She dunks under the water and when she comes back up, I have to adjust myself. My shirt on her shows everything.
She realizes I’m staring and tries to cover herself and that makes me chuckle a little bit. I know I have to take it slow with her, I don’t want to scare her off.
It was pure luck that we had gone to her diner to eat after Lane’s fight. And pure luck that Thorn is her brother. Lane is such a dick, and I was pleasantly surprised that she showed up to the gym this morning.
Where is Lane anyway?
“What’s your favorite place to visit? Or live?” I ask as I slide in next to her.
Small talk always works.
“I love the ocean. So, I guess here. It’s one of the reasons I chose to try Florida,” she says with a smile.
“Do you get much time to explore?”
She shakes her head.
“I work so Thorn can have a college fund. One of the stipulations of him following his dream was to graduate and find a job. But sometime I want him to go to college.”
“He’s still in school?”
“Just graduated. But he wants to try this and I’m not one to say no,” she says.
“What about you?” I ask her.
“Me?” Her eyes widen in surprise. I’m guessing no one has ever asked her that.
“What are your dreams?”
“To not live in fear. To go back to school myself. And maybe open my own bakery.”
“I think those are doable,” I tell her.
“One day at a time,” she says sadly.
It makes me want to punch someone for making her feel fear or sadness.
“I’m not even sure how I’m going to pay for Thorn’s training,” she says.
“Don’t worry about that,” I reply.
“Kingston…”
“Please let me do this for you,” I say.
She blushes, not sure if because she’s shy or angry.
I like that she’s modest and shy and loves her brother. And she’s not like the girls that throw themselves at me because of money. She wants to work for hers. She doesn’t want mine. And she can joke around with me like we’ve known each other for years.
Not many people can hang with me.
She yawns a little and I realize the bubbles have died.
“Would you still like to watch a movie?” I ask her and she nods.
“Sure, I’ll go change,” she hops out of the tub and rushes off before I get a good look.
I hop out and wrap a towel around my waist and wait for her to come out of the pool house and lead her inside to the kitchen.