“What about the distance swim? How far is that?”
“Five hundred yards.”
“Timed?” Her tone conveys her disbelief.
“No.”
She blows out a breath. “Well, that’s good.”
“Yes, but I can’t stop. Has to be a continuous swim. No floating, no doggy paddle?—”
Bandit lathers my face with his tongue, evoking another giggle fit from Hannah.
Her laughter is infectious and makes me chuckle. I lean back so I don’t become completely drenched. “And no side stroke. Only freestyle or butterfly.”
She nods, then shifts her focus back to Bandit. “Great job, buddy. Let’s get you ready for the treadmill.”
Hannah slides out the inflated capsule thing as I hold Bandit up so she can secure the harness to him. Then we carry him over to the water treadmill and put him inside. Hannah kicks off her shoes and rolls her pants up above her knees, then straddles the belt after closing the door to fill the tank.
Once the water is at the right level, she starts the belt while holding the harness to help Bandit walk, which he does. Random at first, but you can tell his instinct to walk is kicking in more.
I stand next to the tank. “Hey, look at that. He’s trying to use his legs.”
Hannah blows a rogue curl out of her face when she looks up. “You know, we could use the pool at your apartments.”
“For Bandit?”
She lets out a short laugh with her smile. “No, goofball. For you.”
That curl drops in her eyes again. Without thinking, I reach out and tuck it behind her ear. My fingers linger at the soft skinthere, then purposely brush her cheek when I draw my hand away.
And I think she leaned her face into my caress a tiny fraction.
“The public pool is bigger and is where I’ll do the testing. I can get access after hours. That is, if you’re available.”
She pins me with her honey-amber eyes. “I’m available.”
My growing feelings for Hannah could be clouding my perceptions, but I get the distinct impression that she means way more than just her time to help me prep for recert. Before I can say anything, she looks away.
“Nick, I wanted to ask if you’d mind giving me your parents’ address.”
The sudden shift in conversation jars me for a moment. I rest my arms on the edge of the tank. “May I ask why?”
“I’d like to send them a card, thanking them for inviting me to come.”
“Technically, I’m the one who invited you.”
“Hmmm, technically, I invited myself after I noticed your mother’s note that said to bring a date.” Her tone is flirtatious and light.
Which emboldens my return. “Were you, Hannah? My date?”
I’m rewarded with the blush in her cheeks, and she looks slightly flustered.
“I, um…I think Bandit’s almost done.” She busies herself by adjusting a knob on the control panel.
The connecting door to the pet shop opens and Liam walks in. I start another rep with the weights but keep Hannah in my peripheral vision.
“Hannah,” Liam joins us by the treadmill, “can you help Jenny with Mr. Skittles again?”
