As Rob crossed the lawn, with his back-pack slung over his shoulder, he spotted Becky and Linc already in the pool amidst the hoard of other people. He'd had plans to do a serious workout. Maybe he'd have to leave it until they could use the school pool.

He wondered whether Becky worked every Friday afternoon because coming to the public wasn't ideal. He pulled off his shirt, dug around in his bag, put the ball aside to use later and grabbed the set of Styrofoam dumbbells.

"Hi, Rob." Linc made his way through the people lying on towels. "We've got our stuff over there if you want to put yours with it."

"Yeah. Good idea." Rob lifted his gear and followed Linc to a tree against the fence. "There's a lot of people here today. Maybe we'll just have some fun instead of a workout. What do you reckon?"

"Becky said the same." Linc shrugged. "But it's up to you. You're the coach."

"What's Becky doing?"

"Just swimming." Linc shrugged and grinned. "I don't know."

Rob didn't know how she was going to feel about him getting into the pool with her. He hadn't expected her to actually swim. He grinned and wondered if she was wearing a bikini or full piece.

"Come on. Let's get in," he said to Linc. "We can do some stuff with the dumbbells because I don't have a kick-board." He headed to where he could see Becky's head and jumped in beside her.

Water splashed in her face. She huffed.

Rob watched her breaststroke away. So... still the Ice Maiden. He was hoping she'd be a bit more welcoming after yesterday. He chuckled. No bikini or full piece but swim shorts and a sun shirt. What a letdown.

He set Linc up with the dumbbells and got him to do some leg raises and other simple exercises to warm up. "Can you do breaststroke, Linc?"

"A little." Linc screwed up his face.

"I want you to hold the dumbbells in the middle and do the frog movement with your legs to where Becky is. I'll follow you." Rob wanted to see if she was going to talk to him.

Becky was in the corner holding onto the ledge when they reached her. Rob cocked his head. "Morning."

Anxiety swept through Becky. "Morning." She faced the wall so she didn't have to look at him.

"I'm not going to do much with Linc today. Too many people." Rob wished she'd turn around. He hated talking to people's backs. "Maybe we could play a game with the ball in the shallow end."

"Okay." She still didn't turn around.

"I mean you too." Rob paused. "That is if you want." She put her head under the water. Fuck, she was going to be difficult. Rob gave up. "Come on, Linc. Let's go back to the shallow end."

Becky's head popped up as they swam away. She knew she was being childish but she didn't know how to speak to him without all the aggression. She followed slowly behind. If he wanted her to play the game or whatever else he had planned, she would. After all, he was using his free time to help her brother and she was very grateful. Hopefully conversation would just happen and she wouldn't have to think too hard about it.

"I'll go and grab the ball." Rob put his hand out to Linc. "Give me the dumbbells and I'll put them away while I'm at it."

He headed up the stairs as Becky reached them. She watched him go and wished he'd wear a sun shirt. Becky grinned as she looked him up and down. He had a great body.

"What are you smiling for, Becky?" Linc peered at her. "I don't think it's funny that you're being really rude to Rob. He's just trying to be nice and help me. If you keep doing it he's probably going to stop. I really like him and want to get my leg moving." He blinked his eyes and wiped the back of his hand across his cheek. "Dad's not gonna help me."

Becky's heart broke. She swam closer and touched his head. "Oh, Linc. It's going to be okay. I'm sorry. Rob and I had a little fight at school but it's over now. I'm just nervous about how to talk to him but I promise I'll try to be nice."

A pool ball hit the surface and splashed water on both their faces. Linc laughed. Becky scowled. Rob was standing on the top step. He raised his eyebrows and cocked his head. His eyes were sparkling with humour. Right. Becky grabbed the ball and threw it at him. It hit hard and stung his stomach.

"Ow!" Rob said, and then dived in as the ball ricocheted off his body.

Linc pushed up off the pool floor and made a grab for the ball.

Large hands gripped Becky's ankles. Her legs went from beneath her. What the! She was jerked under the water. Becky resurfaced and gasped for air. Rob was standing in front of her shaking the water from his hair. He beamed down at her.

"You want to play rough. I'll play rough," he said as he laughed at the scowling look on her face. "Maybe I need to dunk you again." Rob made a grab for her.

"No you don't!" Becky tried to get away but he caught her by the wrist and lifted her up so her legs were over his arms, and then he sank to the bottom of the pool landing on his butt.

Becky had just enough time to take a breath. She could tell he was laughing through the blurry water so she pinched his nipple. He immediately let go so she used him as a wall and kicked away. When she surfaced, he was looking across at her still laughing. Becky tried to remain serious but couldn't help smiling.

"That hurt," he whined as he laughed again and stood up so he could examine his nipple. "Look you've made it red."

Becky smirked. "That'll teach you for dunking me."

"You better watch your back because there will be payback." Rob tilted his head and grinned. He watched Becky's smile light up her whole face. Man... she was pretty when she did that. "It's nice to see you smile, Becky Bridgestone."

The grin disappeared and her face turned red. She sank under the water and swam away.

Rob kicked himself. Always gotta say the wrong thing. Idiot. He hadn't meant it to be offensive but he could see how she could take it like that.

"Rob! Catch!" Linc threw the ball.

Rob caught it and moved through the water towards Linc. He handed him the ball. "Hang on to it for a minute, mate. I gotta go say sorry to your sister."

"Are you still fighting? Becky said it was over." Linc took the ball and put it under his tummy so he floated on it.

"What did she say?" Maybe it'd help if he knew how she was thinking.

Linc shrugged. "Just said you'd had a fight at school but it was over and she was nervous to talk to you. She promised me she'd be nice to you cause you're helping me heaps." He grinned. "You are, you know."

This was good. Rob smiled. "Give me five minutes, okay." He rubbed Linc on the head and swam under the water to where Becky was facing the wall three lanes across. Rob popped up beside her. She turned away so he took hold of her waist and made her face him. She kept her head hung. "I didn't mean that the way it came out."

Her shoulders shuddered.

"Shit, Becky." Rob tilted her head up to see watery eyes. He wanted to cuddle her but that might be too much too soon. "I'm always fucking up. Trin says I need to learn to keep my mouth shut." He cocked his head and smiled at her. "I meant it as a compliment." He sighed in frustration and added, "You looked real pretty."

"I do smile." Becky pushed his hands from her waist. "I smile all the time."

"Yeah." Rob ran his hand up the back of his neck and gave her a coy look. "I know you do." He slanted his head and turned up the corners of his mouth. "You just don't smile at me. It was nice. I meant that it was nice to see you smiling at me."

She dropped her head again. Rob glanced across the pool where Linc was waiting. "Can you please take it the way I meant it?" Rob waited. "Becky. I want us to be friends. Can we do that? Be friends. I don't expect you to forgive me completely because I've said some pretty horrible things to you but it'd be nice if we could stop now and be friends. Just a little. For Linc, because he's a great kid."

Becky nodded at the water. "Okay. For Linc." She looked up. "Trin's right. You do need to learn to shut your mouth or maybe think about what you're going to say before you say it." She sighed and added, "But so do I." Becky shrugged and said, "I'm sorry too. For being a bitch to you most of the time. I really am grateful for what you're doing for Linc. He thinks you're a God."

Rob chuckled, cocked his head, and held out his hands. "Of course he would. After all I am God's gift." He cringed and held his breath thinking he needed to cut his tongue out. Please take it as a joke. Please. When she chuckled, Rob released his breath.

Becky shoved him in the chest, cocked her eyebrow, and grinned. "Only to yourself." She moved off. "Come and play with my brother."

Rob pinched her on the bum. She squealed and jerked forward.

"That's payback for pinching my nipple," he said as he laughed. "Now we're even."

Copyright © 2017 by Donna Fieldhouse. All rights reserved.

Wow I've had to cut some of my chapters in half.  I didn't realize how long they were until I went to put them up.  I so hope you're loving Black Cat.  Hang in there because there is way more stuff to come. ♥♥♥

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