8 Years Ago
“There you go!” A booming laugh erupts out of Chase’s chest as I break the surface. The cold water actually feels nice in this humid heat.
“Shh! Be quiet!” I press my finger on my lips pleading him to lower his voice and to my surprise, he does. Though, his big goofy smile remains plastered on his face.
“Okay, fine.” He sighs, as he does little circles around me in the pool. “Ask me a question, then.”
“Really?” My brows raise as I swim over to the shallow end. Chase continues to do little laps and I won’t stop him since it seems to be keeping his high energy at bay.
“Well, I told you I would and I don’t lie.” He smirks, gliding effortlessly through the water.
Huh. I stare at him for only a moment, tracking him with my eyes as he glides slowly from left to right and back again.
“What are you planning to do after you graduate?” I ask.
“Oh, easy. Go to school for sports marketing and entertainment. Land myself a sick position as a football game announcer.”
I nod, mentally memorizing this answer so I can write it down later.
“Next.” Chase flashes a lazy smile before floating on to his back.
I rake my brain for another question but come up short and just skip to the end of my list of questions.
“Are your parents big football fans?”
Chase slowly stops floating, and instead goes back to treading water. The fun and playful light that was there only moments before has dimmed, making me feel strange.
“I…” I glance down, moving my hand along the surface of the water. “I only ask because clearly you’ve done well for yourself as the team captain,” I add.
Before I say another word, he sinks below the water.
“Chase?” I push myself forward, but before I get too close, he ascends, successfully splashing water all over me.
I cough, wiping my face off. “You ass.”
“These questions are boring,” he glides through the water, swimming closer.
“No, you’re just boring.” I frown, shaking my head.
His brows raise.
A beat passes between us when all of a sudden, a burst of laughter roars out of me. It must be the adrenaline rush or something I’m getting from breaking one of my dad’s most sacred rules.
“Oh, you find that funny, eh?” Chase swims even closer. Next thing I know, his arm is wrapped around my neck, dunking me under the water.
I’m not sure what he’s thinking. If he’s just playing around or if he’s actually wanting to hurt me. But, something in me just knows it’s the former. I don’t feel scared. Thrilled is the better word, I guess. I think fast, pushing away from him and into the deep end where he dives in after me.
We’re just a mess of laughter. Splashing each other in the face just for the hell of it. I’m not sure why, but the moment dawns on me that this is the most I’ve laughed in a long time.
It kind of feels like… something friends would do.
The realization hits me the moment the glow of a light flickers on to the water.
“Shit!” Chase gasps, but before he can make another word, my hand palms his lips, while my other arm wraps around his shoulders, hugging him close to my chest.
With as much force as possible, I swim myself and this heavy quarterback to the underside of the waterfall. Slipping us underneath the water, I press my back against the stone wall, as Chase thankfully does the same. Thankfully, there’s a landing here so we can both sit comfortably.
“Jeremiah? Are you out here?” My dad’s voice yells out. Judging by the direction of his voice, it’s clear he’s come from the front of the house. Thank goodness, because if he came from the back door, we’d be totally caught.
“Maybe he’s—” Chase pipes up, but I’m quick to slam my hand yet again over his mouth.
Does this guy ever shut up?
I try my hardest to hold in my shaky breath as I wait for my father’s footsteps to fade away.
If he catches us, I’ll never hear the end of it. Yet another disappointment…
But, after waiting a few more moments, the only thing I hear is my heart pumping loudly.
It’s only then that I follow my arm, until I see my palm still resting over Chase’s mouth.
He doesn’t look upset, thankfully. Actually, his eyes look a little…intrigued. Locked on my face like he’s curious about something. It prompts a feeling in my stomach that I can’t quite decipher. Nonetheless, I take my hand away slowly, scooching back on the seat to give us some room.
“Sorry,” I whisper, feeling my cheeks burning. “If my dad caught us, I’m pretty sure he’d kill me. And then you.”
Chase’s gaze flickers across my face as a smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “I’m pretty sure you’re the first person I’ve ever met that’s had to break into their own pool.”
I roll my lips into my mouth as I try to stifle my laugh.
"Breaking the rules is kind of fun, isn't it?" Chase chuckles, reaching out to give me a squeeze on the shoulder.
And as our shared laughter fades into the rush of the waterfall, I find myself wondering if maybe he’s right.