He’s leaning on the massage table now, his eyes enticing me in for another taste of his irresistible lips. “Oh, I think I do, Hannah, I think I do.”
Like I said, he had me at Hannah.
CHAPTER 33
Nick
Iinhale until my lungs fill completely, hold for a count to four, then exhale slowly. The twenty-five-yard stretch of blue water in front of me will either make or break me. This is the last part of my recertification, and I have to swim twenty laps without stopping in order to pass.
But I know I’m ready. Hannah insisted on coming, stating that as my physical therapist, she needed to be on hand should any need arise, and let me tell you, I need her something fierce.
The last two weeks have shown me that my life wasn’t as complete as I’d thought. I knew I would find someone to share my life with someday. But I never imagined it could be like this. Granted, it hasn’t been that long, but we’ve been together almost every day.
Training.
Hannah decided to play trainer and physical therapist to help me prep for today, which worked out amazingly well. But we haven’t had arealfirst date—something I plan to fix tomorrow night. We’ve had some intense kisses, including the one after we cleared the air at her office…especially that one. But then The General and his owner interrupted us. I’m not sure Mrs. Kimble plans to return.
“You ready?” Zane’s holding a clipboard in one hand and his whistle in the other.
I nod. “You know it.”
He grins and shakes his head. “Of course you are. You’re always ready.”
He gives me a bro shake as Hannah walks up. She’s attempting to hide her nervousness, but I can see it. The way she keeps tugging at the curl by her cheek and biting the right side of her lip. I’ve come to recognize other little quirks about her. Like how she eats her pizza crust first and pulls the cheese and toppings off the end because she can’t stand the soggy middle.
And how she likes a slice of lime in her Diet Coke, but enjoys it even more when it loses some of its fizz. Not sure about that one. Flat soda is gross. But whatever. I can live with it.
But the one I love the most is the way she crinkles her nose when she’s not sure about something. Or when she’s on the verge of laughing. And especially when she teases me because that just means I’ll get to kiss her.
“How are you feeling?” Her sunlit amber eyes narrow as she studies me.
Suddenly swimming 500 meters doesn’t seem like such a challenge. Not with Hannah here. “Good…great. I’ve got this.”
“Yeah, ya do.” She gives me a quick kiss, like a placeholder for the one she has waiting for me when I finish.
During one of my grueling training sessions, Hannah asked me about the accident, then confessed she used to watch Wave Watchers because of her brother and, well, me, it turns out. She assumed I’d find it funny, which I did. But it also hit something deep in me—that she thought of me then, even when I was a lesser version of myself, yet still believed in what I do and who I am.
Hannah’s like the puzzle piece I didn’t know was missing from my life, and I’d like to think…hope I’m the same for her.
One more breath, and I hit the water. Freestyle stroke to start, some butterfly to break the monotony, then back to freestyle to complete my run.
And I finish.
All the weight I’ve been carrying slides off into the pool as I climb out.
Hannah’s squeal hits my ears first before she plows into me. “You did it!”
I steal a quick kiss between catching my breath. Water from my hair drips on her face, not to mention the rest of her. “You’re getting soaked.”
“I don’t care.” She steals a kiss this time. “How’s the shoulder?”
I make a slow circle with my arm. “A little sore. Started feeling it toward the end, but I finished.” The reality settles in that I actually passed recertification. And it feels amazing, like I’ve climbed Mount Everest.
“I have ice ready in the cooler.” She darts off to where she set up before my swim. I feel like a prizefighter who just won the championship. Not only because I passed but because I had Hannah at my side through it all.
Zane hands me a towel. “Great job, man.”
I wipe my face. “Thanks.”
