Slow Burn (Book 5): Torrent by Bobby Adair Read Free Book Online Page A

the other side, I turned, pushed off of the wall and, starting to feel a compelling need for air, swam across the width of the pool again.
    I made it all the way back across and popped up next to Benny, breathing deeply to get some fresh air back in my lungs. The guys were back to being amazed.
    But Benny wasn’t giving up. He’d felt the pride too when the boys seemed amazed at the initial feat. The chance to feel like a winner is a rare thing. Benny was determined to feel it again. He climbed up out of the pool. The boys were making noise. They were spectators to a challenge and loving it.
    Benny drew a few deep breaths just as I had, shot me a defiant look and dove into the water.
    I climbed up and sat on the edge of the pool, so I could better see Benny’s shimmery form beneath the wavy surface. Just as before, he made it to the far side of the pool without coming up for air. And just as I had, when he reached the other side, he turned underwater, pushed off and swam the distance back.
    On the way across, I wished he’d come up for air and grant me the victory. But he didn’t. He wanted victory as badly as me. Or so he thought.
    When Benny emerged from the water below me after swimming two widths of the pool, the boys cheered and shouted. They were impressed with us both, but I wasn’t willing to share the victory. I drew in deep breaths and prepared myself to try for three.
    Benny saw what was coming next and climbed up beside me.
    It was then that one of the kids from across the pool scoffed, “You can only do it because when you dive in, you go halfway across the pool before you have to start swimming.”
    True. But fuck that kid, anyway. I shrugged and jumped down into the water. “I can do it either way.”
    Some other kid said, “At the same time. Do it together.”
    I looked at Benny. Do or die, buddy.
    Benny, with a touch of worry on his face, jumped into the pool beside me.
    I hollered back across the pool. “Somebody has to say ‘go.’” I grabbed the lip of the pool’s edge with one hand, pulled my legs up, planted my feet on the wall, and positioned myself for the biggest push I could.
    Benny watched me and followed my example, letting no advantage slip by.
    From across the pool, I heard, “Ready. Set.”
    I looked at Benny. He looked at me. I didn’t know what he was thinking. It didn’t matter. I was going to win the challenge or I was going to suck in a lung full of water trying.
    “ Go .”
    Off we went.
    In an ideal world, the challenge should have been each of us against ourselves to see how far we could push ourselves beyond our beliefs and fears. But that world is a fantasy. Nothing like it has ever existed, nor will it.
    Under the surface, I watched Benny and kept even with him as we swam across the pool.
    When we reached the other side, it had indeed taken longer without the advantage of diving in. I was feeling the stress of insufficient oxygen in my blood.
    I made my turn and started to swim back, expecting Benny to quit at the turn. When I looked though, he was coming up beside me. He hadn’t quit. Persistent fucker.
    No biggie. I could make another lap. Benny wouldn’t make it to the other side. No fucking way.
    The black lane lines passed beneath us and kept passing until I saw the bottom of the pool curve up to the wall ahead of me. My lungs were screaming for air. But Benny was still beside me.
    He would stop at the wall. I was sure of that. I only had to make the turn, swim a few strokes and I’d win.
    I could to it. I knew I could.
    I hit the wall, negotiated my turn, pushed off with my legs and glided over a few of the black lane markers below. Just before I surfaced to finally grant relief to my lungs, I saw Benny glide on past me, stroking as he went.
    Shit .
    Every muscle in my body demanded I surface and breathe, but every ounce of my soul refused. Win or drown. I swam on. I sped up and came up beside Benny.
    I’d laid claim to something when I’d jumped into the