Freshman(14)

I swam quickly to cool off, doing laps back and forth across the pool until I felt my arms and legs screaming at the exertion. I climbed out and sank into one of the pool chairs, feeling my pulse thumping quickly in my ears and my breathing heavy as I panted from the swim as I closed my eyes and let the sun slide over me.





*****





I didn’t remember falling asleep, but it was dark when I suddenly awoke with a gasp to a hand on my arm.





“Mr. Weaver!” I sat up quickly, looking around in confusion at the dark sky and the glow of the string lights out by the pool. “Oh my God, what time is it?”





He chuckled. “Late. Sorry I let you snooze out here so long but I managed to do the same thing on the couch inside.”





“Holy shit, my parents are probably freaking ou-”





“I called them and let them know you and Anna were over here.”





I grinned. “Than-”





Me AND Anna?





I bit my lip as I glanced up at him. “Anna?”





Something seemed to flash in his face as he quickly swallow. “Oh, right.” He grinned and shrugged. “Habit I supposed. Guess I’m just used to the two of you being over here for a swim.”





I wanted to read more into it, even though I knew how ridiculous that was. I wanted to think about Mr. Weaver making it up that Anna was over in order to ease any suspicions my parents might have about me being over there so late alone with him.





But that was silly.





"Listen, I'm- do you want a ride home? I'm going out for a drive anyways, and I'd be happy to drop you off."





I instantly felt my whole body glow at the offer; I lived barely a half mile away, but a chance to drive alone with him? Uh, yes please.





“That’d be great. Let me change real quick.”





******





"Sorry again that you had to hear that," He said as he we drove down the block. “The phone thing earlier I mean."





“Oh, it’s fine.” I gave him my best attempt at a sympathetic look. “It must be hard.” I could feel my pulse start to beat faster and faster, as if the air itself inside the car being alone with him like this was getting me hotter and hotter. I wanted to be sympathetic, but it was hard, mostly because I didn’t at all want to think about him and Rebecca. What I wanted to think about was that day before, and my name on his breath as he came.





Tyler snorted. “Actually, it’s not.” He laughed and shook his head. “I know I should be all bent out of shape about her leaving like that, but the truth is, I feel great. Shit, I feel the best I have in years, and it’s not some some ‘oh I’m in shock’ thing either, it’s real.” He turned and gave me a grin. “I’m really great.” He frowned then. "Sorry, I shouldn't be telling you all of this."





"No!” I bit my lip and turned to smile at him as we slowly drove through the neighborhood. “It really is fine, Mr. Weaver. Sometimes it's good just to talk things out loud to someone else just to free up some space up there in your head." We were almost to my house already, and I felt like I was going to go crazy if I didn't do something, or even say something, as utterly terrible and idea as it was.





“Can I be honest?” I looked over at him.





“Shoot.”





“She didn’t deserve you.”





Mr. Weaver laughed, his whole body shaking as the sound rumbled through him. He turned and grinned at me in the dim of the dashboard light. “Thanks,” he said quietly before he shook his head. “Well shit, when the hell did you get so grown up, Christina?"





"Last year, when I turned eighteen."





I watched his face clench for a second, his hands gripping the wheel a little tighter as he swallowed heavily.





Just then, we pulled up in front of my house, by the big tree next to our driveway. It was late, and the neighborhood was dark, as was my house save for the back-porch light up the driveway. This was it; it was now or never, and if I went back to college without saying a damn thing to this man, I knew I'd never forgive my-





"I watched you." The words just blurted out before I could stop them, and then hung heavy in the car for a moment.





"What?" He turned to look at me, his brow furrowed.





"That day, in your office with my panties, Mr. Weaver."





The car went pin-drop silent.





"Christina, I- I don't know what you think you saw, young lady, but-"





"I loved watching you, actually.” I could feel my pulse racing like an engine in my ears, every inch of my skin alive and feeling electrified.