Harassenger: Backseat Admirer ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Since I spent most of my night consoling Holt and his tattered heart, I didn't get a chance to close the gym properly. The place was only halfway vacuumed, and my olympic-sized pool hadn't been cleaned. I wouldn't have changed our talk for anything, no matter my improper work. Holt needed to vent, and so he did. For once, I was there for him as a friend instead of daydreaming in his eyes like I used to. Our bond had deepened, and I as was happy to have what could have been a fight that day, and actual decent night.

But, like every good night, there's actual big cleanup. I was by the pool, trying to clean the scattered leaves in the pool. Whose idea it was to have an oak tree on the side, I don't know, but I'd like to slap them senseless.

I hated having to clean the pool, but I knew my mother wouldn't do it. I was careful around the edges, because I couldn't swim, unless it was in the kiddie section. I used the extended net to grab a few dead wasps and leaves, trying to swipe out as much as I could. I made a mental note to drain the pool during the winter so I could spray paint the bottom. Oh, and maybe some pretty pink pool lighting surrounded by tiki torches. Okay, I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. It's not Survivor here.

I out the dripping wet net to the side, wiping my wet feet so I wouldn't slip on the way back. Ironically enough, my attempt not to slip in fall is the reason why I slipped. When I grabbed on my foot to wipe the grime, I lost my balance and headed for a nose dive into the pool.

Someone snatched my arm, but their attempt at saving me failed as we both dove into the water together. I only hoped this person could swim or we'd both be dead. Instead of torches, they'll be lighting candles at my vigil.

Water entered my nose and in my mouth as I choked to catch air. When I felt my head being pulled out of the water, I thought I was being lifted into Heaven. Instead of faced Mick Conrad, and if it's any consolation, it was pretty close to Heaven.

I took a second to catch my breath, letting my lungs catch a break. One of my arms were around his shoulders, my legs floating in the water near his waist.

"How did you find me?"

"Your mom let me in, and it looks like I made perfect timing." He smiled.

"Perfect timing would have been catching me before we plopped into the water." I shouldn't complain, but he knows I was only messing.

"Sorry I could only get here so fast on my white horse."

"You're excused." I wiped my eyes with my free hand, running mascara in a dirty line on my palm.

"You should be more careful when cleaning your pool; you could've gotten really hurt. I want to teach you how to swim one day, when you're not in clinging jeans and a shirt." Right. I almost forgot I was still holding him for dear life.

He hoisted me up, taking giant steps to the closest ladder and carrying me to solid ground in his unbelievably strong arms.

"So what brings you here? Did you come to take me on a ride on your white horse?" I teased.

"The last time you were on a horse, it didn't end so well. I think we'll stick to your Jeep for transportation."

"Good idea. But really, why are you here? The gym doesn't open for another thirty minutes." I twisted my hair with my fingers, wringing out the water and continued to the same with my shirt. My shirt lifted just above my navel, and I swear Mick's eyes trailed down, but I ignored it since he looked away quickly.

"Do I have to keep reminding you that we're friends? I wanted to come visit my friend and take you out. What do ya say?"

"I say no, only because I'm babysitting my little sister today." I told him.

"So I guess all the pizza I planned on making will go to waste. We never got to eat pizza at the beach because the electricity went out. I figured we could make up for that. Does your sister happen to like pizza?"

"Sure she does, but you want to hang out with my sister?" It was so unlike one of my friends to want to be around my little sister. She was really chatty and although they love the munchkin, it doesn't leave much time to talk or actually 'hang out' while she's around.

"I'm good with kids." He shrugged.

"Uhuh. But she can get rowdy and if I tell her to settle down, she doesn't listen."

"Stubborn, huh? I wonder where she got that from." A drop of water from his lips fell on his chest just above his sticky, wet shirt. I watched as the water dripped down, jealous that it was trailing his body like I wanted to do with my finger.

His eyes followed my gaze, and he asked if he had anything on his chest, which I responded with a weak no.

He took his plain shirt off right in front of my eyes, and my eyes widened like  saucers, staring at the fine China in front of me. His abs, just as I remembered, brought me back to the beach and I almost died. He had a fine tan line by the freckles on his shoulder, and a tan line right above his pants line. I gulped, trying to keep my cool.

"You mind if I change out of this? Do you have any clothes I can borrow?"

"My father...I think I have some clothes my father had." I was weak in the knees, lost for words.

I felt I needed a cold shower, but I just took a dive in the pool. Maybe I needed to bathe in holy water instead because my crush on him was downright sinful.

"I couldn't wear it." He protested.

"Sure you can. You saved my life; he'd want to to wear it."

I picked him out a flannel shirt and brown pants, letting him changed in the upstairs bathroom. As I stood on the outside, I could hear as he stripped down, the clothes falling on the tile, thudding like the pulse on my wrist.

He came out rather quickly. The shirt was a little loose and wrinkled but it looked nice. Mick looked rugged, moreso than usual, with the shirt fitting him to a tee, but the pants were a little snug, but did wonders for his butt if I do say so myself.

"How do I look?" He asked, holding is dirty clothes.

"Like my dad reincarnated. Just kidding, just kidding. You look like you always do." I snuck up to him, fixing the crooked collar of his shirt before tugging on the shirt to try to get some of the wrinkles out.

His head bowed down to mine, his eyes like a pause button for my hands.

"Which is...?"

"Perfect."