Slippery When Wet || Tyren AU

Chapter 3

Ty busts out into a laugh that literally sounds like 'hahahahaha', which prompts Lauren into a bashful giggle of her own.

"I'm sorry, Ty, that was the shittiest apology ever," she chuckles, using his name with actual respect for the first time. "Lemme try again: I apologize for pushing you into the pool and threatening you with a golf club. Please come dry off with these fresh towels so you can go back to doing the job my mother did in fact hire you for."

Thankfully, Ty is still grinning in amusement about the whole thing as he climbs up the ladder out of the pool to where Lauren stands in wait with a towel in each hand. Her heart rate picks up speed when his green eyes lock with hers again; they're just so fucking bright and playful and she could get lost in them if she wasn't careful.

"Apology accepted, Lauren," he assures in his alluring rasp, reaching for the fluffier of the two towels.

As he works on drying his dreads, Lauren can't help but take in more of him. His polo shirt is suctioned onto his frame like a second skin, revealing the outline what looks to be a well-sculpted chest and some tight abs. Her gaze drifts over to biceps that bulge almost comically from the hems of their sleeves, as if youth-sized sleeves were accidentally stitched onto an adult-sized shirt. But the reality is that this man is just that buff, and Lauren can't decide which she appreciates more, the beefiness of his toned arms or the inked artwork that covers every inch of them, right down to his black-polished fingertips.

Her admiration is cut short, however, when Ty holds out the now soaked towel to Lauren in a trade for the dry one still in her possession. He quickly wipes away as much moisture from his skin and clothes as he can, then hands the second towel back to Lauren, making brief eye contact with a quiet, "Thank you". He clears his throat before he speaks again.

"I'm gonna go change into a dry shirt at the van, then I'll get to work on the pool and hot tub," he says professionally.

Lauren feels her cheeks start to burn with embarrassment once again at how excessively she interfered with this man's job, and she ducks her head slightly trying to hide it.

"I'll, uhh, I'll bring these inside and leave you to it then," she states with an uncharacteristic stammer. Rarely is Lauren ever this awkward, so she salvages what little pride she has left today and parts with a more composed "See you tomorrow."

A smooth "Bye, Lauren" is all he gives in return, but it leaves her pulse racing as she walks away.

~*~*~

The next day at four o'clock on the dot, she hears the door of a vehicle slam out by her front curb. Just like yesterday, Dash perks up and gives a quick bark, but today Lauren comforts him with a scratch behind the ears.

"Better get used to it, bud, Ty's gonna be here every day," she explains, as if somehow the dog will take this into consideration next time he hears a door slam.

Still feeling guilty about the previous day's events, Lauren pauses her Netflix and wanders to the kitchen to see what kind of beverage she could bring Ty as a peace offering. Alcoholic drinks are out of the question, and the only other choices immediately available are milk, tap water, and her homemade cucumber rosewater. Figuring that milk would be kind of gross on a hot day, she weighs her two water-based options before ultimately deciding that after a long day of cleaning pools, Ty could probably use the added benefits of the rosewater, even if it is the more unconventional choice.

Lauren pours two glasses of the infusion, one for Ty and one for herself, then garnishes the beverages with fresh mint leaves and a slice of cucumber. She doesn't know why exactly she felt the need to go all Suzy Homemaker dressing up the drinks as if her pool cleaner would care either way, but rather than dwell on it she makes her way downstairs and outside to where Ty has just emerged from the pool shed.

"Hey, Lauren," he greets with way more warmth than a man who had been damn near assaulted by this girl should.

The way her name rolls off his tongue with such familiarity makes her stomach flutter, but she's able to quickly tamp down those butterflies to respond in kind.

"Hey, Ty."

They both just kind of look at each other for a few moments, neither saying a word. Lauren finds herself studying his facial features in more detail, from the piercings on both nostrils to the meticulously close trim of his beard. Then Ty blinks as if jarred out of a trance, but it takes his voice to pull Lauren out of hers.

"You double-fisting today?" he asks with a nod toward the two glasses in her hands.

"Oh!" she exclaims, shaking her head both to clear it and to deny his implication. "These aren't actually cocktails," she explains, although it's easy to see how the dressed-up beverages could be mistaken. "It's my homemade cucumber rosewater. Just water infused with rose, cucumber, mint, and a hint of ginger."

"Sounds... refreshing?" Ty offers unsurely.

"Oh it definitely is!" Lauren continues excitedly. "That's why I brought you some! Here, this one is yours."

Ty politely accepts the proffered glass, though he eyeballs its contents with uncertainty. "I like the cucumber, it's, uh, fancy," he comments, stalling as he further studies the drink. "And the leaves are..."

"Fresh mint! I didn't know if I should crush them or keep them whole, so I said 'fuck it' and just threw them in there," she rambles. She doesn't know why, but the words just keep pouring out. "Is it too much? Do you not like mint? Shit I'm sorry, I should've thought of that, I-"

"-No no!" Ty interjects, finally bringing Lauren's word vomit to a halt. Her cheeks are already pink from talking so much, and they only grow pinker when she realizes how much she was babbling on to this relative stranger. Ty takes it all in stride, however, and reassures her, "Mint is great. I appreciate it, thank you, Lauren."

She feels the tips of her ears grow warm at the second mention of her name, and she ducks her head a little but still watches Ty expectantly. He must finally realize she's waiting for him to actually taste the beverage, so he takes a courteous sip. His eyebrows fly up in surprise, then he takes a much larger gulp before lowering the glass from his lips and smirking in Lauren's direction.

"I gotta admit I was fully prepared to lie to you, but this shit dope for real," he confesses with a chuckle.

His playfulness is contagious, prompting Lauren to joke, "Well I'm not out here to chase you away, despite yesterday's appearances."

With that, they both burst into genuine laughter, Ty's boisterous 'hahahahaha' rumbling under Lauren's adorable giggle. As they compose themselves, their eyes find their ways toward one another's again. Both sets of full lips close into soft smiles, and the two just stare endearingly at each other for a long moment like the world has paused around them.

It's Lauren who manages to shake them out of it, clearing her throat and raising her glass.

"Well, uh, enjoy your drink, and I'll let you get to work. You can leave the empty glass on the table by the lounge chair," she instructs.

"Sounds good," Ty agrees.

Lauren shoots him a quick smile, offering a "See you tomorrow" before turning and walking toward the house.

As she retreats, Ty calls out a casual "Thanks again, Lauren", addressing her by name for the third time today.

Her spine tingles the whole way inside.