02-09-2019, 04:19 AM
After leaving Axel, Jay hurried inside, eyes on the staircase. It was only a cursory glance at the open space outdoors that he glimpsed golden hair. He watched her a moment, ripples rolling around her feet. She looked warm and relaxed. If he didn’t know better, she’d seem a different person completely. Cayli brought it out in her. An infectious sort of joy. Any teenager might radiate it, but one given a second chance at life? Nobody deserved it more than Cayli. Wondered what they were saying.. He might be able to hear if – No. In the end, he left them with their peace a few moments longer. It’s not like it wouldn’t end soon enough anyway.
A detour through the largest kitchen he'd ever seen, and he found himself at a bar. A few minutes later, he plucked the sunglasses on his nose and appeared from the back door. Warmth radiated from sun-baked stones. The pool a vibrant blue. Given that he only had two hands and they were each occupied holding onto one of those wide-rimmed margarita cups, the third floated on toward Cayli on a tray of the power. Virgin. Of course.
Her comment halted him in his tracks, a curious grin touching his lips, Jay looked down at himself. Jeans worn for more days than he cared to admit, a white under-shirt that probably should go in the trash rather than the laundry. He shrugged and sent Cayli’s drink on to where she was perched in the pool. Despite everything between them, she didn’t turn it down.
The other he laid at Natalie’s side a moment before joining her. He kept his boots on though. The flagstone was hot as sand under his ass, but it was comforting anyway. Familiar.
He’d love to go swimming.
Don’t know why. But Jay just started talking. He never shared anything about his time in the marines with his family. Let alone anything like this.. Somehow, the moment seemed fitting. Probably that motherfucker Axel’s fault. .. “You know we used to play a game called Underwater Torpedo.” He scratched an ear. “There’s two teams in the pool, five per side” he pointed to each end, “and one torpedo. Object of the game is to score a goal on the opposite team. Torpedo has to stay underwater the entire time. If you’re in possession of the torpedo, you can’t break surface of the water. Not even for air. Or it’s a penalty and goes to the other side. Tackling and blocking are allowed kind of like in football. God that was fun.” The game was really a tactic to develop stamina and strength in their diving. It was the best part of the day for months. While it lasted. At his best, he could hold his breath 131 seconds underwater.
A swirl of the margarita, colder than one would expect from mere ice, sloshed as he took a drink. The James’ had surprisingly good tequila in the bar.
“What can you do? Ever figure out those underwater handstands?” Of course, if Cayli had been paying attention, she’d seemed to be particularly focused on her cup the last few minutes, then she would have noticed the taunt. With some measure of frustration, she put the cup on the side of the pool, spun hard enough to flick a blade of water from her hair, and promptly proceeded to demonstrate just such a feat.
Jay spoke quickly with Natalie. While he could.
“I need five-thousand dollars. Do you think you can get it?”
A detour through the largest kitchen he'd ever seen, and he found himself at a bar. A few minutes later, he plucked the sunglasses on his nose and appeared from the back door. Warmth radiated from sun-baked stones. The pool a vibrant blue. Given that he only had two hands and they were each occupied holding onto one of those wide-rimmed margarita cups, the third floated on toward Cayli on a tray of the power. Virgin. Of course.
Her comment halted him in his tracks, a curious grin touching his lips, Jay looked down at himself. Jeans worn for more days than he cared to admit, a white under-shirt that probably should go in the trash rather than the laundry. He shrugged and sent Cayli’s drink on to where she was perched in the pool. Despite everything between them, she didn’t turn it down.
The other he laid at Natalie’s side a moment before joining her. He kept his boots on though. The flagstone was hot as sand under his ass, but it was comforting anyway. Familiar.
He’d love to go swimming.
Don’t know why. But Jay just started talking. He never shared anything about his time in the marines with his family. Let alone anything like this.. Somehow, the moment seemed fitting. Probably that motherfucker Axel’s fault. .. “You know we used to play a game called Underwater Torpedo.” He scratched an ear. “There’s two teams in the pool, five per side” he pointed to each end, “and one torpedo. Object of the game is to score a goal on the opposite team. Torpedo has to stay underwater the entire time. If you’re in possession of the torpedo, you can’t break surface of the water. Not even for air. Or it’s a penalty and goes to the other side. Tackling and blocking are allowed kind of like in football. God that was fun.” The game was really a tactic to develop stamina and strength in their diving. It was the best part of the day for months. While it lasted. At his best, he could hold his breath 131 seconds underwater.
A swirl of the margarita, colder than one would expect from mere ice, sloshed as he took a drink. The James’ had surprisingly good tequila in the bar.
“What can you do? Ever figure out those underwater handstands?” Of course, if Cayli had been paying attention, she’d seemed to be particularly focused on her cup the last few minutes, then she would have noticed the taunt. With some measure of frustration, she put the cup on the side of the pool, spun hard enough to flick a blade of water from her hair, and promptly proceeded to demonstrate just such a feat.
Jay spoke quickly with Natalie. While he could.
“I need five-thousand dollars. Do you think you can get it?”
Only darkness shows you the light.