Read Love Rekindled (Love Surfaced) for Free Online

He smiles, and this time he does leave out the door. I sit in the solitude of the office and wonder how I got here, especially when I should be training for the Olympics.
    I wish the sadness that encompasses me would leave. One day, the fact that I’ll never be an Olympic swimmer should sink in. A guy can hope.
    Not about to sit around and continue to wallow in self-pity for myself, I walk out to the pool. Wes is busy on the sidelines of the lap section, hollering at his team. Watching the bodies skim the surface at a fast pace almost makes me revisit my younger days. But I shake it off before the feeling of loss consumes me again.
    “Brad.” Cami walks up to me with a mom and a baby. “This is your four o’clock.”
    I turn and my heart pounds in my chest. The boy is so small, and is that a diaper around him? “Hi,” I greet, swallowing my fear.
    The mom’s eyes scan my body. I’m sure I’m a hell of a lot better looking than her husband, so I’ll let her take full advantage. “I’m Brad.” I hold my hand out, and by the time she sees it, her face is flushed.
    “Hi. I’m Melanie and this is Austin.” She points to the baby, whose hands are being swallowed by his mouth.
    Great.
    She holds Austin out to me, and I almost deny the drooling little bugger. There’s no way she should trust me to hold her pride and joy on concrete.
    I clench my fists for a second, willing them to stop shaking as I take Austin from her arms.
    “Hey, buddy. You ready to get in the water?” I ask, and his mouth releases his hand only so his bottom lip can quiver.
    “Brad,” Cami steps closer, whispering in my ear, “Try to pull him to your chest. Holding him at arm’s length is scaring him.”
    My eyes snap to his mom, and the look of fear in hers alarms me. I bring Austin to my chest and his grubby fingers begin to play with the small hairs on my chest. It’s still odd to have those after shaving my body for so long due to competing.
    “Right.” I smile, and the mom returns a tight hesitant one back, her body tense.
    I walk him over to the stairs of the pool and his mom wanders over to the bench, I’m sure to watch me like a hawk with her young.
    The warm water swooshes around my legs as I move through it. Austin’s fingers dip down and I’m thankful he’s not one of those kids who scream bloody murder as soon as their toes touch water.
    The more I allow him to let the water move through his fingers, the more relaxed we both become. I gain confidence, and with every smile, I become more comfortable.
    Obviously, Melanie feels the same since she’s now busy on her phone. I take the opportunity to plunge the two of us in the water. Maybe too soon, because when I bring Austin back up, tears are streaming down his face and his little hands are splashing the water.
    I’m not sure where the instinct comes from, but I draw him into my chest and circle us around the water, making small waves. His fingers grab onto my ears and he squeals in delight.
    Thank fuck it worked.
    I hand Austin back to his mom at the end of our lesson, and Melanie’s hand strokes my arm.
    “Thank you so much, Brad. He’s never done so well in the water.”
    I’m positive she’s lying, but I’ll take the compliment.
    “He’s a great kid.”
    She smiles and walks toward the locker room. Her eyes glance over her shoulder one last time before she disappears through the door.
    “An admirer?” a feminine voice says behind me, and I turn to find my next lesson.
    “Hello.” I hold my hand out for the attractive girl. She’s in her early-twenties with red hair and knockout tits.
    She’s holding a baby in her arms. This one is squirming, and I fear she’s about to drop her.
    “Brad, I presume?”
    “Yours truly.” I hold my arms out. “Is this,” I glance down at the sheet on the clipboard, “Ava?”
    “No, Quinn.” I tilt my head and check my clipboard. “I have an Ava next.” I scan the few names, and there’s no Quinn.
    “Oh, Ava.”