Diving In (Open Door Love Story) by Stacey Wallace Benefiel Read Free Book Online Page A

backs his chair up so I can stand there dripping in front of him with my hands on my hips like I’m an expert in getting strapping young men whose legs don’t work into the pool unassisted.
    “I totally want to help you, but I’m not sure how you’re going to get in? The battery on the lift is dead and it needs to charge overnight.”
    “Shouldn’t be too hard,” he says, locking the brakes on his chair.
    Gabe undoes the Velcro straps that are holding his legs in place and lets his legs fall open. He lifts them one at a time and puts the corresponding foot rest up, then sort of flops his legs in between the foot rests. Placing his hands on the sides of the seat toward the front, Gabe lifts his torso off the chair easily and lowers himself to the concrete floor of the pool deck. With a quick “jump,” his hands go from the chair to in front of him where he braces himself to keep from falling forward. Then it’s just a matter of moving his legs forward, then pulling his torso, and repeating until his legs are dangling over the edge of the pool. He walks down on his hands from the edge to the grated apron and sits, keeping his arms taut to hold himself upright.
    “Can you get in and stand in front of me?” Gabe asks, turning his face to me slightly. “Just in case I lose my balance and fall on my face into the water and try to drown myself again.”
    “Of course!” I go back down the ladder, not wanting to be the jackhole who simply jumps in the pool right after he’s gone through his multi-step entry.
    I get in front of him and he puts his hands, first one then the other, on my shoulders.
    “I’m not putting too much pressure on you?” Gabe asks.
    I shake my head. “You’re fine. I can take it.”
    Gabe leans forward and nothing happens. He chuckles. “I was kind of hoping gravity would work with me, but my legs appear to be stuck.”
    Reaching out, I tuck my hands underneath his knees and take a step back, pulling him into the water. Immediately, Gabe’s fingers slip from my shoulders and he’s got me in a bear hug, hooking his hands back over my shoulder from behind. His face is jammed into mine, his nose in my cheek and his mouth against my chin.
    “Smooooth,” he says, the vibration of his words against my skin giving me the giggles.
    “Let’s get you a kickboard to free up both of our upper bodies, so I can help you with your lower bits.”
    He snorts. “You did not just offer to help me with my lower bits.”
    “I did. Deal with it, FFHC.” I slowly walk us over to where the kickboards are. “And, yeah, I shortened your long nickname down to an acronym, what of it?”
    “Every time you open your mouth I just like you more, so could you shut the hell up please?” He clears his throat and I opt not to give a snappy comeback to that confession.
    Gabe transfers himself to the kickboard. I’m surprised he’s not shakier, but his arm strength must just be phenomenal.
    “All right,” I say, going into instructor mode. “I’m going to lift up your legs; they’re hanging there like dead weight.”
    “Don’t sugarcoat it or anything,” he says, smirking.
    From his right side I lift his legs at the knees and sort of guide him around the pool.
    Gabe looks at me over his shoulder. “You’re not, like, making my feet paddle or anything in some weird hope that they’ll have muscle memory and a miracle will happen?”
    I shake my head. “I’m specifically not doing that, because your ass is paralyzed and you’re never walking again.”
    He smiles and then looks straight ahead. “Actually, I can mostly feel my ass.”
    I pinch it. It’s going too far and it’s inappropriate and I do it anyway.
    “God, you are so molestery, Dork Patrol. I’m gonna have to report you to the parks and rec board.”
    “Uh huh,” I drawl. “You think challenging me is going to get me to do it again, don’t you?”
    He looks at me over his shoulder. “I want to float on my back. Ready for me to