A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER Chapter 69: CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

KYLE

One of my best activities these past few days? Watching Ashley prove herself wrong.

It had become a routine now—waking up, handling some business, then meeting her at the pool. She wouldn’t call it training yet, but every day, she was more determined than the last. 

Today was no different.

I stepped outside, finding her already at the pool’s edge, stretching like an athlete about to break a world record. Her red hair was pulled into a messy bun, loose strands escaping and catching the morning light. 

Ashley was pacing.

Not the anxious, restless kind of pacing—no, this was different. This was Ashley psyching herself up, rolling her shoulders, stretching her arms like she was about to step into a boxing ring instead of a swimming pool.

I leaned against the edge of a lounge chair, arms crossed, watching her with barely concealed amusement.

"You know," I drawled, "most people don’t train for swimming like they’re about to fight a heavyweight champion."

Ashley shot me a glare, pausing mid-stretch. "Shut up, Blackwood. This is serious business."

I smirked. "Serious business, huh?"

"Yes," she huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "I’m mentally preparing myself."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You swam yesterday."

"I survived yesterday," she corrected. "And today, I intend to do more than just not drown."

I had to admit, I liked this fire in her. The stubborn set of her jaw, the determination blazing in her hazel eyes. It was a stark contrast to the woman who, just a few days ago, had been so paralyzed by fear she wouldn’t even look at the water.

"You know," I said, standing upright, "if you’re going to give a motivational speech, at least let me grab popcorn first."

Ashley narrowed her eyes. "Keep talking, and I’m dragging you in with me."

I grinned. "Oh, sweetheart, if you want me in the water with you, all you have to do is ask."

Her eyes flickered, just for a second, before she rolled them dramatically. "Get in the pool, Blackwood”

I held up my hands in mock surrender. "Yes, ma’am."

Ashley followed me to the edge, taking a deep breath. She was still nervous—I could see it in the way her fingers curled and uncurled at her sides, the way she exhaled just a little too forcefully. But she wasn’t backing down.

"Alright," I said, stepping into the water first. "What’s the goal for today?"

She glanced at the pool, then at me. "Actually moving forward. No more just floating or clinging to you like a human life vest."

I smirked. "That’s a shame. I was starting to like that part."

Ashley scoffed but didn’t argue.

Slowly, she eased herself into the water, sucking in a breath as the coolness wrapped around her. Her fingers gripped the pool's edge for a beat before she let go, pushing herself upright.

"Okay," she muttered, adjusting to the sensation. "Okay, I got this."

"You do," I agreed. "Now, let’s start simple—try kicking and moving your arms together."

She gave me a look. "You do realize I have eyes, right? I know how swimming works."

"Do you, though?"

Ashley splashed water at me.

I laughed, wiping my face. "Okay, okay, I deserved that."

She smirked, but then her expression turned serious as she attempted her first few strokes. She was stiff at first, her movements a little awkward, but she was moving.

I stayed beside her, hands hovering near her waist just in case, but I didn’t touch her unless she needed support.

After a few more attempts, she turned to me, breathless. "Am I doing it?"

"You’re doing it," I confirmed.

Ashley’s face lit up—an unfiltered, genuine kind of excitement. "Holy shit. I’m actually swimming."

I grinned. "Look at you. Next thing I know, you’ll be challenging me to a race."

Ashley tossed her wet hair back. "Don’t get cocky, Blackwood. I will beat you one day."

I chuckled. "I’ll be waiting."

We continued for a while, with Ashley growing more confident, her strokes becoming smoother, her movements less hesitant. I didn’t think I’d ever seen her look so free.

And damn, if that wasn’t something worth watching.

At one point, she turned onto her back, floating with her arms stretched out, eyes closed, a small, content smile on her lips.

"You look happy," I murmured.

She cracked an eye open. "I am happy," she admitted. "This is… nice. Peaceful, even."

I felt something tighten in my chest. "Yeah."

For a while, we just stayed like that—Ashley floating, me treading beside her, the world quiet around us.

The soft ripples of the water, the distant hum of the city, the warm glow of the pool lights—it all blurred into the background. All I could see was her.

Her red hair, damp and fanned out in the water. The way the droplets clung to her skin, glistening like tiny stars. The slow rise and fall of her chest, her body moving with the rhythm of the water.

And then there were her lips.

Soft. Parted just slightly.

Taunting me.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look away. But then Ashley shifted, her eyes opening fully, locking onto mine.

I expected her to tease me, to make some snarky comment like she always did when she caught me staring.

But she didn’t.

She just looked at me.

And damn it, I looked back.

Something passed between us in that moment—something deep, something dangerous. It wasn’t just attraction; it wasn’t just old habits creeping back in. It was something stronger. Something that reached beyond the years, beyond the mistakes, beyond the walls we’d built between us.

Her breath hitched.

My pulse thundered.

She started to say something, but I didn’t let her.

I moved closer, just slightly, testing the space between us.

Ashley didn’t pull away.

She didn’t stop me.

And that was all the permission I needed.

Slowly, carefully, I reached out, brushing a damp strand of hair from her cheek. My fingers lingered, tracing the soft curve of her jaw, my touch featherlight. Her skin was warm beneath my fingertips, her breath shaky.

Then, as if drawn by a force stronger than reason– I closed the gap.

Our lips met.

Soft. Tentative.

Testing.

Ashley sucked in a sharp breath, her body tensing for just a second before she melted into me. Her lips parted, her hands rising, fingers curling against my chest.

And then I was gone.

The kiss deepened, water shifting around us as I pulled her closer. Her fingers skimmed my shoulders, hesitating, before gripping them as if she needed something to hold onto. Or maybe she just needed me.

I wasn’t sure who moved first, but suddenly, we weren’t floating anymore. Ashley’s arms wrapped around my neck, and I was backing her toward the edge of the pool, caging her between my body and the cool tile. My hands slid to her waist, fingers digging into the damp fabric of her swimsuit, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath it..

She made a soft sound against my lips—a small, breathy little noise that sent a wildfire through my veins.

And just like that, I was done.

I tilted my head, deepening the kiss, drinking her in, my fingers gripping the back of her neck, anchoring her to me.

Ashley responded just as fiercely, her hands sliding up, fingers threading through my wet hair, pulling me impossibly closer.

God.

Ashley was the one who pulled away first, though it felt more like she ripped herself away, like she needed space to breathe—to think. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her lips slightly swollen, her hazel eyes wide with something between shock and frustration.

And then—

Her face flamed.

I had seen Ashley blush before. But this? This was something else entirely. Her cheeks were painted with a deep, almost crimson hue, her ears turning the same traitorous shade.

She looked absolutely wrecked.

I smirked. "Something wrong, Freckles?"

Ashley scowled, a poor attempt at masking her flustered state. "This wasn’t part of our truce deal"

I arched a brow. "Pretty sure there was nothing in that deal that forbade kissing."

She narrowed her eyes. "There wasn't anything that allowed it either."

I grinned. "Well, you did kiss me back."

Ashley groaned, shoving at my chest—not hard enough to push me away, but enough to make her point. "God, you’re insufferable."

"And yet, you still kissed me."

Her blush deepened, and before she could argue, she turned on her heel, moving toward the deeper end of the pool. "I’m here to swim, not entertain your ego."

I chuckled, shaking my head before following her. "Multitasking is a thing, you know."

"Shut up, Kyle."

I did not shut up.

But I let her have her space—let her focus on swimming instead of the fact that she had just melted against me like she belonged there.

We fell back into an easy rhythm. She swam, I guided. She cursed at me when she messed up, I laughed. She got better, I was damn proud.

And as the minutes passed, I found myself watching her again, the way she moved, the way she trusted me in the water.

For the first time ever, I believed I could actually win her back.