Chapter 5

Briar

I wait anxiously for the day of the doggy paddle, trying to leave Quinn alone so he doesn't get annoyed with me and cancel on me. I had never heard of such a thing until I moved here for school and my first two years I was so jealous of everyone with a dog that got to go. It sounded so fun, taking your dog to make new friends, getting to swim with them in a pool.

When the day finally arrived, I dressed in my bikini, opting for the one with a little more coverage, and threw a towel and some sunscreen in my bag before walking over to Quinn's. I knock on the door and hear Hank bark before it swings open to reveal Quinn. I take in his appearance, feeling like something is off. It takes a moment for it to click into place.

"Where are your glasses?" I ask, and he scowls at me a little like he's annoyed by my question.

"We're going swimming, right?" He asks and I nod. "I put in my contacts. It's hard to see with wet glasses." He says and I mentally facepalm myself.

"Oh. Yeah. Obviously." I say with a nervous chuckle. He has on a light grey t-shirt and navy blue swim trunks, looking the perfect picture for an afternoon at the pool.

"I like your glasses better." I say, honestly. They give him a mysterious, broody, scholarly vibe that I have become attached to. He stops gathering his things at my comment and looks at me as if to determine if I'm serious. When he sees that I am, he gives me a lopsided grin that makes him look years younger and has my stomach doing a funny flip thing that I try to ignore.

"Thanks, Briar." He says quietly. I nod and grab Hank's leash off the hook by the door.

"Come here, Hank." I say and he bounds right up to me, sitting so I can clip on the leash. I give his head pats and coo to him. "That's a good boy. You're my favorite boy." His tail flaps wildly with joy and I laugh a little at him.

"You ready?" Quinn asks and I nod, standing up straight.

We walk to his car and he opens the door for me which I think is sweet. I don't think a guy has ever done that before. He opens the back door for Hank before climbing in the drivers' seat. Hank makes me laugh when he pokes his snout under my arm, sticking his head through the open spot between the two front seats. Quinn lets out a low chuckle at us and I take a moment to study his smile, since they seem so rare.

"Thanks for doing this with me. I've wanted to go the last couple of years but didn't have a dog and I thought it'd be weird to show up without one." I say and Quinn looks over at me, a soft expression on his face.

"No problem." He responds and we drive the rest of the way in content silence, the radio the only sound as it plays quietly in the background and I'm struck by how nice it is. My friends are always chatting and Brad likes to blast his music. It's peaceful, sitting in quiet contemplation doing nothing but running my fingers through Hank's fur.

When we arrive, we walk up to the little booth where you pay to get in.

"It's a fundraiser for the local humane society. I got it, since I basically forced you to come." I say with a smile and Quinn shakes his head.

"Don't worry about it." He says and pulls a hundred dollar bill out of his wallet, handing it to the young girl. "Keep the change." He says, grabbing two wristbands for us, slipping mine on me as I gape at him.

"It's only five dollars a person." I murmur to him and he shrugs.

"That's where I got Hank. I donate to them anyway." He says and my heart warms towards him.

"You actually have a soft spot. Who knew?" I tease and he huffs at me.

"It's just the one." He says and I let out a laugh at him as we find somewhere to drop our stuff. Hank is bustling with excitement, his ears perking and eyes following the movement of all the other dogs. There really aren't that many and I'm glad for that. Quinn looks around and I follow his eyes.

"What are you looking for?" I ask.

"Making sure the gates are closed. Hank is very well trained, but all of that goes out the window if he sees a rabbit." He says and I let out a loud laugh that gains both his and Hank's attention. Quinn looks at me curiously and I rein in my laughter.

"A rabbit? Really?" I ask and Quinn nods with a little smile.

"Yep. I almost lost him a couple of times until I figured it out." He says and my heart drops at the thought. I look around much like he did to make sure there is no way for Hank to escape.

"It looks pretty well sealed don't you think?" I ask and Quinn nods, unhooking Hank's leash before slipping his shirt off.

My breath catches at the sight. He's not burly or stacked with muscles like Brad, he has more of a runner or swimmer's body. But his biceps are defined, as are his pecks and his abs are delicious as they trail into the V that dips into his shorts. My body hums at the sight. Who knew he was hiding all of that under his clothes? I avert my eyes so he doesn't catch my ogling. I take off my shirt and shorts, slipping them into my bag and taking out my towel for later. Quinn is watching me, waiting for me but not staring at my body which I appreciate. I hate being objectified plus I'm a little self concious. My stomach isn't as flat as Izzy's and my breasts not as large as Sadie's, but I don't really care about that with Quinn. We're here as friends, if you could even call it that.

It's more like I borrowed his dog.

"Here." He says, pulling me out of my thoughts. I look over to see him handing me a tennis ball. I take it from him and look at Hank who's watching the thing like it's a steak he wants to sink his teeth into. I move my hand from side to side and smile when Hank's head snaps in whatever direction I move it.

"You want it, boy?" I ask him excitedly. He yips a little and I fling the ball into the pool. Hank takes off like a rocket, diving in without a second thought and retrieving the ball, bringing it back to me.

Quinn and I wade in the water which is still warm from the last of the summer heat. We take turns throwing the ball for Hank and swimming around the pool lazily. Hank plays with a couple of other dogs and a golden retriever becomes slightly attached to me, swimming up to me and putting his paw on my shoulders so he can lick my face. His owner apologizes for him, but I wave her off, splashing with the dog until she calls him back. I look over at Quinn who's watching me with an unreadable expression.

"What?" I ask and he shrugs.

"I'm glad you made me do this." He says and happiness swells inside of me.

"I didn't make you. You agreed." I tease and he scoffs.

"Yeah right. You gave me that look." He says and I look at him confused.

"What look?" I ask and he narrows his eyes at me playfully.

"That sad, disappointed look with your big eyes and pathetic little frown. It's not fair. No one should have a look like that. I don't know how anyone says no to you." He says, annoyance dripping from his tone. I tilt my head back and laugh, feigning humor when really his words are turning my insides to mush.

"I'll try to be more careful with my face next time." I say and he scoffs.

"Doubt it." He says quietly.

My eyes are drawn over his head where two women are sitting by the pool. They're eyeing Quinn with obvious hunger and I don't like the burn that causes in my gut, but I shake the thought away, knowing I have no right to feel that way. I amble up next to Quinn and he looks at me curiously.

"Those girls up there look like they want to eat you." I murmur and he looks towards the women and shoots them a devastating smile along with a wink that would make even my panties dampen before looking at me with a shrug.

"I'm not interested." He says and I gape at him.

"Really? Why not?" I ask and he gives me a weird look.

"I came here with you. It'd be rude to ditch you to talk to some girls." He says and I feel that annoying little flutter again.

"It's ok. I don't mind." I say, the words tasting like dirt. He gives me a firm look and shakes his head.

"No. If I want to meet girls I can do that some other time." He says and I nod, knowing he is done with the conversation.

We play awhile longer until Hank tires out then switch into dry clothes. We walk towards the car and Quinn stops a ways away from it.

"Hank, shiver." He says and snaps his fingers. Hank shakes out his fur, water spraying in evey direction before Quinn takes an extra towel and dries him off.

"Why do you snap at him?" I ask.

"I trained him with a clicker. The sound is similar." He says and I nod in understanding.

"So would he listen to me if I snapped?" I ask and Quinn nods.

"Yes. But only because he likes you. Not because you snap." He says and I smile, kneeling in front of Hank to help dry him off. I wrap my arms around him, giving him a firm hug as he burrows his face into my neck and a little deeper into my heart.

"I love this dog." I say wistfully and Quinn lets out a little laugh. I look at him curiously and he just shrugs.

"If he ever goes missing, I know where to look for him."