He goes to the pool to see Janice

He finds her near the back doors, shoes already off, watching the pool with that look she gets when she has already made a decision and is simply waiting for the right moment to act on it.

She turns when she hears him.

Janice: I was wondering where you were.

Miles: I was around. What are you thinking?

She looks at the pool then back at him.

Janice: I'm thinking I didn't spend two hours getting ready to stand inside all night.

She reaches behind her without any particular drama and unzips the navy dress. It falls to the ground around her feet and she steps out of it casually, folding it over the back of a nearby chair. Underneath she is wearing a white bikini, small and fitted, the kind that looks effortless until it is on the right person.

She straightens up, picks up her drink, and looks at him.

Janice: well?

Miles: well what.

Janice: She tilts her head toward the stairs leading up to the pool deck. You coming or not?

She turns and heads for the stairs without waiting for an answer.

He follows.

The stairs are narrow and she is ahead of him and she is completely aware of both of those facts. She takes them slowly, one hand trailing the railing, the white bikini leaving very little to the imagination from his current angle. She does not look back but the slight adjustment in her stride tells him everything he needs to know about whether this is accidental.

He keeps his eyes exactly where she intended them to be.

They reach the pool deck where a chicken fight is already forming, people pairing off, the competitive energy building over the sound of splashing and someone's playlist bleeding out from inside.

Janice: She turns around finally, catching his expression with a knowing look. Partner?

Miles: obviously.

They get in. The water is warm and the night air is warm above it and the combination makes everything feel slightly unreal. She climbs onto his shoulders easily, her thighs bracketing his head, one hand gripping his hair for balance as she steadies herself.

Miles: comfortable up there?

Janice: She looks down at him. Focus.

They win. Easily. She has good balance and zero hesitation about shoving the opposing girl sideways into the water which Miles finds genuinely impressive. When the last pair goes down the backyard erupts and Janice raises both arms in celebration nearly toppling backward.

He grabs her thighs to steady her and she grips his hair tighter laughing and for a moment they stay exactly like that, her hands in his hair, his hands on her thighs, the warm water around them and the noise of the party somewhere at the periphery.

She slides down slowly from his shoulders, her body dragging against his as she finds her footing, ending up face to face with him in the water. Close enough that the white bikini is doing exactly what a wet white bikini does.

She looks up at him slightly breathless from laughing, her hair damp around her face.

Janice: told you to focus.

Miles: I was focused. Just not on the game.

She holds his gaze for a moment, something shifting behind her expression. Then she pushes water at him with both hands and swims away laughing.

He watches her go.