My Best Friend's Dad

Swimming

Elona's POV

The summer sun blazed overhead as I took a leisurely dip in the pool. The cool water caressed my skin, offering respite from the heat. I couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom and euphoria as I swam, my body moving effortlessly through the crystal-clear water.

Crislynn was sprawled out on a sun lounger nearby, a book in hand but her attention far from its pages. Her auburn hair, pinned up into a messy bun and her sunglasses hid the knowing glint in her eyes. Tristan was out of my sight, lost in the grandeur of the luxurious house. I didn't like that Maggie was still here, but who am I to say anything when nothing is happening between Tristan and I?

As I pushed myself through the water, my senses were heightened, attuned to the world around me. I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment because of Tristan and Maggie. That is when I heard the approaching footsteps from the house, each one echoing in the stillness of the afternoon. It was Tristan. My heart quickened, and a mix of nerves and anticipation sent ripples through my chest.

He dressed casually in a linen shirt and blue jeans, casting a brief glance in my direction as he neared the sun lounger where Crislynn rested. His eyes flitted over me for the briefest of moments, but it was enough to send a flurry of butterflies dancing in my stomach.

"Crislynn," he said, his voice soft and tender, "I'm going to take Maggie home. I will be back soon."

Crislynn glanced up from her book, her demeanor cool and nonchalant. "Sure, Dad. Take your time." she grinned, and I know what she meant by that, ugh.

Tristan nodded and turned to head back inside, but not before casting another fleeting look in my direction. His eyes met mine, and in that moment, there was something unspoken, a connection that transcended mere words.

I watched him walk away, the rhythm of his steps fading into the distance, but his presence lingered in the air. Crislynn seemed lost in her book, oblivious to the charged atmosphere around us. My heart pounded in my chest, and I couldn't help but wonder about the secrets and desires that hid just beneath the surface of our interactions.

"You are like a fish in that water," Cris said and, I shifted my gaze to her.

"Maybe in another lifetime, perhaps I was a mermaid," I smiled.

"Oh, I have an idea!" she rested her book on her lap with excitement. "Why don't you do a swimwear photoshoot, it doesn't have to be here but we can do it at your house." she grinned.

"That is not a bad idea at all," my smile widened. "Brilliant idea," Cris was a genius.

"You know, men will be falling at your feet because you are beautiful, you're sexy, you have a body. Modeling is the perfect career for you, so I want to help where I can...I mean, I see my father looking at you in a way that he is not supposed to and it is disgusting because you are my friend, but that is how men are wired, but I will not be happy if my father looks at you that way all the time. And you better tell me if he does anything, okay?" I was taken aback by that, I thought that she was oblivious to it but I was wrong. I guess that we should steer clear from dangerous territories because I don't want to lose my friend despite having feelings for Tristan.

"Well, why don't you join me for a swim?" I said, changing the topic.

"I am reading this hot novel, and I don't want to put it down. I need to get my fill of it," she smiled as she got back to her book.

As I swam on, my mind drifted to this new revelation. I really had to be careful. I think I need a distraction from Tristan. Hopefully next year, when I'm in modeling and Cris is doing journalism, then I won't be seeing him as often as I am. I cannot cross the dangerous territories and my feelings...I need to keep to myself.

***

I was still swimming lazily through the pool, my eyes fixed on the water's shimmering surface. Crislynn was still stretched out on the sun lounger, the novel now resting on her lap. I don't know for how long I have been in the pool, but it must have been for a long time because the distant echoes of my heartbeat seemed to amplify the silence that enveloped the backyard.

I heard the door creak open and glanced over my shoulder, the anticipation building within me as Tristan reemerged from the house. He seemed a bit more relaxed now, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Crislynn glanced up, her tone teasing but with a hint of mischief. "How is Maggie, Dad?"

Tristan's gaze met Crislynn's briefly, but then, his eyes flickered in my direction once more, the contact so fleeting that it was almost imperceptible. "She is fine. Just a little tired from last night." I rolled my eyes.

I pretended to focus on my swimming, the heat of the sun on my back doing nothing to quell the warmth that spread through me. It was thrilling, the unspoken tension, and I could feel the energy in the air shift.

Crislynn sat up on the lounger, her curiosity getting the better of her. "I'm just glad that you are moving on. You know, Dad, Elona is an excellent swimmer. She has been doing laps for a while now."

Tristan's gaze met mine once more, and there was something in his eyes that sent my heart into a frenzy. "Is that so?"

I couldn't help but feel a rush of embarrassment and excitement. "Yeah, I love swimming," I replied, my voice coming out steadier than I had expected. I usually swim at times in the pool at home.

Cris seemed oblivious to the true nature of the connection between her father and me. "You should join her, Dad. It's a beautiful day."

Tristan hesitated for a moment, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made it difficult to breathe. "Maybe later," he finally said.

"I need to get something," Cris said as she stood up from the sun lounger.

I continued to glide through the pool, the water caressing my skin with every stroke. The tension between Tristan and me lingered like a secret, unspoken yet undeniable. Crislynn had disappeared into the house to retrieve whatever it was, leaving me alone with Tristan.

As I reached the edge of the pool, I could feel Tristan's eyes on me, a magnetic pull that was impossible to ignore. I hesitated for a moment, the water dripping from my glistening body as I hoisted myself out of the pool. The sensation was electrifying, knowing that he was watching, his gaze following my every move.

He stood by the poolside, his demeanor composed yet his eyes betraying a hint of longing. "You are really an excellent swimmer, Elona," he remarked, the same words as Cris, his voice low and husky.

I couldn't help but blush, the heat of the sun mixing with the heat that seemed to simmer between us. "Thank you," I replied, my words tinged with both gratitude and uncertainty.

He stepped closer, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent my heart racing. "You have a natural grace in the water. It's captivating."

My breath caught in my throat, and I glanced away for a moment, feeling both vulnerable and exhilarated. Crislynn's absence, even for a few moments, had created a vacuum that seemed to draw us together.

Just then, Crislynn reappeared from the house, carrying a tray with chilled drinks. She seemed unaware of the charged atmosphere between her father and me, her focus on the refreshments she was bringing.

"I thought you two might be thirsty," she said cheerfully, her attention on arranging the drinks.

Tristan and I exchanged a quick, almost desperate glance, as if the moment had slipped through our fingers, and the unspoken desires had to be concealed once more.

Crislynn's presence seemed to break the spell, and Tristan took a step back. "Thanks." I moved towards the other sun lounger and I dried my hair with a towel. I could still feel his eyes on me.

Once I was done, I took a glass from the tray, trying to regain my composure. "You always make the best lemonade," I said, as I took a sip.

"Everyone loves them," she smiled.

As we sipped our drinks and engaged in casual conversation, I couldn't help but wonder about the longing in Tristan's eyes and the unspoken desires that had almost found their voice under the sun's unrelenting gaze. It was a chapter in our story that I knew would continue to unfold, even if the words remained unsaid. But I had to keep it the way that it is for a reason. It wasn't long until he went back inside of the house and I felt a pang of disappointment. Will these feelings ever go away?