"Sure. Let's do it. I'm done with cleaning," Matt said. He was ready to start, but then realized Bailey might not be. "Did you mean now or...?"
"I have to take Joey swimming first. I promised. But if you want to stick around, I'll order us all some dinner and we can get to work," Bailey said.
"You know The Spicy Grill isn't far from here. Have you been there?" Matt asked.
"No, but I meant to check it out." It wasn't first on his list. He wasn't into spicy food, but he didn't want to say that to Matt when he seemed to be recommending the place.
"It's a nice walk up the hill and they have outdoor tables with a killer view," Matt said.
"You want to go with us?" Bailey asked and got nervous though this wasn't some meaningful invitation.
"Yeah. Sounds good," Matt said with a smile. "I'll go for a swim with you guys too if you don't mind. I need to cool off."
"OK," Bailey said and wondered why he was setting himself up like this. He shouldn't be spending so much time with Matt. Though he could think of this as a test to see if he could enjoy spending time around a gorgeous, friendly guy and not just suffer because he couldn't have him.
The first part of the test was Matt flinging off his clothes as he got ready to run for the waves. Except he didn't run off this time. He was still there as Bailey went to change and came back in his swim trunks looking decidedly unimpressive.
Somehow he still got a good once over from Matt and he nodded. "I knew you'd have a good body," he said.
Bailey was ready to deny it, but decided this wasn't a subject he wanted to dwell on, not when Matt looked like an absolute god in his swim trunks. Though the man was really meant to wear even less than that.
OK, Bailey couldn't stand there ogling and being ogled, Joey was waiting. They needed to get to the beach.
"Finally!" Joey yelled when he saw them.
"I guess you're ready for a swimming lesson," Bailey said with a laugh as he picked him up and swung him around.
"Throw me in the water, Daddy!" Joey said.
"You wouldn't like it," Bailey told him but he did carry him into the waves with water splashing all around them. "Now we swim."
"I got that on video. I'll send it to you," Matt said from behind them then he set his phone down on a towel.
"Oh, thanks," Bailey said. "Why did you bring your phone out here?" He had left his at the house.
"I like to keep it close in case I get word about a job," Matt said then he joined them in the water.
He dropped backwards into the water and then just floated there. "My dad can do that too," Joey told him. "Show him, Daddy."
"I don't think he'll be impressed," Bailey said. Joey had been the first time he did it, like it was magic.
Matt did the backstroke for a while impressing Joey some more, but he didn't go too far out. He was nearby when Joey started doing his own swimming with Bailey holding onto him then letting go. Matt was very distracting, so good looking, and he was also very encouraging toward Joey as the little guy practiced swimming.
"That's real swimming, no water wings or anything. Good for you," Matt called out.
That made Joey smile with pride. "I want to swim far out," he said.
"You're so ambitious today," Bailey said. He was making good progress, swimming for longer but he still had to stay where he could touch bottom with his feet and stand up when he got scared. And Bailey stayed close, of course.
Then Joey had an idea. "Daddy, you and Matt should race."
"Matt would win," Bailey told him.
"You don't know that," Matt said as Bailey shook his head at him in disbelief.
But Joey agreed. "Yeah, you don't know."
"Fine. I'll prove it. By losing," Bailey said so he got ready to swim and Joey called for them to start.
