Just as the oxygen was stripped from my lungs, I felt two strong arms pull me to the surface as the seaweed released its hold on me. I reached the surface gasping for air. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw Caleb holding me tightly as we swam to shore.
"You okay?" he asked when we were in the shallow end.
"Thanks," I breathed coughing up sea water. I struggled to catch my breath. "You saved my life."
"The least I could do," he smiled. "You kind of saved mine."
"What? How?" I asked.
"Your compassion," he said. "You helped me turn my life around."
"It better stay that way," I said as he helped me up. We walked back to the others who fawned over me like a gaggle of mothers. Then I checked my phone. Shit! It was already six. I grabbed my things. "Sorry guys, I gotta go."
I ran back to the house and took a quick shower trying to wash all of the sand out of every crevice. I got out of the shower and picked out a black sheath dress. I threw on a robe while I fixed my hair and makeup and suddenly the doorbell rang. Shit!
"Hanna!" Caleb called loudly. "It's for you!"
I popped out of my bedroom throwing my robe off and running my fingers through my hair as I walked toward the door. I saw Surfer Riley hovering in the hallway because Caleb obviously wasn't letting him in.
"Hi," I smiled at him. I picked up my purse from the table by the door.
"Hey," he said slipping a hand around my waist. I winced as Caleb closed the door behind us. Surfer Riley turned to me. "So, I was thinking I'd take you to Pinks."
"Pinks?" I asked.
"Yeah," he laughed as we got into his car, a vintage Camaro. He drove ten minutes to this tiny stand in the middle of a busy street. We got out and got in line at a glorified food truck. I could not believe I wore an Herve Lager to a hot dog stand.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"Only like the best hot dogs in Los Angeles," he told me.
I suffered through his stupid hot dog idea and awful small talk. I should not have been surprised that Surfer Riley's favorite words are dude, like, and bitchin'. We were finally done with dinner, or should I say a fucking hot dog and I could not be happier. Riley and I walked back to his car and he drove me back in an uneventful ride except for the fact that it started to drizzle. We got to the house and he walked me to the door as we both escaped the rain.
"Thanks for tonight," I said politely as we stood on the porch. He simply smiled and leaned in close to kiss me. I have to admit, for a guy who has no depth, he was a pretty good kisser. I guess he has to be good at something.
He slipped his hands around my waist and pulled me close. Then I felt his tongue in my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him close. I felt his hands tugging at my zipper while he tried to unhook my bra.
"Hey," I said pushing him away. "I don't think we should do that here."
"Maybe we should move inside, then," he winked.
"You know what," I said grabbing my key. "Thanks for dinner, but this date ends here."
"Don't expect me to come back," he said marching down the steps. I wished my head that it would start hailing and he's get hit by one of those freak hail stones the size of a golf ball. Good riddance I thought to myself as I opened the door and walked toward the kitchen. It was dark and everyone seemed to be asleep. I turned on the kitchen lights to find that I wasn't alone.
"Caleb?" I asked the large figure messing around under the sink.
"Yeah?" he said popping his head out.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"There's a leak in the den," he explained. "I'm trying to find a bucket."
"You're soaked," I told him examining the wet spots all over his t-shirt.
"Yeah," he sighed throwing the shirt off to reveal his rippling muscles. "It's coming down pretty hard."
"Come on," I said grabbing his hand and leading him to my bedroom. "You can stay here."
"You don't have to do that," he told me.
"I can't just let you sleep in a puddle," I replied. Then I shook a finger at him. "No funny stuff, though."
"Scout's honor," he said holding up that weird geeky sign that looks like a V, or maybe it's alien fingers. I don't know.
"I doubt you were a scout," I laughed.
"Yeah," he smiled. "I don't even know if this is the right sign."
I went to the bathroom to take off my makeup and slip into a pair of pajamas. I hung up my designer dress in the closet and walked back into the bedroom to find Caleb already under the covers.
"You like the left side?" he winked.
"Yeah," I smiled. I turned off the lights and got under the covers. Then I looked at Caleb again. "Thanks."
"For what?" he asked.
"For today," I explained. "Just for always being there. I know I kind of treat you like shit sometimes. It's only because I care."
"I think I'll take that as a compliment," he laughed. Then he shook his head. "Hey, how was your date?"
"Ha, not funny," I said before turning out the light and pulling the covers up to me neck. I could feel his warm body next to me and suddenly I regretted picking the room with the smallest bed. I didn't know if it was harder to stay mad at him or to admit to myself that I still have feelings for this guy. I rolled over and faced the patio doors. Suddenly a loud noise outside startled me and I let out a loud scream for the second night in a row!