Love Surfaced Read online

  I’m wondering what Curtis will have to do.

  “Curtis, would you be willing to teach a few kids the rules of tennis?”

  Tanner smacks him on the back. “Right up your alley.”

  Curtis fumbles forward and bleakly looks over to me. He clears his throat. “What exactly do you need me to do?”

  Lyle turns his attention to Curtis. “Just hit the ball back and forth. Teach them some rules. Just make it fun. Here, I’ll head over there with you.” He starts walking before turning around. “Tanner, why don’t you and Piper go right to the pool area? The items you sent me are in the bag there.” Lyle points to a bag on the worn-in chair.

  “Perfect. Thanks, Lyle,” Tanner calls out.

  Curtis turns around, his face still in shock from this sudden change of activities today.

  “Don’t thank me. Prepare to cover your ears because the kids are going to scream when they see you.” He laughs and then begins talking to Curtis.

  My teeth nibble on my bottom lip as I awkwardly stand there next to Tanner while he searches the bag. He pulls out two bathing suits, and I tilt my head, staring at him with my mouth ajar.

  “Here you go.” He throws a blue Aqua Sphere swimsuit at me.

  I catch it in my hands. “Why didn’t you tell me? You know I would have willingly done this with you.” I investigate the suit, not surprised it’s my size.

  “Would you really have come?” He steps toward the locker rooms.

  I scramble to catch up. “Of course. I haven’t worn one of these since college, Tanner.”

  I hold it up in the air, and he chuckles.

  “You have no idea how hard it was for me not to buy the two-piece, but I know how you always preferred the one-pieces—except for when we were ‘training.’” He puts up air quotes because he’s referring to our Truth and Dare games in the college pool during those early mornings.

  “One-piece is just fine.” I begin to escape through the doors of the women’s locker room.

  “Piper?” he calls out.

  I stop, turning to face him.

  “Thank you.”

  He’s so genuine that I can’t be mad that he tricked us here.

  “You’re welcome.”

  The locker room hasn’t changed much. Benches are lined between rows of lockers. Showers are wide and open with no separation. This club is in desperate need of facelift. I change into the swimming suit, thankful I shaved this morning. Otherwise, I’d be swimming in my clothes.

  Just as I’m about to walk around the circular tile wall to the pool area, an eruption of screams echoes throughout and right to my ears. Then, a chanting of Tanner’s name quickly follows. Stopping, I back up against the tile wall to hear how he is with the kids. When more yells echo, I know Tanner’s doing something to entice it. Once I turn the corner, I shake my head because Tanner will always remain a child himself.

  Kids duck for cover while long sprays of water squirt toward them. My eyes follow the stream right to a Super Soaker in Tanner’s hands. All the boys and girls are squealing with laughter, enjoying every moment of it. My heart swells from watching his easiness with the kids, especially with how natural it comes to him.

  After a while, he puts the Soaker down and sits on the side of the pool. His feet hang in the water, and all the kids swim up around his legs, spouting a zillion questions.

  “Are you really going to the Olympics?” one kid asks, practically bobbing up and down.

  “I hope so.” Tanner’s modesty is a quality everyone loves.

  “What if you don’t make it?” the same kid asks.

  I lean against the wall, crossing my arms, wondering how he’ll answer these questions.

  “Then, I’ll work really hard and try again in four more years.” His muscles curve in a defined shape as he leans back on his hands.

  “In four years, I’ll be fourteen. How old will you be?” This kid is full of questions.

  Tanner chuckles. “I’ll be twenty-eight.”

  “That’s old,” the kids remarks.

  Tanner laughs. “What’s your name, inquisitor?” Tanner nods his head to the kid.

  The kid steps up closer to Tanner and pushes out his chest. “Nick.”

  A cute little blonde girl turns toward the young kid, and Nick backs up a step. “Nicky, stop asking questions.”

  “It’s okay. Ask me whatever you want.” Tanner waves Nick closer.

  The kid grins from ear to ear.

  “Is she your girlfriend?” Nick asks, pointing right toward me.

  Tanner leans forward and says something super quiet, so I can’t hear. All the kids listen intently, and then look over to me.

  “Hello, Piper,” they all say in unison.

  I shake my head, walking over to join them. Sitting down next to Tanner, a glint of humor in his eyes as he watches me. I swear he purposely grazes his hand over mine when he sits up straighter. How on earth will I get through this day?

  “Hey, guys. You ready to swim?” I say excitedly, clapping my hands together.

  Some of the girls crowd around me while the boys remain faithful to Tanner.

  Dipping down into the water, Tanner bounces around a little, getting used to the temperature. “Why didn’t you guys tell me it was so cold?” He places his arms around his chest, pretending to shiver.

  I kick some water toward him, and he submerges under before rising back up. He’s always looked good wet, but now, his shoulders are broader, and his stomach is further ripped. I think a god just emerged out of the pool. My eyes rake over every inch of his exposed skin as beads of water slide down the same spots I want to lick.

  “Piper, get in.” One of the girls distracts me from my sexual thoughts of Tanner.

  Tanner chuckles, and I narrow my eyes at him in an attempt to hide the fact that his body has an effect on me.

  Sliding in like Tanner, I begin bouncing up and down because cold isn’t even the correct word. It’s freezing. I’m not used to an indoor pool being so cold.

  “Get under!” one of the girls hollers at me.

  For some reason, I’m reluctant.

  “That’s okay. I kind of like this view of Piper,” Tanner jokes.

  I follow his line of vision right to my chest, seeing my boobs bouncing up and down. I sink into the water, cooling me down from the heat Tanner elicits in me.

  When I float to the surface, the girls cheer for me.

  Tanner swims close to me. “You ruined these boys’ wet dreams tonight.”

  He laughs, and I push him on the shoulder.

  “Hey, just think you’ll have seven boys whacking off to the vision of you before they go to bed.” Then, he leans closer. “Including me,” he whispers.

  The warmth rushes up my neck to my face. “Whatever!”

  The other helpers divert the kids to the roped-off section for us.

  “You have no idea how many times you in a bathing suit has been my vision while beating off. I was probably their age the first time.”

  Without another word, he swims away, toward the children, leaving me in a combustible ball ready to explode all over him.

  “Piper will take the girls, and I’ll take the boys. If you guys all listen good, we’ll do the diving board afterward.”

  The kids scream and cheer.

  Tanner has the boys laughing every second. My girls are drilling me with a zillion questions about Tanner—how long have I known him? Will he make the Olympics? Do I like him? I try to answer truthfully, but that last one catches me off guard. All their little faces fall when I respond that I have a boyfriend, and it isn’t Tanner.

  Half an hour later, the kids have listened.

  The lead helper, Sue, instructs all of them to climb out of the pool and line up to jump off the diving board. Tanner and I swim across the ropes to catch them. He’s so close that my breathing hitches constantly, anticipating the next brush of his leg.

  “Can I talk to you tonight?” he asks.

  Sue disciplines the c
hildren for pushing and not waiting their turns.

  “Explain things,” he clarifies.

  I’ve anticipated this moment from the second I heard Tanner was coming home. Not that my stomach stops plummeting each time I think about the conversation happening.

  “I’m not sure.” It’s only because I can’t handle talking about two years ago. That mistake of a decision on his part is what ruined us, and once I forgive him, it’s sure to lift the gate keeping my heart at bay from him.

  “I think your guy can be solo for one night.” He shifts in the water, moving a little farther away from me.

  “It’s not that,” I fight. I’d say anything right now so that he’ll come back over to me.

  “Then, say yes. I’ll have you back by midnight, promise.”

  He holds up his two fingers as a scout’s honor, and I’m back on the floor in my apartment two years ago.

  “Okay,” I agree, surprised I gave even the half-assed fight I did in the first place.

  “Great. Pick you up at six.” His smile so wide, his teeth shine through.

  “This isn’t a date, Tanner,” I remind him.

  He nods. “I should probably tell you that I have a girlfriend.”

  My legs stop treading, and every muscle in my body stops fighting the water. “You do?” I ask, my mouth drying.

  “No. But will it make you more at ease with me tonight if I lie?” He winks.

  Instantly, I confirm what he already assumes. This might not be a date, but he knows he’s got a shot to win me back.

  “Lying has always been your strong suit,” I snap, angry that he’s testing me in some way. But maybe I’m madder because his plan worked.

  He got the reaction he wanted from me—fear.

  “Maybe you won’t believe that after tonight.” He stares at me, long and deep.

  “Or not.”

  Tanner’s face falls, and I swim away, waiting for the kids to jump off the diving board.

  After everyone gets two chances to jump and Tanner and I help them swim to the side, everyone climbs out of the water and grabs towels. As I’m toweling the water off my body, my eyes veer over to Tanner, and I see Tanner sneaking looks here and there. We catch each other a few times, but quickly, I turn away. I’ve given away too many of my feelings already.

  Nick comes up to me. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

  “Aw, I’m sorry. I already have a boyfriend.”

  The little boy’s head turns to Tanner and then back to me. “The douche,” Nick deadpans.

  Tanner chuckles.

  “No, Curtis is a nice guy. I bet you’d really like him.” I tell him nice things while shooting Tanner an evil glare.

  Tanner has a way with kids, and he won Nicky over immediately today.

  “He’s not Tanner,” the kid deadpans.

  All of a sudden, the kids are in front of me, asking me why Tanner isn’t my boyfriend. I look up at him, and he’s covering his laughter with his hand. When I narrow my eyes at him, he holds his hands up in defense.

  “Your doing?” I ask.

  “No!” He shakes his head. “But they have a point.”

  Douche? I mouth. Lately, that’s been Tanner’s favorite word to describe Curtis.

  Sue comes over and calms the children down, whisking them away from me.

  “You’re trouble.” I poke Tanner’s rock-hard chest.

  His hand grabs mine. “Only when it comes to you.”

  He opens my hand, weaving his fingers through mine. The worst part is that I don’t stop him. Instead, I tighten my fingers around his hand.

  “I’ll play dirty to win you back.”

  My heart stammers at his first declaration that he has a hidden plan.

  “Even using a bunch of ten-year-olds?” I joke, still not pulling back from his grip.

  “Yep. Since they didn’t work, I have other tricks up my sleeve.”

  We stare into each other’s eyes, and I want to sway into his body. I want to have his warm arms around me as my arms hug his waist. I want to feel his lips kiss the top of my head, enticing the safe and cared for sensation he always cocoons me with.

  “I’m with Curtis,” I say with little conviction.

  “Not for long,” he says softly.

  “Tan,” I sigh.

  His smile lights up.

  “What?”

  “That’s the first time you’ve called me Tan since I got back. It means you’re softening.” He grins wide.

  “It was a slip,” I lie. Today, in the water, he captured my heart, but I don’t trust my heart anymore.

  He shakes his head, still able to call me on my bullshit. I try to straighten out my face because those three letters slipped much too easily off my tongue. He’s right. I’m slowly forgiving him, if not already.

  “Nope,” he says.

  Sue calls us over, and I drop my hand from his.

  “Until tonight, Piper.”

  “Yeah, tonight,” I mumble to myself, watching Tanner’s back retreat over to the kids.

  I change my clothes, and when I walk out to the commons area outside the racquetball courts, I find Tanner signing a bunch of pictures of himself. His hair still wet, he smiles at each kid in line, asking for their names while writing a unique note to each one.

  He watches me walk toward Curtis, who’s fiddling with his phone.

  “Hey,” I say.

  He doesn’t look up. “What a waste. I can’t believe he tricked me into actually volunteering.”

  I lean in close to whisper in his ear, “Lower your voice. It was a nice thing to do.”

  “You know how much time I wasted here? Do you know how many cases I should have been researching for the firm instead of being here?” He’s angry.

  Nick walks by us, giving Curtis the evil eye.

  “Jeez, Curtis, give it a rest.” I fold my arms over my chest and see Tanner intently staring over at us. “I’m sure the firm survived.”

  Curtis shoves his phone in his pocket. “Do you even get the point? I need to prove myself to my dad and my brother. That means anything I’m not doing there is considered a waste.”

  I inch back from him. “Including me? Am I too much of a disruption for you?”

  I cock my head, and he steps forward to me.

  “God, no. You know what I mean. Money would have helped these kids much more than an afternoon with me.”

  He’s failed to see what I did this afternoon. Then again, he probably didn’t do much of anything the whole time.

  Douche! Nick mouths to me from across the room.

  I hope the kid didn’t hear too much of my conversation with Curtis.

  “Let’s go.” I grab Curtis’s arm, forcefully moving him toward the door.

  I look at Tanner and point to the stairs, signaling that we’ll meet him outside. He nods with a pissed off look splashed on his face.

  Nick steps in front of us, blocking us from leaving. “You’d better treat her right.”

  “What?” Curtis asks with disdain in his voice.

  “Otherwise, she’ll leave you—for me.” He laughs and begins walking away.

  “The nerve of—” Curtis begins.

  “He’s going to make a great boyfriend,” I interrupt.

  Nick winks.

  What? Did Tanner show the kid all his moves?

  When I turn around, Tanner’s rolling in laughter, holding up his hand for Nick to slap it.

  “That kid’s got a mouth,” Curtis remarks.

  I don’t say anything as I usher us to the stairs.

  sixteen

  I DRIVE TO DOWNTOWN MARLOWE and park. Instead of rushing out, I stay seated in my car. With my keys clasped in my hand on my lap, I focus on the gazebo, wondering if all the lies I said to get here was worth it. Curtis thinks I’m with Bea, and my mom thinks I’m with Curtis. It could explode in my face if one of them figures out I’m with Tanner tonight. I’m taking a giant leap of faith in him, and I can’t for the life of me explain why.


  The memories of two years ago haunt me every night along with the thought that I screwed with my future when I ran. Should I forgive him for what he did and allow myself to forget? How can I not be with him for the rest of my life? Am I fooling myself with Curtis?

  A loud knock on the window startles me.

  Tanner is standing on the other side, dressed in a pressed button-down shirt and gray pants. He opens my door, and I sneak out before allowing him to shut it.

  “You look gorgeous, as always,” he compliments me.

  I nod. His hand reaches for mine, but I cross my arms.

  “Not a date,” I remind him.

  He smiles. “Yet.”

  “Never.”

  “Hey.” He patiently waits for me to face him. “I really want this to be a nice dinner.” His eyes bore into mine, his sadness evident. “Not to mention, I owe you a steak dinner.”

  “Carsen’s?” I ask, remembering back to when our first date was cut short because of our parents’ impromptu appearance. “You didn’t have to bring me here.”

  I follow him up to the sidewalk, as he gives me some personal space. My vision drift up to his, and I swear, from the look of desire seething in his eyes, I’m back to that spring night our senior year.

  “Yeah, I did.” He holds his hand out for me to take.

  When our fingers entwine, he squeezes my hand, and it all fits. Somehow, on this sidewalk, I’m right where I’m supposed to be—with Tanner’s hand in mine.

  We’re seated at the exact same table from two years ago, facing the window. We laugh thinking back to when we had to sneak out from our parents’ view. Tanner orders us a bottle of wine, which the waiter struggles to open. Awkwardness fills the air.

  “So, you want to talk?” I ask him, eager to get the conversation out in the open.

  “Do you mind if you get your steak first? You know I don’t want to try to buy you this meal a third time.”

  He chuckles, and I smile.

  “Sure.” I stare out the window, unnerved from the sense of his eyes on me.

  “God, Piper, you’re beautiful,” he mumbles.

  Heat flushes my face.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  My heart melts with his words. I’m happy that I’ve been on his mind on more than one occasion. I remain quiet, so he stops talking. I’m not sure he knows the effect his declaration has on me.