“Where did you learn to fight?” I ask, curious. It took me off guard.
He laughs. “You’re not the first guy I’ve had to fight off.”
Ah. He’s probably done this for years. If I liked him a little better, I would have felt sorry for him, but alas, I don’t.
We get the water cleaned up and rush off to change. I throw on running gear because I know that’s what she’s about to make us do. Anniston believes that running will solve anything. Tired? Run. Pent-up? Run. Excited? Run. Can’t sleep? Run. You get it. It’s exhausting living with someone like that. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Theo sidles up beside me as we hesitantly reach the backyard. Anniston is lying in the grass, gazing at the moon. The pond is lit by tiny lights on the gazebo.
Theo groans beside me. I don’t ask him why. It must be bad.
“Boys,” she barks.
Oh shit.
We move toward her slowly, like we’re marching toward the guillotine.
“It’s a beautiful night for a swim. Don’t you think?”
It’s sixty degrees. I think that’s the point. Theo doesn’t speak.
“Why don’t you boys hop in?” It’s not a suggestion.
Theo silently strips down to his compression pants and shorts. I follow as he eases in the water. Clearly, it’s freezing, but he makes no remark, only complies. I follow soundlessly, as well. I don’t want him showing me up.
The bottom of the pond is gooey. It feels disgusting between my toes. Apart from the pins and needles feeling from the cold, it is oddly refreshing. I can’t see to the bottom, but soon it will be completely dark and we won’t be able to see shit.
“I want you to swim together for one hundred laps. If one fails, you both fail, and we’ll start all over.”
Holy shit. I look over at Theo. His eyes are locked with hers. He only nods. Shit.
She blows a whistle and Theo dives underwater. I don’t think I have swum in years but I dive in and mimic Theo’s technique.
“Keep up,” he hisses. “I don’t want to be out here all night.”
“Do you do this a lot?”
“Occasionally.”
“What does that mean?”
We’re both huffing out breaths and we’re only three laps in. This is going to suck major balls.
“I told you. You aren’t the first guy that has tried to take her from me.”
We turn for another lap.
“She does this to me every time she thinks I’ve forgotten my place.”
“Your place?”
“Yeah. We have a complicated relationship.”
“I can tell.”
He starts to slow his pace. Thank heavens. My arms are on fire. “You love her?”
“Yes,” he admits.
