The Deep End

AVA

“I literally have the absolute worst news in the world,” Riley groaned a few days later, floating on her back as we swam in her parents' backyard pool.

I stopped paddling and wiped the water from my eyes. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

“My brother is coming along on the trip,” she said, letting out a dramatic whine.

I almost laughed out loud at the pure misery in her voice. “Well, Riles, your parents are his parents too. He kind of belongs in the family photo.”

“Unfortunately,” she muttered, splashing the water with her hand. “But he  told mum and dad last week that he wasn't going to come. I have absolutely no idea why he suddenly changed his stubborn mind.”

“He probably just wants to go over there and have a taste of gorgeous Greece girls,” I joked, shaking my head. “You can't really blame him. It’s a paradise for guy like him.”

“Really, Harper?”

The deep, mocking voice cut through the air, making me freeze instantly. My heart did a violent, heavy thud against my ribs.

“What the fuck, dude? Seriously, stop creeping up on people like that!” Riley snapped, glaring up at the edge of the pool.

Miles was standing there, looking down at us. He was wearing dark sweatpants, his chest completely bare, exposing every single dark line of his tattoos in the bright sunlight. He looked devastatingly handsome, and it made me feel completely breathless.

“I wasn't talking to you, Riley,” Miles said smoothly, his dark eyes sliding over to lock directly onto me. “I was talking to Harper.”

He stepped closer to the edge, his shadow completely covering me. “Why are you always over here anyway, dork? Oh, that’s right. It’s because you don't have a luxury pool at your own place.”

“Miles!” Riley yelled, defending me.

I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat and finally forced myself to look up at him. I raised my chin, trying to look brave. “It’s not like I am lying, am I? Why are you getting so annoyed?”

Miles stared down at me for a long, quiet second. Then, a slow, familiar smirk spread across his lips. “No, no, you’re not lying at all,” he murmured, his voice sending a strange shiver down my spine.

“Can you just leave us alone already?” Riley said, rolling her eyes as she turned around to continue swimming.

“Mum is calling you inside,” Miles said, looking over at his sister.

“No, she isn't,” Riley scoffed.

“Why on earth would I come all the way out here from the comfort of my air-conditioned room to call you if she really wasn't?” Miles asked, raising an eyebrow.

Riley stopped swimming and looked over at me, sighing in frustration.

“I’ll come inside with you,” I said, moving to swim toward the pool steps. I really did not want to be left alone with him.

“No, it’s fine, stay in,” Riley said, shaking her head. She climbed out of the pool, grabbing her towel from a nearby chair. She gave Miles one last nasty look, muttered something under her breath, and walked back toward the house.

I watched her go, suddenly realizing how quiet the backyard had become. I was already done swimming anyway, so I decided it was time for me to get out too. I swam over to the edge where my towel was resting.

But just as I reached out my hand, Miles leaned down and picked up my towel before I could touch it.