TO HAVE & HAVE NOT

56

Johnny

"Dad!" Jack shouted excitedly as I sat back, soaking in the warmth of the gentle breeze that danced across our backyard. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden hue over everything, making it the perfect day for fun. "Let's play hide and seek, but let's spice it up with water guns!"

From her lounging position on the pool chair, Lily protested loudly, "No!" Her voice was firm, clearly indicating she wasn't interested in the idea.

"Come on, Dad! Please!" Jack urged, his voice tinged with frustration as he persisted.

"Hey, it might actually be fun," Olivia chimed in with a bright smile, nudging Lily playfully with her elbow. "I'm definitely down for it." She threw her arm around Jack's shoulders, her enthusiasm contagious.

"See? Olivia's ready to play!" Jack exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement.

"I guess if she's playing, then I will too," Lily finally conceded, a hint of a smile breaking through her earlier resistance.

"Alright! Let's do it!" I declared, rising to my feet and shaking off the serenity I'd been enjoying.

With that, Jack began to count to twenty, his voice echoing in the yard, while the rest of us scrambled to find our hiding places. I quickly ducked behind the grill, the sturdy metal shielding me from prying eyes. It felt like the perfect spot as my heart started to race with the thrill of the game. However, the sound of approaching footsteps made my pulse quicken even more.

I remained crouched behind the grill, holding my breath as the footsteps grew nearer. Just when I thought I would be discovered, I caught a glimpse of tanned legs making their way towards me, and my heart immediately recognized them. It was Olivia. She slid down next to me with a mischievous grin on her face.

"What are you doing down here?" I whispered, trying to suppress a smile. "You're not tipping Jack off, are you?"

"No," she giggled softly, her laughter infectious. I shot her a sideways glance, and her giggles turned into delighted laughter, which only made me want to draw closer to her. Before I knew it, she leaned in and kissed me tenderly, her lips brushing against mine in a way that sent shivers down my spine.

"I love them," she murmured, pulling back for just a moment to gaze into my eyes, her hands gently cupping my face. "I love Jack and Lily so much. And I love you too, Johnny," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't hold it in any longer. I know the timing isn't great since we might get caught by Jack, but..."

Before she could finish, I pressed my lips against hers with desperate longing. The kiss deepened, and in that moment, all my worries faded away.

"Oh, my love," I sighed, my forehead resting against hers as I tried to catch my breath. Her hips straddled my lap, and I could hardly focus as my mind raced with emotions. "First, you distract me with that tiny bikini, and now you're telling me this. Do you want me to be utterly obsessed with you?"

"Maybe?" she grinned playfully. "Actually, yes."

Just then, Jack's voice cut through our moment. "Found them!" he shouted to Lily, his playful tone filled with triumph. "And they're kissing again! That means double drenching!"

Before I could react, Jack aimed his water gun at us, unleashing a torrent of water that soaked both Olivia and me. Olivia let out a squeal of surprise and instinctively surrendered, pressing herself against my chest for protection. I couldn't help but laugh, feeling the cool water cascading over us. In that moment, as I held her close and felt the warmth of her body against mine, I couldn't deny how good it felt, and I truly didn't care that we were both dripping wet.

After a few exhilarating rounds of hide and seek, filled with laughter and cheerful shouts, we all decided to take a break from the game and jumped into the inviting, cool water of the pool. The splashes of water echoed around us as we began a lively game of Marco Polo. I reclined on the edge of the pool, a big cheesy grin plastered across my face, completely absorbed in the joyous scene in front of me. My heart swelled with happiness as I watched Olivia frolic in the water with Lily and Jack, their laughter blending harmoniously with the warm sun beaming down. I felt an overwhelming sense of affection that made me envision a future where we would all be a family.

As the water shimmered around them, I quietly slipped out of the pool, ensuring they remained blissfully unaware of my departure. I made my way to the kitchen, intending to check on the food we had prepared for the day's festivities. Standing there in the kitchen, the smells of grilled burgers and freshly baked fries wafting through the air, my mind wandered into deep contemplation about the future that Olivia and I could possibly share. A part of me was utterly enthralled by her; the love I felt for her was so profound that, without hesitation, I'd marry her tomorrow if she would agree. However, another part of me wrestled with an unsettling fear that this beautiful moment might fade away, leaving my heart shattered in its wake. She was so young, with her whole life ahead of her, while I felt like a kid trapped in the body of a man with responsibilities, including two children to raise.

Before I could delve deeper into my swirling thoughts, I suddenly heard her soft voice breaking through the haze of my musings. "Hi."

I turned around, met by her captivating gaze. Her long, wet hair glistened under the kitchen light, and the tiny blue string bikini she wore hugged her curves perfectly. "Hi there," I replied with a smirk, crossing my arms over my chest as I leaned casually against the kitchen counter, trying to maintain my composure.

"I was wondering where you wandered off to," she said with a playful smile. "Jack mentioned you might be checking on the food. I think he's getting hungry."

"Yeah, he's always hungry," I chuckled lightly. "But the food is ready to go."

"Great!" she exclaimed, taking a few steps closer to me. She approached until she halted right in front of me, her gaze intense.

My hands instinctively dropped to her waist, pulling her wet body against mine. "Did I tell you I love you today?" She asked, my heart racing as I watched her smirk.

"I could definitely hear it again," I replied with a teasing glint in my eyes.

"I love you," she whispered softly before our lips brushed together in a gentle kiss. "I love you," she repeated, her lips lingering against mine, and then kissed my neck delicately. I couldn't help but lean back, savoring the sensation of her warm touch.

A deep groan escaped my lips as I pulled my head forward, now looking directly into her sparkling eyes. "I love you so much," I confessed, my hands still gripping her waist. "And I absolutely love this bikini on you." I pressed a gentle kiss to her neck, my desire simmering with every caress. "In fact, I love it so much that I don't want you to ever take it off."

"Oh, then I guess I'll never take it off," she said, a playful grin spreading across her face.

"Yeah, but I'm also daydreaming about tugging at the strings and watching it fall away from your body," I confessed, feeling bold.

"Is that right?" Her eyebrow arched playfully, a challenge in her tone. "What will you do next?"

"I haven't quite decided yet," I admitted, feeling a thrill run through me. "Whether I'll take my time and kiss every single inch of your body nice and slow, or if I'll just want to have my way with you immediately."

"I'm curious to see what the second option entails," she smirked, her words dripping with mischief.

"Oh my God, you're driving me crazy," I groaned, feeling a rush of heat through my body. "Was this your plan all along?"

"Maybe," she shrugged, a hint of cheekiness in her tone. "God, your heart is pounding so fast." She said, pressing her head against my chest, and suddenly I felt my desire intensify at her closeness.

"Hmmm... I hadn't noticed," I chuckled, trying to play it cool.

But just as the moment thickened with tension, the sound of Lily's voice shattered the spell. "Dad?" Lily's voice called out as she rounded the corner, forcing both Olivia and me to snap back to reality, our playful banter abruptly coming to a close.