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“No, you didn’t. You stayed afloat.” And since I’m so happy, effervescent even, I add a rhyme. “Like a boat.”

Wiping at his own face, he shakes his head again. “Nerd.”

I laugh that off, too. Nothing can ruin my mood right now. Nothing.

I was hesitant to try this again, but I’m glad Khaos insisted. We’ve already had more success than his first swim lesson. And I have a swimsuit on.

Khaos still doesn’t. He’s not in his underwear at least but his athletic shorts leave little to the imagination once they’re wet.

“What size shorts do you wear?”

“Why?”

“So I can order you some swim trunks.”

“You don’t think I can shop for myself?”

“I don’t think you shop at all.”

“I bought you that cat.”

I glance over at the table we left our stuff on, spotting Onyx right away.

“And your phone.”

Khaos follows my line of vision, drawing out, “That’s right.”

He forgot he got a new phone? It’s always such a big headache whenever I get a new one. It takes me at least a month to get everything the way I like it again.

“His name is Onyx, by the way.”

I lower myself until my shoulders are underwater, then wade around.

“My phone?”

“The cat.”

“You named it already?”

Khaos follows me, so we end up circling each other.

“He came with one. It was on the tag.”

“You can name it whatever you want.”

“I like Onyx. It stands for protection and strength.”

“It does? That’s…” Khaos’s gaze drops to the water. “That’s funny.”

“Why?”

“Uh, just… I didn’t know that.” His eyes meet mine again. “You could use both.”

After a chuckle, I splash water at his face using my foot.

He grabs for it, but I manage to pull it out of reach before he can make contact.

“I outlasted you.”