Siya chuckles while Anya just blinks at me repeatedly. “Are you serious?” She pulls a face.
“Damn serious!” I grin widely.
“Lord, give me patience or—” She glares at me.“---an untraceable handgun.” I am always amused at how easily she drops these murderous comments in the middle of a conversation while looking so fucking tiny and adorable.
I don’t give her much time to taunt me anymore. I pick her up bridal-style. She squeals. “What are you doing?” she exclaims, her voice laced with a mixture of surprise and feigned annoyance. She grabs onto my shoulders for support. I love the way she feels in my arms—so light and dainty.
Her hands tighten their grip on my shoulders, her slender fingers pressing into my muscular arms, and I can feel her body tense up slightly as I lift her effortlessly. For someone who acts so tough and assertive, she sure is easy to fluster.
“Don’t worry, Firecracker. I’ve got you.” I reassure her with a smug smile, enjoying the way her eyes widen and her ears turn red. Her warmth radiates through her bikini against my chest, and I can’t help but notice the faint scent of coconut and sunscreen that clings to her skin. It’s intoxicating, drawing me in closer despite the playful banter.
As we approach the edge of the water, she clings to me tighter, her fingers digging into my shoulders. “Daniel, I swear if you drop me, I will never forgive you,” she threatens, her voice a mix of amusement and genuine concern.
“You have my word, firecracker.” I assure her with a mischievous grin. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” With a swift movement, I step into the shallow surf, the cool water lapping at our feet. Anya lets out a squeal, her grip on me tightening even more as she instinctively leans back, away from the water. Her eyes widen, panic flickering across her face, and I can’t help but laugh at her adorable reaction.
“Relax, it’s just water,” I tease, pretending to lose my balance just to see her reaction. She squeaks and tightens her grip, her body pressing closer to mine, her eyes locked onto mine with a mix of anxiousness and slight fear.
I take another step, the water now up to my knees, and I can feel her tense up even more. “Daniel, seriously,” she pleads, her voice now tinged with a hint of desperation. “I’m warning you.”
But I ignore her protests, enjoying the playful dance between us. With a quick, fluid motion, I lower her closer to the water’s surface, the cool waves lapping gently against her feet. Anya lets out a startled gasp, her eyes wide as she realizes she’s now just inches away from the water.
“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” I tease, my voice low and playful. She glares at me, but the corners of her lips twitch upwards in a reluctant smile.
“You’re impossible,” she mutters, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and amusement.
I hold her steady, the water swirling around our legs, and for a moment, we just stand there, her gaze locked with mine. The playful banter fades into a comfortable silence, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the air around us.
“You’re not mad, are you?” I ask softly, my tone sincere now. Anya shakes her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
“No, I’m not mad,” she admits, her voice softening.
“Good,” I reply, relieved that she’s not truly upset with me. “Because I did promise to throw you into the water.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can see the spark of amusement in them. “Yeah, yeah,” she grumbles half-heartedly. “You win this round, Daniel.”
I chuckle, feeling victorious in more ways than one. Holding her close and feeling the rhythm of her breathing against my chest, I realize just how much I enjoy spending time with her. She might be my favorite part of the day. I smile gently at her as she splashes some water at me, laughing. It’s so beautiful to see her so carefree.
I can’t help but grin like an idiot. She’s radiant in this moment, her carefree spirit contagious. Her eyes sparkle with mischief as she scoops up more water, aiming another playful splash in my direction. I smile smugly. “Oh, I am not letting that pass, Anya!” I exclaim. “Oh, it’s on firecracker.” I laugh evilly, my heart still racing looking at her smile.
You’re just so beautiful, Anya. Do you have any idea how much you affect me?
∞∞∞
13
DANIEL
I lace up my sneakers, the faint smell of polish and sweat grounding me. I have always loved the gym, probably my favorite place to be. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a familiar glow in the gym, and the sound of the basketball bouncing on the hardwood is like a heartbeat, steady and alive.
“Alright, team, bring it in!” I call out, clapping my hands.
Ethan jogs over, smirking. “What’s the pep talk today, Captain Sunshine?”
I shake my head but can’t help the grin tugging at my lips. “Pep talk’s simple: don’t let Ethan shoot.”
The team erupts in laughter, and Ethan throws a towel at me. “Funny, Danny. Real funny.”
Louis rolls his eyes. “Can we start already? Some of us have lives outside of basketball.”
