Page 59 of The Golden Boys
A smirk slips. She’s sassy, and in a world where everyone puts on their best face to make sure they stay in my good graces, it’s surprisingly refreshing. She keeps it real when no one else has the balls.
“Smart-ass,” I mutter.
“Dumb-ass” she shoots back.
She’s fighting it, but one corner of her mouth tugs up. Shewantsto smile, even if pride won’t allow it.
“Let’s just get this over with,” she says with a sigh. “What do I do first?” Her tone is cold and indifferent, but I have reason to believe she’s anything but that.
“Well, seeing as how you have the skillset of an infant, we need to start with the basics. You’ve gotta get comfortable holding your breath underwater.”
A look of sheer terror fills her expression.
“That … gonna be a problem?” My brow quirks with the question.
There’s a brief moment where she doesn’t speak. Then, a sharp breath leaves those full, pink lips I hate that I still think about from time to time.
“It’s fine,” she concedes. “Just explain what I need to do.”
I suppress a laugh. “There’s nothing to explain. Just breathe in deep, hold it, then lean into the water until your face and ears are submerged. I’ll count to ten, then you come back up.”
That distrust in her eyes grows.
“No funny shit, West. I mean it. If I feel you trying to hold me under, I’ll junk punch you so fast you’ll—”
“Relax, Southside. My grade depends on this, too, remember?”
She doesn’t give in easily but, eventually, she calms down a little.
“Ten seconds,” she reminds me. “Not a second longer.”
“That’s the plan.”
Another of her death stares and she does as instructed.
I count her down as promised and she pops back up, drawing in a dramatic breath like she’s been under for minutes, not seconds.
Trying not to laugh at her is going to kill me, I swear.
“Relax,” I say to her again. “You’re fine.”
Without thinking, my hands are on her waist, trying to remind her she’s safe and isn’t alone. However, the second I realize what I’ve done, I pull back.
“Try it again.”
I’ve earned myself one of her familiar‘Are you crazy?’looks and nod at her.
“Come on. This time we’re gonna double the time.”
She’s already shaking her head before I even finish. “No way. I barely made it ten seconds,” she protests.
This girl who’s, literally afraid of nothing, is terrified of four-feet of water? Something’s up.
“What is it? You fall in your pool trying to reach one of your Barbies as a kid?”
I’m laughing, but she isn’t. And judging by the scolding look she just passed my way, I’m guessing thereisa story. And it isn’t nearly as funny as I just assumed.
“You’ve seen where I live and you’ve met my dad, so if you think there’s anything but weeds and a couple broken lawn chairs in my backyard, you’re sadly mistaken.”