Ransom Notes

Pool

Ransom looks over to me as we pull into my driveway, "so what's your plans for the rest of the day?"

I shrug, "probably swim, we have a great heated pool."

"Oh, really, not the beach or something like that with this... amazing New England weather?" He chuckles.

I shake my head, "nope, I hate the beach. Too much sand and too many people."

"So you like loneliness?" When I look back to Ransom, he gives me a kiss, "I'll call you later."

I nod, "uh, yeah..." I get out of the car and take a few steps backward, waving to him as he drives off. Once I get changed, I sent a quick picture to him.

It takes him a while to respond, but eventually he texts back, 'I told you last night, you're sure a tease, babe. Are you swimming alone?'

Instead of responding with an actually text, I just send him a picture of my hair slicked back and the steam coming off of the water.

This time he responds much faster, 'now what am I supposed to do with that?'

'Do whatever you want. Or you could come back over ;)'

'Can you handle you're mother's weird looks like she gave us this morning?'

'My mother will be so drugged up, by the time you'll get here she'll be passed out.'

'That was super weird this morning.'

'Like I said, my mother thinks any man is good for me. She's just happy to see me with someone. She doesn't care who. Hurry up, because I won't be here forever.'

'I'll be there in 10. Dont move.'

True to his word in about ten minutes I hear Ransom's car pulling into the driveway. As he walks over to the pool he keeps looking around, "sorry, I'm still not quiet comfortable when I get to your place."

I chuckle softly as I swim over to the edge of the pool, "come on in, the waters amazing." Ransom chuckles and looks down for a moment, before he begins to take off his jacket and sweater, leaving on his boxers, before diving into the pool. When he surfaces, I swim over to him, wrapping my arms around his neck, "hi."

He looks over my face, "hi." He pauses for a moment, before giving me a quick kiss. Without much warning he takes the two of us under and we swim around under the water before a few seconds.

I laugh as we come up and he runs his hands over his face and through his hair, "I told you the water was nice."

"You did." He nods, looking over me again, "and not just the water."

"What do you see something else you like?" I giggle softly.

His smiles, a soft and sincere smile, "I like you, Charlie." Before I can respond he dives back under the water and swims toward me, but I swim away. He laughs as he resurfaces, "are you running away from me?"

"What if I am?"

He laughs and chases me around the pool some more. Eventually, he catches me and laughs as he does. He pulls me close to him and I place my hands on his chest, "now why would you do that?"

I giggle softly and shrug, "it's fun."

"Oh is it?" He laughs.

"Yeah it is." As I laugh I notice Ransom focuses on something behind me, if I had to guess it is my mother, watching us from the window. I wait a few moments, "is she gone?"

Ransom brings his focus back to me, "yeah, she is. And I think she's really drugged up."

"She is." I nod, "but let's not talk about my mother right now. Do you have somewhere else you've gotta be or go after this?"

"Not at all, babe." We swim over to the edge of the pool and I pull myself out onto the edge and Ransom stays in, putting this arms on the edge, "do you wanna know what my family offered me to keep me out of the will?"

"What?" I ask as I start to squeeze some excuse water out of my hair.

"Three million. To forget about the will and to be peaceful and on good terms with everyone in the family." He pulls himself out of the pool, I do as well. He grabs one of the towels in the table, putting it over my shoulders, before grabbing the other for himself.

"Are you gonna take it?"

"I don't know." He shrugs, lighting a cigarette he had gotten out of his pant's pocket, "if I did I could start that club in New York, not have to worry about this assholes anymore."

"Do you think you could be peaceful with your family?"

"Not sure. But I have three days to decide."

"When would you get the money?"

"I'd get in about a week. So I wouldn't have to wait for my grandfather to die."

"But how much more would you get if you waited?"

"If I wait I may not get anything."

I shake my head, "starting a club takes a lot of money and there's no promises it would pay off."

Ransom places his hands on my shoulders, "I know. I know..."

"That and if you open a club in New York, you'd be so far away."

He shakes his head, "no, I wouldn't. Because I've also been thinking about us and if I left, I'd want you to come with me."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? Because you're the only one in this town worth a damn to me. You're the only one I can trust the only one I can stand." I shake my head and look around, Ransom place his hands back on my shoulders, "what are you thinking?"

I chuckle, "I'm actually thinking of a way to fuck your family over even more."

"How?"

"What if I get a loan from my father, we can open the club, you can tell your family you aren't taking shit, and we get you back in good graces with your grandfather. That way, we can get more money out of them."

"I don't wanna me in debt to anyone."

"You wouldn't. Consider it a gift."

"Wouldn't your father come looking for it?"

"My father has too much on his plate. Let me worry about him, yeah?"

"Yeah, alright. Are you sure about this?"

I nod, "yeah, just give me a few days to talk to him about the money."

"Yeah, alright. That should give me enough time to get a place sorted out for us."