Summer is the start of the busy season for Neptune's Pool Service, owned by Pete Crawford. A new client, Corey Brennerman, captures Pete’s interest, if only because he seems attached to his cell phone 24/7. Corey is a serious workaholic. Pete remembers when he used to be like that, and he wishes he could do something about it.<br><br>Pete comes to Corey’s aid in a grocery store parking lot one evening and helps him catch the punk who tries to steal his cell phone. As a result, their relationship moves from that of client/hired help to cautious friends. When a Fourth of July party leads to a tryst, Pete is running scared because he thinks Corey is too stressed and vulnerable to handle anything serious right now. But Corey confronts him, and they work things out -- in the pool, naturally.<br><br>A death in the family brings them even closer together. Can Corey make some positive changes in his life? Could the relationship they’ve begun to build become something that might last forever?

Wading in Neptune's Pool

“Fine. But get him the fuck away from me before I kill him.”


“Done.” I stood up, pulling the guy with me, still holding both wrists in my hand. “I let you go, you run like hell, hear me? I catch you doing this again, the cops hear about it, got me?”


I let go, and the guy ran like a gazelle out of the parking lot. I turned to see Corey checking his phone again.


“Huh?” He looked up at me, having already gotten caught up into his wireless world. “Wait, don’t I know you? The pool guy, right?”


“Pete, yeah. You know, you should really pay closer attention to your surroundings. It’s a deserted parking lot, and getting dark out. Easy pickings for a thug who is paying attention.”


“Uh-huh,” he replied, absent-mindedly, eyes back on his phone.


I just shook my head and walked away, back to my truck and my groceries.


Chapter 3