Between The Lines

Chapter 96: 'I want to swim with you.'

Third Person

Rebecca was blushing all over again, her cheeks burning as she tried to hide it by letting her hair fall over her face and by busying herself with picking up her gear bag and cap. But she could still feel his eyes on her, the intensity of his gaze making her pulse race.

Lane, sensing her embarrassment, stepped closer, his hand gently tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his eyes. He smiled softly, his thumb brushing over her flushed cheek. "You don't need to hide that," he murmured, his voice low and teasing. "I think it's cute."

Rebecca's blush deepened, and she bit her lip, struggling to keep her composure. She was about to mumble something when Lane's next words made her heart skip a beat.

"I want to swim with you," he said, his voice filled with a mix of playfulness and something deeper. "Right now."

Her eyes widened in surprise, her mind immediately flashing back to their last swim practice together, where the tension between them had been palpable. She hesitated, unsure if she could handle being that close to him again, especially with the way he was looking at her now.

"L-Lane, I don't know if that's a good idea," she stammered, her voice shaky as she tried to focus on anything but the way his thumb was now tracing her bottom lip.

"Why not?" he asked, his tone light but with an underlying seriousness that made her heart pound. "You don't want to swim with me?"

"It's not that," she quickly replied, her words tumbling out. "It's just... I'm not sure I can focus on swimming with you around."

Lane chuckled softly, clearly amused by her confession. "Is that so?" he teased, his hand slipping down to her waist, pulling her a step closer to him. "I promise I'll be on my best behavior. Mostly."

Rebecca's heart was in her throat as she searched his eyes, trying to gauge just how serious he was. But the warmth in his gaze, the softness of his touch, made it impossible for her to refuse him. Besides, part of her wanted to see what would happen, wanted to feel that closeness with him again.

"Alright," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible. "But you have to promise not to distract me."

Lane grinned, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I'll try," he said, though the look on his face made it clear that he wasn't going to make it easy for her.

Rebecca tried to maintain her composure as they made their way to the pool, but the anticipation was building inside her, making it difficult to think about anything else. She could feel Lane's presence beside her, his quiet confidence making her both excited and nervous about what was to come.

When they reached the edge of the pool, Rebecca hesitated for a moment, glancing at Lane who was already watching her with a knowing smile. Taking a deep breath, she dropped her gear bag and cap on the ground and slipped into the water, the coolness of it calming her nerves, if only slightly.

Lane was quick to follow, sliding into the water with an ease that made Rebecca's heart flutter. They swam side by side for a few minutes, the tension between them gradually building with each stroke. Rebecca could feel the water gliding over her skin, the sensation heightened by Lane's proximity.

She tried to focus on her technique, but her mind kept drifting to the feel of his presence beside her, the way his body moved effortlessly through the water. It was almost hypnotic, the way he commanded the space around him, and she found herself sneaking glances at him, unable to help it.

When they reached the other side of the pool, Lane paused, leaning against the edge with a smirk that made Rebecca's pulse race all over again. "Having trouble focusing?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.