"You were great today," she says. "God, it was so cool. It's like I know a celebrity."
A genuine laugh rips out of me. "Something like that."
I never really see it that way. Since moving especially, we've been able to cut back on the unwanted paparazzi and overzealous fans. But short of protecting Ruthie from the limelight as much as humanly possible, the life I live isn't very celebrity at all.
"Hey, Tess…" I say like I'm testing the words.
She tilts her head in response.
"I'm sorry about… well—for being sort of… standoffish. Hesitant maybe. I'm, uh, not normally so hot and cold like I've been." I rake my hand down the back of my neck and blow out a breath. "Just a lot going on, I guess. But that's not your fault. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
She holds my gaze, and for a second I regret bringing it up at all.
"You stealing apologies now, Two-Three?"
I ignore the way my pulse quickens when she says the nickname she must have heard from the stands and laugh before my expression settles again. "I'm serious, Tessa. I want you to be comfortable—here, at home, with Ruthie."With me.
She gives me a shallow nod, her eyes twinkling with the glow of the lights. "Thanks, Liam."
If I thought hearing my nickname flow from her mouth increased my heart rate, my actual name falling from her lips threatens to stop it altogether. We both smile, our gazes dropping away from each other.
"Dad, can we go back to the room?" Ruthie calls from the other side of the pool. I turn just in time to catch her yawn, her eyes red from either exhaustion or chlorine.
I look at her, shocked. "Are you telling me you're done with your favorite part of the hotel already?"
Tess leans in, her sweet scent enveloping me. "Sugar crash," she whispers.
I peer over at her with every intention of questioning why with just one look, but I realize she hasn't pulled away. She's still close—only inches from me—her face illuminated in a blue glow that might as well be a warning sign.
My whole body stills.
"I, uh…"
"Sorry," she says, wincing and pulling back. "I know I can't do it every time, but it was our first game together and—"
"No," I say gently. "It's fine." I gesture toward the pool "It seems like she had a great day."
"She did." The corners of her mouth tug upward. "So did I."
I pinch my lips together and nod, grinning back as I inhale a much needed breath.
"Dad?" Ruthie rubs her eyes.
"Oh, right." I glance at Tess who's already watching me, then back at my daughter.
"I was hoping to stay for a little while actually. This thing's like a full-body heating pad." I crack my neck side-to-side. "And I need it," I admit.
"I can take her up." Tess pops up, her cover-up clinging to her suit underneath just enough to rock me again. I try not to overthink the fact that she literally sprang from her seat to get away from me and grin.
"Are you sure?" I peer down at the water, the ripples in front of me mirroring the fluctuation of my heart beat. "I won't be long. You can hang in my room until I get back."
"Yeah, of course. As long as that's okay with Ruthie?"
We both find her climbing out of the pool, and she nods sleepily. Tess grabs a towel from the lounge chair, wrapping her in it.
"I'll tuck you in when I get back, Roo, okay?" Tessa rubs her arms, warming her.
"Okay," she yawns. "Love you, Dad."
