Penance - Uncovering the truth, Secrets and confessions, and Twisted pasts

Chapter 10

Alison shifted, arching her back just a bit, tossing a look over her shoulder. A smile pulled at her lips, slow and knowing.

"This photo need to show strength and grace," Grayson told her."You need to look like a woman who knows her worth"

She stood up straighter. "No problem," she said, posing once again. "I'm basically the definition of confidence and power."

Grayson shot her a pointed look. More like intensely irritating, and frustrating.

He stepped behind the camera, adjusting the lens to frame the perfect shot. "Now, look directly at the camera," he instructed. 

Looking at Alison in real life was different than through the lens. Zooming in on her eyes, they seemed like deep pools of sadness—so deep that no one could be saved once they were drowned in them.

Grayson snapped the photo, not saying a word.

"Let's try the pool next," he said, his voice still in control.  "Some shots underwater, maybe some strokes." He grabbed his camera and started walking toward the pool, expecting Alison to follow. 

But she didn't. She was standing still, staring blankly.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, a little confused. He'd only known her for a few days, but he knew something was very wrong from her silence.

"I don't know how to swim."

Grayson blinked. Twice. "What do you mean, you don't know how to swim?"

She gave him a small, almost sad smile. "Do I need to drown for you to understand?" she teased, but it didn't feel like a joke. "Can you teach me?"

No, he told himself. Bad idea.

The thought of helping Alison, of being close to her in that way... the idea of teaching her to swim? That felt... wrong.

No. He couldn't. He shouldn't.

It wasn't about his skills. It was about him. He didn't trust himself, not with her. Not in the water. Especially not in a pool.

A flash of memory hit him of Avery and Jameson, in the hot tub at True North, kissing—

He shook the unwelcome thought away, shutting his eyes. When he opened them, Alison was watching him.

Her smile was still there, but her eyes were slightly different—sincere, hopeful even. She meant it. She wanted him to teach her.

I'm not the glass ballerina. Avery had told him once. I won't shatter.

He stood there for a second, fighting himself.

Was he being too cautious again? Too careful? Maybe. But the thought of taking the risk...

He took a deep breath, and then, finally, made up his mind.

"Go change and meet me in the pool in five," he said, and he felt like he could breathe just a little bit easier.

Alison gave him a small, challenging grin.

"Don't get cocky," he warned her, seeing her enjoy his suffering too much. "I'll let you fall flat on your face if you push me."

Her smile widened, and just for a second, he didn't want her to. He didn't want her to fall.

And maybe, just maybe, Grayson was finally ready to take the risk.