Meadow Valley book series- Everything's changed

Chapter 20: Swimming at the lake

     One day Ana convinced David to go swimming with her at the pond she found. Lisa told them that she used to love hanging out there with her friends growing up.

     As they swam, Ana laughed hard as David acted stupid and did tricks off of the dock into the pond. She even pretended to be some wild amazon woman swinging from the rope into the water. They wrestled and tried to dunk each other under the water. They had a little race across the pond and back. Of course David won because he's such a great swimmer. When Ana got back to the dock she got out of the water to go swing on the rope again. She was acting stupid and silly. David made funny faces at her as she jumped into the water. Ana didn't notice Adam approach them.

"Hey yawl. Mind if I join you?"

     Ana was so embarrassed by her animal like behavior. She felt like going under the water and not coming back up again.

"Only if you can do a back flip off the dock."

"You bet I can."

     Ana watched as Adam stripped down to his boxers and then did a back flip into the water. Making a huge splash in her face. Since Ana had her two piece bathing suit she was too embarrassed to get out of the water in front of Adam. She thought that she was going to be alone with her brother. She was feeling a little self-conscience of her body in front of Adam. She was going to have to stay in the water until Adam left or get out when he wasn't looking at her. Adam splashed around and played like a young teenage boy. Ana stayed in the water and watched as David and Adam had acted like fools. Jumping in the water doing all kinds of crazy stuff.

"Come on Ana. Get out of the water and do some of your tricks."

"No. That's okay."

"What are you afraid of? You were just doing some flips before Adam got here."

"I'm not afraid of anything. I just don't feel like doing anything that's all."

     David tried to convince his sister to do some flips off of the dock. He bragged about her acrobatic skills to Adam. Ana was feeling a little shy since Adam was there. She was not feeling confident about herself with him watching her. David continued to beg his sister.

"Come on Ana. Show us what you got. Do one of those double back handspring things you do into the water."

"Yeah. Let's see what you can do."

Ana rolled her eyes. She was getting annoyed by her brothers' insistence.

"I don't know David. I don't believe that she can do it. Maybe I need to show her how it's done."

     Adam teased as he gave Ana a mischievous smile. Ana glared back at Adam as to take on his challenge.

"Alright then. Ten bucks I can do a better back layout tuck than either one of you."

"You're on sweetheart." Adam winked at Ana. He watched as she got up out of the water. He couldn't help but stare. She was so beautiful. It didn't help that she was wearing the cutest little bikini he's ever seen on a girl before. Ana was full of confidence. Ready to prove that she was better than Adam. David went first. He attempted to do a backflip. Falling short of the dramatic effect as he did a cannon ball into the water instead. Ana slightly snorted as she laughed at her brother.

"Wow. That was pathetic."

"Thanks sis. That's what I was going for."

"You're next Adam. Let's see what you got."

"Ladies first. I insist."

"No way. You're not getting off that easy. You got to do it first before I go." Ana laughed as she slapped Adam on the forearm.

     Adam gave her a flirtatious smile. The kind that could melt a girl's heart in two seconds flat. Taking her breath away for a second. Ana nervously bit her bottom lip under as she looked at him with her big eyes.

"Watch and learn sweetheart. Let me show you how we country boys do it here."

     Adam licked his bottom lip and gave her a wink. Then he turned around and did a standing back tuck into the water. David screamed and cheered for his friend. Adam came up out of the water. Gloating over his victorious flip. Ana smirked and shook her head.

"Alright. That was pretty impressive. I'll give you that."

"Impressive? As if you can do one better than that sweetheart. I bet you didn't know I could do that?"

"Yup. I had no idea you had it in you. Must've taken you years to learn that trick." Ana laughed as she mocked Adam.

"A couple I reckon." Adam sarcastically replied back to her.

"Did my brother fail to mention to you that I used to take gymnastics?" David laughed as he watched Adam's reaction.

"Yup. That's right. I was pretty good at it too. Let me see...How do YAWL say it here? I RECKON I'm pretty darn good at it. Watch and learn baby!"

     Ana walked back towards the grass at the beginning of the dock. Then she started to run. Round off. Back handspring. Back layout. Double back tuck into the water. Adam's jaw was wide open. David cheered for his sister. She came up out of the water and looked over at Adam.

"I believe you've just been schooled."

"I reckon." Adam shook his head in amazement.

     Ana was definitely the most amazing girl he's ever met. Ana cupped the palms of her hands and splashed Adam in the face with water. Starting an all-out water war between the three of them. They laughed so hard. Ana had to admit. She was having a lot of fun. She thought it was good to see David laughing and acting like his old self again. Adam and David became instant friends. They got along great together. Ana was growing very fond of Adam as well. She couldn't help but stare as she watched her brother talk with his friend.

     Ana had finally learned that Adam was the same age as her brother was. He was studying business at a nearby university in Lexington. He was just home for the summer. His father wanted him to learn more about the horse breeding business. He was supposed to take over his family's business one day. Adam was super smart like Ana. He had taken some college classes while he was in high school. He only had about another year to complete his bachelor's degree in business.

     Ana believed that maybe his family was going to partner with her grandfather in some way. She didn't really know everything. She did know that there was more to their business relationship than spoken about. Adams family was extremely wealthy and prominent in this area of Kentucky. Adam didn't really talk much about money. Ana did notice the kind of car he drove. It was a really nice convertible sports car. The kind of car her brother David wished he could own and drive one day.

     As Ana listened to Adam explain his life story she just gazed over at him. It was difficult for her not to smile. She thought his country accent was charming and alluring. The kind of accent that made a girl go weak in the knees when they heard a guy speak. The way that he said her name. Every syllable rolled off his tongue like butter spread on toast. Every once in a while he would catch her staring at him. He'd glance over and look her in the eye. Ana watched the widening of his smile like the sun coming up in the morning. Showing the whites of his teeth as their eyes met each other's.