Nick watched the two from the kitchen. He'd already ordered the pizza but had caught sight of Jordyn and Brayden out by the pool. She'd finally peeled off her tank top and shorts to reveal a blue and green bikini. Nick smiled slightly, so that was what she was hiding under all the clothes she wore.
Brayden obeyed her as she slathered him with sunscreen, rubbing it in all over him so he wouldn't get sunburned. Then, she rubbed some on her arms, stomach, and legs. Brayden turned and asked her something and she had a thoughtful look on her face. Nick suddenly wondered what his son could have asked her. But she answered him, and Brayden laughed before running for the pool and jumping in.
From almost the moment he could walk, Brayden was in the pool or in the ocean. Nick had taught him to swim and had also enrolled him in swim lessons, just to be on the safe side. Brayden knew the rules: no going in the pool without an adult around. And he pretty much stuck to those rules. Plus, it wasn't hard to convince Nick to go lounge around by the pool or swim, he was a water guy himself.
Nick finally walked outside a few moments later, shutting the screen door behind him so he could hear when the pizza guy arrived. Jordyn was sitting at the edge of the pool with her long legs in the blue water. Brayden was in the shallow end, swimming around and telling Jordyn all he knew about the water.
Nick shed his t-shirt and kicked his sandals to the side before joining her.
Jordyn jumped as his hand touched her shoulder and she looked over, "It's about time you came out."
Nick smiled and groaned as his back popped as he sat down, "Yea sorry.."
She scrunched up her nose, "That was nasty Nick.."
"What? My back popping?"
"Yea.."
"I'm gettin' old Jord, what do you expect?"
She laughed, "You are so NOT old!"
"Older than you."
"By like..a year? Ooooo...Nick that is so old. By the way, how does he know how to swim so good? I thought I was going to have to jump in and get him there for a minute.."
"Oh he's fine, he's like a fish. I got him swim lessons and also taught him how to swim...I figured if I was going to have a pool and a kid, he needed to know everything. Plus, as long as he's out here with an adult, he's free to jump in anywhere."
"Ohh okay..."
They both drifted into silence, each in their own world. Nick was watching Brayden swim around.
Jordyn kept thinking back to Brayden's question. Yes, she did like Nick.
Alot.
But that didn't mean he felt the same exact way about her..he had been hurt, he'd been through alot. And he was still going through alot. She didn't even know if he wanted to get involved with someone else...maybe he just wanted to be a father...maybe he didn't want to get married again or have any other kids. He'd been burned by one woman, maybe he thought it'd happen again.
Jordyn sighed and that got the attention of Nick. He looked at her, "You alright?"
"Yeah..I'm fine. I was just thinking, sorry."
"It's okay...I'm gonna go jump in..."
She nodded as he stood up, "I'll watch.."
He walked to the deep end of the pool and stood there for a moment. Jordyn took that opprutunity to really look at him. She'd never seen him without a shirt, but now she was glad she had. He was tan and muscular, probably from spending so much time out here in the pool. Tattoos marked his upper arms mostly. And as he dove in gracefully, she spotted two on his shoulderblades. Usually, she didn't like tattoos, but on him they looked good. They seemed to make him have a sort of edge about him..although, she really knew that he was just a guy who loved his son no matter what and also loved the career he was practically forced to give up. Nick was a caring, friendly guy. Some of those traits had been charred by Kate...but Jordyn knew they were there and that they existed.
Brayden clapped his hands loudly together, cheering, "That was good daddy!"
Nick grinned as he surfaced, shaking some of the water from his hair. He swam over to Brayden and picked him up and tossed him back into the water, squealing. Brayden came up, giggling like an idiot. Nick was laughing as well, just happy to be at the point he was at that moment.
The sun had set about an hour before, and Brayden had crashed a little before then. He'd spent practically the whole afternoon in the pool so by the time dinnertime rolled around, he was worn out. Nick finally convinced him that it was time for bed and so up to bed he went.
Jordyn still sat out by the pool, with her legs in the water. She yawned and stretched her arms up over her head, it was a fun day but she was also exhausted.
Nick came back out then, "He's out like a light..."
She smiled softly, "I bet...he played hard today."
"Which means he may actually sleep in tomorrow, which means I, in turn, can sleep in as well."
"Which is good. I think I'll just like..sleep all day."
"Sounds good to me."
She nodded, "Oh yeah..."
"So how is your brother?"
"He's good....did I tell you that they're movin'?"
Nick shook his head as he stared out at the water, "No."
"Yea...well, he got another job offer. They're leaving in two weeks.."
"Wow, that's quick."
She nodded, "I know. But it's a big job, alot more pay...I'll miss the kids and stuff...but I think I'm better off being on my own.."
"Jord, you are on your own."
She smiled, nudging him playfully, "I know that dork...but I think I need to be...really on my own and living on my own again.."
"Why'd you stop?"
She shrugged, "I don't really know. After I got out of my last relationship, I just felt like I needed to be around my family again...or something..."
"Means more time with Brayden."
She laughed, "That's true...he's a great kid Nick."
It was his turn to nudge her playfully, "And means more time with me."
She smiled again, looking over at him a tad bit shyly, "That's true too.."
Nick sighed, "I am so tired..."
"Me too..." Jordyn agreed, "But it's a good kind of tiredness...I had fun today...thanks for inviting me over."
"No problem, I'm glad you had a good time.....I'm glad we became friends Jord."
"Me too."
They sat out by the pool a little while longer, in silence, before Jordyn finally said, "It's gettin' late...I better go.."
Nick nodded and stood up first, before holding his hand out to help her. She stood up and walked over to the lounge chair and slid her shorts and tank top on before sliding her flip-flops on her feet.
Nick walked with her through the cool, air-conditioned house, and then walked her out the front door to her car. "Be careful.."
"I will...'night Nick."
"Hey...uh..can I call you tomorrow?"
She nodded, "Of course, I'll be around..or call my cell if I'm not at home, okay?"
"Alright..."
She was about halfway into the driver's seat when Nick said, "Wait!"
Jordyn looked at him a little quizzically as she got back out. Nick had been nearly to the front door, but turned and ran back to where she was. He stopped a mere foot from her, and licked his lips, looking as if he wanted to say something but didn't know exactly how to say it. "What is it?"
"I've been wanting to do this all day long..."
She peered up at him curiously, "You've been wanting to do what....?"
Nick then leaned his head down and kissed her softly, and gently.
The kiss lasted less than a minute, but made all the difference in the world to their 'relationship'. Nick pulled back first, looking down at her to see her reaction.
Jordyn's eyes opened slowly, meeting his dark blue ones.
Nick smiled gently and pressed a kiss to her forehead, the tip of her nose and a quick one to her lips, "Be careful drivin' home Jordyn."
Jordyn nodded numbly and had to struggle to reply to him, "I...I will Nick....."
He jogged back up to the front door and opened it, but waited until she backed out of the driveway and disappeared into the night.
Nick shut the front door and locked it behind him. He smiled slightly in the lightly-lit hallway....he had been wanting to kiss her all day long....and he'd finally done it.
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