8 Years Ago
“You’re late,” I mumble, standing in my doorway.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting you to live half an hour away…” his voice trails off as he steps inside, staring up at the ceiling.
I’m confused at first about why his jaw hasn’t closed yet, but then I remember: a house like this was always meant for this reaction.
Dad, being dad, insisted the whole family move just on the outskirts, where only the most expensive luxury mansions are. Meaning, this is a whole lot of space for a family that could do with less.
Personally, I think it’s a little showboaty.
Whatever, at least Chase is here now. I was worried he would come during dinner, and that would not have gone over well. No guests during dinnertime. Not like he’d have to worry about that with me. You have to have guests in order to break guest rules.
“Are you thirsty?” I ask, heading to the kitchen before he answers.
“Uh… yeah.” He follows close behind. “Dude, who are you?” Chase asks as the soft lights turn on, and we walk through the corridor into the dimly lit kitchen.
It’s half-past seven, and it’s already beginning to get dark out. By this time, my parents are already in their separate rooms, and my little sister is off with her friends, God knows where. We are more or less alone here.
I scoff, opening the fridge and pouring him a glass of water from our jug.
He watches me in silence until it’s over half full, and I lightly push the glass toward him.
Picking up the glass, his brows furrow as he turns the glass in his hand. “Are there cucumbers and—” he gives it a sniff. “Mint leaves in here?”
Shaking my head, I ask, “Problem?”
“No, I’ve just…” his brows raise as he brings the drink to his lips. “Never had to eat my water before.” I can tell from here that he’s biting off a laugh, which only ticks me off.
I fold my arms across my chest. “Okay, if you’re here to make fun of me—”
Resting the now-empty glass on the countertop, he raises his hands in surrender. “No, no. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”
I scoff. “At what? Surprised my family has money?”
His smile starts to fade. “That you’re talking…I haven’t heard you talk this much before.”
This makes me pause. I’m not sure what to do with that answer.
Feeling uncomfortable all of a sudden, I look away. “Let’s just get this over with. We can do our interview out there,” I mutter, gesturing toward the back deck.
He follows my direction, and soon we’re making our way through the kitchen to the backyard.
Opening the back doors, I hear a small gasp.
“Holy shit…” I hear behind me.
I slide the back door shut once he fully steps out onto the stone patio. It descends naturally into an outdoor kitchen, then a fire pit surrounded by chairs, and, of course, the large swimming pool with a built-in waterfall.
“It’s gorgeous,” Chase breathes, stepping down.
“I can count on my hand how many times I’ve been out here,” I mutter, flopping in one of the white patio loungers. “Are we doing this?” I shake my notebook and pen in my hand.
Chase seems distracted, still walking over to the pool. I watch as he sits at the edge, leaning over to look at his reflection in the water.
“I’ve always wanted a pool…” he mutters to himself.
My brows pinch. His voice sounds sad. I have yet to hear him sound like that…
Clearing my throat, I tap the notebook on my leg a couple of times, hoping to grab his attention.
“I’ve got all the questions already typed out. So, I’m just gonna—”
“Have you ever gone swimming in here?” Chase asks, tilting his head toward me.
My lips part as my eyes look around. What is with this guy?
“Uh, no—yes. I have gone swimming before, just not in this pool.”
“Why not?” He frowns, almost like it personally offends him for some reason.
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
I suck in a breath. “If I answer, will you answer a question of mine?”
A bright smile reflects on his face as he nods, excitedly.
I forcefully set my notebook down beside me. “My dad has a bunch of rules. I guess…” I shake my head, wondering why the hell I’m even admitting to this. “I guess I’d rather not do something if there are too many things I have to be careful to avoid.”
I cringe. Did that even make sense?
Chase studies me for a second. The silence makes me feel embarrassed.
Until he says softly, “That sounds… lame.”
My eyes flick toward him. “What?”
He shrugs. “Living like that.” Then the grin returns. “Sounds like you’re in desperate need of some fun.”
I huff out a breath, which only makes him laugh.
“I’m just saying. It’s a pool. What type of rules could he possibly have? Don’t go swimming after you've just had lunch?” He laughs, throwing his head back.
To my surprise, a smile pulls at my lips.
“No. More things like…must wear swimming shoes. Measure chemicals before and after swimming; no swimming after dark—”
My list is cut off as soon as I see Chase stand up and start stripping off his shirt.
My eyes widen, and I look at the house. My heart beats outside my chest.
“What are you doing?!” I hiss.
A mischievous smirk appears on his lips as he slips out of his sneakers and socks. “Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m doing.”
Frowning, I march over to him. “We’re supposed to be working on the project.” I wiggle the notebook in front of his face, and he promptly grabs it from me.
“And we will—” he throws the notebook on the ground behind me. “Right after we go for a swim.”
I exhale deeply. Sending him my address was such a mistake. I should’ve told him that I’d do the whole project myself. Because now I have a half naked quarterback in my backyard with my parents a few feet away.
My cheeks heat as I see him fumbling with the zipper to his jeans.
“Hey, stop that. If you’re going in, you’re wearing your pants.” I point.
“What?! No way. I have to walk home.” Suddenly, his eyes flick over my shoulder, and I feel all the blood drain from my face.
“Shit, is that your dad?” he whispers.
Snapping my head, I turn to see the back door still closed shut with no sign of my angry father. Relief floods over me.
But that relief is quickly whisked away as soon as I hear a swift whoosh of water, and feel a cool mist hits my arm.
Gasping, I turn back to see Chase’s pants on the ground, and ripples underneath the aqua-lit water’s surface.
This cannot be happening.
I stumble to the edge just in time for him to break the water’s surface. Wiping his hair out of his eyes, he shakes his head, sprinkling my clothes even more.
“Get out of there!” I whisper-shout.
Chase just flicks some water at me, with a smile plastered on his face as he treads water. “Not until you get in.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Come swim with me, and then we’ll do the project.” He kicks himself up until he’s floating on his back, as though we’ve got all the time in the world.
He’s insufferable.
“God, I hate you.” I grit through my teeth.
I’m not too sure what comes over me next.
Maybe it’s the fact that he said he won’t do the project unless I enter.
Maybe it’s the way it seems kind of…nice to get in there.
But, the next thing I know, I’m dipping my fingers in my t-shirt’s neckline and pulling it over my head.
Turning away from him, I face the hedges while I step out of my jeans.
He stops floating on his back, wiping his face to watch me as I creep to the edge. I feel his eyes on me as I gnaw on my bottom lip, dipping my toe into the water.
“Come on, Blackwood,” he chuckles softly, splashing more water my way. “Live a little.”