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“And which side is the shallow—” I let out a screech as someone shoves me into the water. Panic fills me as the cold water envelops me.
I hear someone shout, and then the sound of someone jumping in after me. Just as I break the surface, an arm wraps around my waist and pulls me to the side of the pool.
“What the hell, Kellan?” Cal snaps. He guides my hands to the edge of the pool so I can hold myself up. “You didn’t even know if she could swim.”
“I can,” I say. “For the most part.”
“Fucking Christ,” Wesley mutters. I’m just able to make out him shoving Kellan into the water. “Sorry about him. He’s an ass sometimes.”
“It’s okay.” I lean into Cal. The water is freezing, but he’s so warm. “I’m sure I’ll get used to—”
I scream as something grabs my leg and yanks me under the water. It’s only for a second before Cal hauls me back up again. This time, I grab onto him and throw an arm around his neck.
“I’ve got you,” Cal says reassuringly. “If he does that again, he’s a dead man.”
When Kellan surfaces, he’s laughing. “I could hear your scream underwater. Damn, girl. You probably woke the neighbors.”
“What the hell?” I splash at him, but it only makes him laugh harder. “You scared the shit out of me!”
“That’s the point.” He swims closer and grabs onto my wrist when I try to splash him again. His grip is strong, but he’s careful not to hurt me.
Wesley sighs before lowering himself into the water. “Ignore him. He likes scaring girls. Gets him off.”
I glance at Kellan. “That’s true?”
He moves closer, and the light from the house hits his face, revealing a wicked grin and short brown hair. “You looked so pretty when you were staring at the water, trying to figure out where you’d be safest. God, I could practically feel how scared you were. I wanted to hear you scream.” Kellan is so close now that we’re touching. His lips brush against my ear, and he whispers, “It made me hard.”
“Bro, you’re gonna scare hertoomuch,” Cal says. He shoves Kellan away. “She’s already shaking.”
“That’s when things are just starting to get good.”
“Motherfucker,” Cal growls. He shoves me into Wesley before diving into the water after Kellan.
I grab onto the first solid thing I can find, which happens to be Wesley. He’s holding onto the wall with one hand, and he loops his free arm around me, tugging me closer.
“You good?” he asks.
“Maybe I—maybe I should go.”
“No.” Wesley’s grip on me tightens. “I mean, please don’t. Cal will get Kellan to knock it off.”
“I don’t—it’s just… It’s really dark.” My voice falters on the last word, and I realize my breaths are already coming in short and quick.
Shit.I’ve managed to avoid having a panic attack all day. Am I really going to have one now?
“Whoa—hey.” Wesley lifts me out of the water with almost no effort. Then he climbs out next to me. “He’s an ass, but Kellan wouldn’t actually hurt you.”
I try to pull in a full breath. “The water is just dark, that’s all. I’m not the best swimmer, and getting pulled under, it was just scary, and—”
“Hey. Hey, it’s okay.” Wesley strokes a hand down my back. “You don’t have to explain yourself. Just focus on breathing.”
As Kellan and Cal splash around in the pool, I try to calm down. I don’t think either of them realize that we’ve gotten out yet.
The pool was freezing, and now that I’m soaked, the night air is only serving to chill me to the bone. I can’t stop shivering as I try to focus on the warmth of Wesley’s touch.
“How does the hot tub sound?” he asks. “It’s better lit, it’s not nearly as deep, and it’ll get you warm.
“S-sure.”
