As impressive as the throw was, I was focused on something else.
In order for me to catch it, I’d have to jump into the pool.
If I jumped . . . I’d be swimming. In my clothes.
In that instance, a lifetime of,That’s not appropriate, Polly,orWhat would people think, Polly?went out the window.
Because who was I before my father told me who I should be?
I spared one millisecond to look at Jace. His eyes were focused on mine. A flash of excitement in them.
“Help is on the way!” I started running, then leapt out over the water, caught the noodle midair, and sunk into the pool.
* * *
“I think they’re asleep,” Jace whispered, muting the movie. I looked down at Ryla, spread-eagle on a big quilt, and Max, curled up in a ball under his weighted blanket. I wasn’t surprised they’d totally zonked out. The kids were delighted that I’d jumped in the pool and swam with them. I’d changed into my swimsuit shortly after my epic save and continued to swim until we were pruny and exhausted. After swimming, we’d all dried off and changed into jammies and had a movie night, ordering pizza and eating it on the floor of the living room.
It was the nicest night I’d had in a long time.
Jace and I were sitting on opposite ends of the couch in the living room. His hair was adorably frizzy again, after air-drying. My eyes must have flicked up to his hair one too many times because he finally caught me, grinning sheepishly.
“How bad does it look?” he drawled, running his hand through the frizzy locks.
“It’s fine.”
He narrowed his eyes at me.
“What? It’s just a shame you’re not pursuing a clown career. It’d be economical. No wig needed.”
Jace groaned and covered his heart with his hand, a gesture of his I’d come to recognize. “Imagine you’re a thirteen-year-old with a delayed growth spurt, dressed in a black cape, holding a white-tipped wand, with this mop top under a black top hat, begging his family to watch his magic shows.”
“I bet it was adorable,” I blurted, then mashed my lips together.
“I was certain that I was going to be the next famous magician.”
“What made you leave magic behind?”
“When I realized I wasn’t willing to put my body through high-grade torture.”
“What?” I asked.
“Have you ever seen David Blaine’s stuff?” I shook my head prompting Jace to bring out his phone and lean toward me. I scooted over, folding my legs under me until I was sitting right next to Jace. I had to force myself to focus on his phone, rather than the mint on his breath from the peppermint patties we’d shared after pizza. I held my breath as the clip played.
Revulsion filled me as I saw the magician put metal through his hand. “There’s something wrong with that guy. Is that what it takes to be a successful magician? No wonder you stopped.”
I’d turned my head to Jace as I spoke, scooting back when I realized my lips were only a few inches from his.
Jace’s eyes had dipped to my mouth, then back to my eyes as I inched further back on the couch. Shaking his head, he turned toward me and sat cross-legged on the couch.
“It was just as well. The next summer, I hit my growth spurt, gained ten pounds of muscle, and joined the baseball team.”
On their own accord, my eyes drifted to his arms when he said the word,muscle.My gaze snapped back to his face, only to see him eye me curiously. I reached for a question—fast.
“Did you do any theater in school?”
“Junior year. About the time that a sixteen-year-old guy just wants to get laid. All the hot girls were in drama club, and they needed guys for the play they were doing.”
“What was the play?”
