Splash
The first time she saw him, she was half naked. He took her by surprise at Sylvie's pool as she was drying herself off in her one-piece aqua blue suit. She and Sylvie had been discussing all the highlights of their past college year apart when he walked in through the gate.
She at first saw only a silhouette, being that his back was to the sun. She had to squint to see him clearly. But even then, she was so busy hiding herself that she couldn't quite focus on him. She simply felt the immensity of his looming presence facing her.
~
The first time he saw her, he was his usual back in black self. Black shades. Black sleeveless shirt. Black jeans. Black shoes. At least he didn't have to try too hard to have his clothes match his hair.
He was intrigued by her, by the way she scrambled to cover up once he cast his shadow upon her. Usually women allowed their cleavage to heave and practically spill over right before his eyes. This one was different. More entertaining. Not so obvious.
He was used to ogling women behind his shades, but for some reason he stepped aside and turned toward the pool while she pulled on her T-shirt and wrapped her towel around her hips.
"Flip, this is Tanya. The two of us ran track together." Sylvie managed the courtesy of an intro. "Tanya, my cousin, Flip."
"Hey." Flip jerked up his head in greeting. "You're a runner?"
"Used to be. Not lately though." Tanya wrung out her sandy blonde hair, the water now dripping into a puddle at his feet. "How about you? You ever involved in sports?"
"I used to try to fit them in." The guy was about as monotone as he was monochromatic. "But I've got health issues." He waited for Tanya's face to take on concern. "Yep. Sports – they interfere with my strict doctor's orders to smoke every hour on the hour and keep myself drunk at least half the night."
His super cool attitude, her nervousness, his serious tone, her moment of concern, the unexpected humor…it all combined to cause Tanya to burst into laughter despite her not wanting to condone such bad habits. She laughed despite her awareness that the other two were laughing at her laughter and not at his joke.
"Sylvie, what've you done to this girl? Did you spike the pool with bottles of Vodka again? You know how I warned you about that last time when that prank of yours ended in an all-night skinny dipping party.
"Whatever, Flip." Sylvie would not even bother defending herself against such a lame accusation.
Tanya laughed again, this time doubling over in giggles until she was breathless.
Flip didn't usually get this strong of a reaction, but continued on just to see how much of a reaction he could get. "Hey, if you were intending an all night love fest, I can call a few friends over. It's a little early for that kind of thing, but I could make this a special occasion."
Tanya's laughter had her in tears at this point. She seemed to be enjoying herself quite a bit, despite her tinge of embarrassment. Eventually she tried to gain composure. Breath in. Breath out. Giggle giggle. Breath in. Sigh. Giggle again. Tanya stumbled along the poolside toward her slip-ons.
Flip stepped over to the patio table, then motioned as if hauling up the table umbrella and placing it at the edge of the pool. "This could be like one of those cocktail decorations on the edge of the glass for the giant martini pool party."
Tanya erupted into laughter all over again.
"Control yourself, woman." Flip nudged her shoulder. "I know I'm King of Comedy but – Whoa!"
Splash!
~
Tanya bobbed in the pool, her eyes and mouth wide open. The surprise of the fall shocked the laughter right out of her. Still, she felt giddy and silly and free. Her towel had come undone during the fall and she now held it across her shoulders like a pair of wings in the water.
Now Flip was the one laughing. He didn't seem the type to laugh often. He was more of a guy who simply smirked at comments rather than one who laughed out loud. Yet now he was smiling wide. He touched one knee to the ground and extended his had to help Tanya out.
"Thanks." She was happy to see some chivalry shine through his tough exterior. She took his hand, grabbed his elbow, and at the last second, planted her feet against the side of the pool, tugging him with her whole body. "Thanks for pushing me in!"
Splash!
~
Now Flip flapped in the water. He did not typically enjoy being surprised. But this time was different. He made sure to adjust his shades, smooth his hair, and calmly glide through the water, as if he had not been affected in the least. Yet he felt some new energy inside him. Something awakened. Something thrilling. He wasn't sure just what it was.
She had dared to play with him, but not in the way women usually played with him. This kind of play was not seductive or manipulative. It seemed more of a statement that she wasn't going to be pushed around by him. He respected her for that. He did not expect to be pulled in by her. Not physically, not emotionally. He considered himself a master of keeping his balance on the edge of control, on the edge of emotion. He jumped in only when he wanted to. But he couldn't deny the fact that he was soaked.
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