suit. It’ll be a nice base layer under my uniform.”
Alex chuckles as she tugs me beyond the pool area where there’s an enclosed outdoor shower. “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s a lot easier to get off than on.”
Letting go of me, Alex slips into the stall to turn on the water. Thanks to the impressive water heater that came with his house, it only takes a second before steam billows.
“Come on,” she says, pinching the wrist of her left glove so the shower water seeps into it. “The water will break the seal.”
I step into the snug space as the door clicks shut behind me.
“Then just roll it back.”
When I copy her instructions and my right glove comes off easily, a delighted sound escapes me.
“Told you,” Alex says through a smile. “Warm water makes the neoprene softer.”
Once both our gloves are off, she leans against the side of the shower stall. “Boots next. Same idea. Let the water soak them then roll them off, inside-out, like peeling a banana.”
I lean against the opposite side, pulling my boots off as easily.
“Now get under the water.” Her palms push me back into the steady stream of warmth, tiny droplets wetting her cheeks.
Water sluices down my neck and over my body, but the only thing I can feel is Alex’s nimble fingers sliding up my chest. Her mouth parts slightly as her fingertips slide beneath my collar, running the length on both sides until they meet at the nape of my neck.
“That, um…” When Alex tucks her bottom lip between her teeth, I nearly groan. “That should break the seal. You just need to grab the pull cord to unzip the top half.”
I don’t move. I’ve been given my instructions, but I’m too distracted by the sensation of Alex’s twitchy fingers at my nape. The way the water pulls her eyelashes into perfect glittery points is entirely too enchanting for me to do anything but stare, enamored.
“Thank you.” I hear the harsh scrape of my voice but can’t seem to care.
“You’re welcome,” she says, gaze trained on my Adam’s apple. “It should come off easily now.”
My shaking head sends water droplets careening over Alex’s suit, but she doesn’t flinch.
“No. For letting me take care of you out there.” I swallow against the swell in my chest, trying to rein my emotions in. “I know you’re incredibly capable and strong, but—” A sigh escapes me as my forehead drops to hover above hers. “I really like taking care of you.”
When Alex’s fingers still on my neck, a shock of cold runs down my legs. My hands flex at my sides, but I don’t touch her. Clearly, I’ve said the wrong thing, even though I’ve only told her the truth.
I want to take care of Alex in every way I can think of—from helping her get back to the sport she loves, to feeding her at every opportunity, to fixing things in her apartment.
Even tiny things, like flipping her press badge so her grin is facing outward or letting her know a hair is out of place before the camera rolls brings me immense joy.
The thing that presses a red-hot poker into my ribs is that taking care of her is just the beginning.
I want to spend every second I’m not on the field with Alex.
I want her to laugh at me—with me—I don’t really care just as long as I get to be with her.
I want to hear all her stories and tell her mine.
I want more than an “intentionally transactional professional relationship” or even a friendship.
I want to love her, because I realized as freezing salt spray soaked us that I already do. I love Alex Stevens—whole-heartedly, fervently…hopelessly.
But obviously, I’m the only one feeling this way.
Closing my eyes with a defeated exhale, I move to step back.
Only…I can’t.
Alex’s hands splay over the tops of my shoulders, keeping me in place.
“Wait,” she whispers.
The pads of her fingertips press into my suit, but she doesn’t say anything else, almost as if she’s warring with herself. Her lashes flutter, but she doesn’t raise her gaze. A tight pinch settles between her golden brows, and I’m certain she’ll push me away.
But then Alex raises her chin, her warm brown eyes locking on mine as she leans in to kiss me.