Chapter 3

THREE

Anders

It’s funny how you can look forward to something for so long and then it turns out to be anti-climactic.

Yes, Hana is as gorgeous and friendly as I’d expected her to be, and yet, there’s nothing there beyond friendship. Like a sister. My buddy’s sister, but mine too in an odd way. I can’t explain it.

The flip side of that is the way my stomach—and regions farther south—react when I’m around Claudia. It’s odd, because the shy quiet ones aren’t usually my type. Yet there’s something about her that makes me want to know more. She’s smart, with a sweet smile and long legs. It’s also pretty obvious she has no idea how beautiful she is, and I’m curious why.

“I feel like the chances of us becoming brothers-in-law has rapidly diminished,” Johan says as he tosses me a beer.

I take a pull before gazing out at the water, where Hana has somehow gotten into a game of water frisbee with some kids.

“She’s beautiful,” I say.

“But no chemistry?”

“I spent five minutes with her,” I hedge. “Too soon to know.”

He shakes his head. “I knew the moment I first saw Sloane. It took seconds, not minutes.”

“That’s some crazy, romantic bullshit,” I say, though I’m mostly kidding. “It doesn’t happen for the rest of us”

“Sure it does. I see you staring at Claudia like you want to have her for lunch.”

He’s right but he’s also wrong.

“She’s very quiet, closed off,” I say thoughtfully. “I tried my best to talk to her, but she kept things very surface level. What do you know about her?”

“She and Hana met in college. She’s very smart, very driven, but shy and introverted. The opposite of Hana. They’re very close, like sisters, despite the geographical distance between them. She lives in Philadelphia, I believe. She just got her master’s degree in computers and has a job at some fancy startup tech company. I don’t know the details about that.”

“Single?”

“Very. I don’t think she dates much.”

I make a face. “You think she’s a lesbian? I mean, that’s cool if she is, but she’s smart and beautiful. Why else wouldn’t she date?”

“She’s very smart,” he says slowly. “Like, the kind of smart that makes most of us feel stupid. I know a lot of guys don’t like that. She’s also extremely shy.”

“That’s okay. I’m the opposite of shy.”

“Well, try not to scare her,” he says, chuckling.

“I keep telling you—I’m a nice guy!” I say, pulling off my shirt. “But I’m also a sweaty guy. I need to cool off.”

I make my way to the water and dive in, letting it wash over me.

It feels good after being in the midday sun, and I come up, shaking the water out of my eyes.

Then I see her.

Claudia is standing at the water’s edge, ankle-deep, splashing a little.

She’s taken off her shorts and lost the hat, and she’s wearing the demurest one-piece bathing suit I’ve ever seen on someone in her twenties. Everything is covered, and yet, I can’t help but stare at the swell of her breasts. Long, shapely legs. The curve of her hips. The way her waist indents. Fuck, I’d love to see her naked.

“If you want to talk to her, you’re going to have to make the first, second, and ninety-ninth moves,” Hana says, coming to tread water next to me.

“How come?” I ask curiously.

“When a woman is as smart as her, well, you know how people can be. Her high school years were rough, so once she got to college she focused on all things academia.”

“I can’t decide if this is a challenge or a rescue mission,” I joke.

She laughs. “She’s a great girl. One of my favorite people in the universe. So please don’t play games with her. I know what goes on with you guys—pro athletes—and I’m not judging. I’m simply asking you not to play those kinds of games with Claudia. If you genuinely want to ask her out, that’s great. But if you’re just looking for a hook-up, not her. Please.” She’s being so sincere, I can’t help but take it to heart.

“Understood,” I say. “But am I allowed to talk to her enough to find out if I want to take her out?”

“Absolutely.” She smiles and then turns to corral a ball that’s gotten away from some of the kids.

I gaze back to the water’s edge, but Claudia’s gone.

As I scan the shore, she’s back in her chair, hat on, buried in her book.

Is this something I want to pursue?

I’m not used to shy, introverted women who show zero interest in me. My experiences have been the opposite. Women throwing themselves at me. Trying to latch on, dig in, trap me.

I mentally shake my head.

I’m not going there.

My past relationship trauma has nothing to do with the sweet lady I can’t seem to keep my eyes off of.

So I’m going to go over there and see if she feels even a tiny glimmer of the attraction I feel.

“Hey.” I sink down next to her, ignoring her sigh as she puts her book down. “Why didn’t you come in? I saw you on the shore and then you disappeared.”

“You and Hana looked cozy,” she says. “I didn’t want to intrude.”

Okay, it’s time to let her know that it’s not Hana I want to get cozy with.

“Hana and I are just friends,” I say. “She’s busy playing keep away with the kids. You’re the one I’ve been trying to talk to all day.”

Her eyes meet mine, and even though she has sunglasses on, I can see her confusion.

“I…what?”

I try not to laugh at her obvious confusion. “Is it so hard to believe I want to talk to you?”

She wrinkles her nose. “Yeah. Kinda.”

“Why?”

For some reason, my question stymies her.

“I…well, I mean, why would you want to talk to me instead of Hana?”

“Because you’re attractive, intelligent, interesting… why wouldn’t I?”

“How do you know I’m interesting? We’ve barely talked.”

Geez, it’s going to be tough to break through the walls she has up.

But I’m down for the challenge.

“Let’s just say I can tell.” I slowly get to my feet, holding out my hand to her. “I can also tell you’re sweltering out here and it’s time to go for a swim.”

She looks at my outstretched hand, and then gazes up at me for a moment.

I can practically see the wheels turning.

She’s reluctant but interested.

Cautious but intrigued.

She likes me.

We don’t know each other yet, but there’s a spark.

And she doesn’t know what to do about it.

So I take the decision out of her hands.

“Come on,” I cajole. “I won’t bite unless you ask me to.”

Even in the bright sun, I can see her blush.

I take a step closer.

She worries her lower lip.

“Anders, I?—”

“I’m asking you to go for a swim. It’s not a marriage proposal.”

“That’s coming soon, though, right?” she deadpans. “I mean, you were all but engaged to Hana before you even met her.”

Oh, yeah.

There’s some sass beneath the shy exterior.

I had a feeling she’d be fun.

“Yes, but we have to swim before I can propose.”

She slowly lifts her sunglasses and there’s a spark of mischief in her eyes.

And I like it.

“All right.” She puts her book down and then slides her shorts off.

Damn, she’s adorable, but that bathing suit is…boring as fuck.

I have a momentary fantasy of taking her bikini shopping.

I almost laugh at how ludicrous that is.

I’m willing to bet she’s never worn a bikini in her life.

I don’t know why I think that, but I do.

“I’m ready if you are,” she says.

“Absolutely.” I fall into step beside her as we make our way to the water.

Half the team is in here now, some playing keep away with a huge beach ball, some just lounging on floaties, and others playing with their kids. It’s a good group, people I genuinely enjoy spending time with.

But right now, all I can think about is Claudia.

A ball comes in our direction, and I’m surprised when Claudia bats it away, sending it back toward the game.

“Come play with us!” Sloane calls out.

“You want to?” I ask her.

“Sure.” We splash into the somewhat calm waters and make our way toward the game.

“This is nice,” Claudia says, submerging herself up to her neck. “It’s so hot out.”

“Yeah, and I just got back from Sweden, where it was like sixty.”

“Are you from there?”

I nod. “Yes, a suburb of Stockholm.”

“How do you like it here compared to there?”

“I love both,” I admit. “I’ve been in the U.S. for eight years, and in Florida for three, so the lines have begun to blur when it comes to where home is. My parents’ house will always be home, along with my hometown, but this is where I live. Work. Where most of my friends are. How can I not call it home?”

She nods. “I never thought of it that way, but it makes sense.”

The ball sails in our direction and she turns, ready to engage.

Just then, someone on a jet ski appears out of nowhere, coming dangerously close to us. Everyone scatters as a huge wake overtakes us, but Claudia had jumped in the air to hit the ball, and she comes down right in the middle of it, disappearing beneath the wave.