A symphony of laughter, tears, and moans escaped us both before Axel scrambled to his feet, helping me to mine in the process. I adjusted my dress and hair, laughter seeping from my lips.
"I haven't laughed that hard in a long time." I giggled, opening the door to my car.
"Happy to be of service, darling." He bowed, sliding into his seat. After driving home, I parked the car in the garage before walking to my apartment. I immediately changed into my bikini, taking full advantage of an afternoon off. I was grabbing my pool stuff when a knock on the door rang into my ears.
"It's open. Hey, Axe, wanna chill by the pool?" I shout from my bedroom before walking out to see a familiar face smiling back at me.
"James? What are you doing here?" I walked to him, greeting him with a hug.
"Visiting, how have you settled? Axe being an ass, yet?" I'm assuming he didn't know about our little run-ins.
"He's treating me quite well, actually. And, frankly, I love Miami so far. Grab your trunks; I was just about to grab a few beers. I had groceries delivered this morning." I turned James around, pushing him towards the pool. "Come on, I have the afternoon off and we are swimming in this damn pool." He chuckled, walking into the main house to change. Just then, Axe walked from the sliding glass door with a cooler and a towel.
"You read my mind." He giggled, tossing the towel onto the lounge chair. I sat back, spreading my oil over my skin, putting my sunglasses down.
"That's not swimming." James shouted, walking from the kitchen.
"I just want some sun, I'll go in when I get hot." I chuckled. Before I could open my eyes, two sets of hands lifted me from the chair and tossed me into the deep end of the pool. I flailed and kicked, desperately trying to keep my head above water. "I- can't-sw-" I could barely muster words as water splashed into my mouth, my body sinking.
"Shit, she can't swim." Axe jumped into the water, scooping me into his arms and swimming to the side of the pool. He pushed himself against the concrete as James lifted me from the water. I heaved and coughed, water sputtering from my face. I looked into Axe's eyes as his arms held my head up from the ground.
"I can't swim very well." I coughed.
"Obviously." James scoffed.
"I didn't know, Jeanie, I'm sorry." Axe started, but I wouldn't let him finish.
"How could you have possibly known I can't swim? Besides, I mentioned coming out here." I sat up slightly, Axe's hands resting on my hips.
"Well, let's start today." James said, helping me to my feet. "By the way, you need a higher SPF than 4 down here, Jeanie. You'll burn." He suggested. I ignored his suggestion and walked to the lounge chair, grabbing a beer from the cooler.
"Okay, let's get started." I walked to the ladder at the shallow end of the pool, Axe's hands gently easing me to touch the floor.
"Alright, Jeanie, we'll start here. We have to teach you how to tread water, that way, if you fall in, you can at least keep yourself afloat. Start by moving your hands back and forth and in and out." James and Axe tried to show me how to tread water, each of them doing it differently. "When you're ready, add your legs. I kick mine in circles like I'm pumping bike pedals. This asshole treads in and out, you do whatever works." I began bobbing and bouncing in the water, moving my arms and legs opposite of each other, the water moving fluidly around me.
"Not bad, Jeanie. Not bad at all. Now, let's do it in the deep stuff." Axe took my hand and swam backwards, leading me to the 6'6 deep side of the pool. It was hilarious, on his tip-toes, Axe could almost reach flat-footed, standing on his tip-toes to keep his face above water. James was slightly shorter than Axe, so he struggled to keep above water without treading.
"Swim." He said, my eyes filled with panic, the familiar pain in my chest and stomach radiated from me as Axe grabbed my hand and placed it to his chest again. "Feel my breath, Jeanie, and match it. Come on, calm yourself." His words provided little relief, this time, but his breathing always helped. I slowed my breath and consciously made the effort to count backward in my head.
"Ok, Jeanie, try again." He let go of my hand and I began to flail my arms and legs until I calmed myself, finding a rhythm. I was doing it.
"Guys. I'm treading water. I'm swimming. Where I can't touch." My voice was so excited, it sounded like I was squealing.
"You go girl." James encouraged with a snap. He looked so proud. Axe, however, had something else in his eye.
YOU ARE READING
Love and War
Romance"All's fair in love and war, or some shit, right?" He said, his smirk drawing to a slight sneer as he padded towards the open balcony. He rested his hands on the guardrail before letting out an exasperated sigh, thunder rolling behind it. The rain c...
