Through His Eyes

The Pool

Eden stood there, her hands still raised in mock surrender, clearly trying to stifle her laughter.

She burst into a quiet, but genuine laugh, bending over to slap her thigh as she pointed at his wide-eyed expression. “Didn’t see that coming, huh?” she said between giggles, still laughing at the startled look on his face.

No one in the world had ever caught him off guard like that. For a split second, he almost forgot his usually composed demeanor, his surprise cracking into a small chuckle that he had to quickly swallow. But the more he thought about it, the harder it was to keep his laughter at bay.

Eden pulled Thomas’s hand, her pace quick and purposeful as she led him toward the pool area at the center of the complex. The soft glow of the moon reflected off the water, casting a peaceful shimmer across the vast, deep creek that separated the two sides of the complex. As they walked, Thomas couldn’t help but notice how confident her steps were, as if she belonged here, even in the late hour.

“Isn’t it closed?” he asked, noticing the padlocked gate at the entrance to the pool area.

Eden stopped in front of it, looking at him with a playful smirk. “Yup,” she said, her voice light and casual, almost too casual.

Before Thomas could say anything else, she turned, effortlessly muscling herself up over the gate, her body moving with a fluid grace that surprised him. She landed lightly on the other side, glancing back at him with a look that could only be described as challenge. “You coming?”

Thomas stood frozen for a moment, blinking in disbelief. Of course, she would do something like this—spontaneous, impulsive, and daring. He’d never met anyone like her before, someone so fearless in the face of rules, of restrictions.

He shook his head with a slight chuckle. “You’re insane,” he muttered under his breath, but he couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips.

Without further hesitation, he grabbed his bag, throwing it over the top of the gate first. He climbed up next, not quite as gracefully as Eden, but managing to get himself over in a few quick movements. When his feet hit the ground, he looked up to find her waiting for him, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

“See? Easy,” Eden teased, clearly amused by his struggle.

Thomas noted that Eden didn’t have her phone on her, or anything for that matter. No keys, nothing at all. She was entirely unburdened by anything but her own sense of freedom.

She approached the edge of the pool, dipping her hand in with a delighted smile. “Pretty warm,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “They say beaches are often colder at night because they expel the heat after absorbing it from the sun all day.”

Thomas said nothing, watching her as she stood by the edge. Then, to his surprise, she started unbuttoning her daisy dukes, one button at a time. His brow furrowed, and he watched her, unsure what to make of it.

“Do you have anything on under that?” he asked with a concerned expression.

Eden paused for a moment, then looked over her shoulder at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “No,” she answered swiftly, her fingers working at the buttons with belligerent confidence, a challenge in her playful demeanor.

Thomas glanced around, his mind racing. “I wouldn’t do that here,” he warned. The pool area was open, surrounded by units where anyone could get a full view of the show. “You could at least wait until you’re in the pool,” he muttered, his voice a mix of exasperation.

Eden didn’t respond, sliding her shorts down even faster now. Thomas’s heart raced as he held his breath, unsure what to expect next.

And then, to his relief—and surprise—Eden grinned up at him, revealing a pair of bikini bottoms underneath her shorts. “Gotcha,” she teased, laughing at his reaction before lowering herself into the water slowly.

Thomas shook his head, a small, amused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched Eden’s playful antics. He stifled a cheesy grin, knowing he couldn’t let her win this moment completely. With a resigned sigh, he stripped down to his boxers, not bothering to wait any longer. He was already too far in, and part of him enjoyed the spontaneity of it all.

He slowly eased into the pool, the cool water feeling refreshing against his skin. Eden glanced over at him, a knowing smile on her face. “Took you long enough,” she teased, floating lazily near the edge.

Thomas just shrugged, his face neutral but his eyes betraying a hint of amusement. “Had to make sure I wasn’t missing anything,” he replied, settling into the water beside her.

Thomas kept his distance in the pool, allowing space between them. It felt right, considering how recently they’d met. The easy chemistry they shared earlier didn’t need to rush into anything else just yet. He watched Eden, noting how her movements in the water were smooth and fluid, as if she was letting the pool support her, weighing her down in a way that seemed effortless.

It was a moment of calm, with the water lapping around them both, the quiet night offering a rare stillness. Thomas’s eyes drifted to her, following the way her black halter top clung to her as she moved. For a moment, his mind wandered to how natural and unguarded she seemed, so free in her own skin. She had a way of being herself that was both striking and intriguing.

It wasn’t just her physical presence—though that was undeniable—it was how she carried herself, completely in tune with the moment. Thomas found himself drawn to that quiet confidence, even though he was still trying to figure out everything about her.

But tonight wasn’t about trying to understand it all. It was about being here, now, in this strange, unexpected space between them. And for once, Thomas didn’t feel the need to analyze every detail. He was content just to be present with her.

“Can I ask you something?” Eden said, her voice breaking the quiet between them.

“Finally,” Thomas said with a smirk, crossing his arms. “Go on.”

Eden hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching his face as if she was carefully considering the right words. “Thomas…” she began, then paused, her brow furrowing. The silence stretched a bit too long, making Thomas raise an eyebrow.

“It isn’t your name,” she finally said, her voice soft but confident.

Thomas blinked, surprised. “That wasn’t a question,” he replied, his voice amused.

Eden tilted her head slightly, almost as if she expected that response. “No, it’s not,” she said. “But I think I know how you came up with it.”

Thomas’s expression remained calm, though inside, a part of him shifted. “Oh? Do tell.”

Eden leaned forward a little, her eyes narrowing as if piecing something together. “You didn’t just pull it out of thin air,” she said. “Thomas Ruthven—Thomas, from Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne’s father, and Ruthven, from the character in ‘The Vampyre.’ It’s a mix of nobility and mystery, a perfect cover-up name for someone hiding their true identity.”

Thomas froze for a moment, caught off guard by how accurate her deduction was. He didn’t want to give too much away, but the way Eden had pieced it together so quickly made him think for a second.

“Smart,” he said monotonously, though he kept his tone guarded. “What gave it away?”

Eden shrugged casually. “It wasn’t hard to figure out. You’ve got that aura about you, the kind of guy who picks names carefully. ‘Thomas Ruthven’ just has that… crafted feel. It doesn’t seem like something you’d just stumble upon.”

Thomas couldn’t help but smirk, impressed by how well she understood him. “Guess I’ve underestimated you,” he said, leaning back. “But you’re right. It’s not my real name.”

Eden thought for a moment, then her curiosity got the best of her. “Do you have a fake middle name?” she asked, her tone casual but probing.

The question caught Thomas off guard again, but this time he smiled and nodded. “Yeah, it’s Puma.”

Eden’s eyebrows raised, a playful grin forming on her lips. “Puma? Why Puma?”

Thomas chuckled softly, his mind drifting back to his time in private military. “It’s because of my specialty. I can track like… well, like a puma. Quiet, fast, and relentless. My mates used to joke around and call me that.”

Eden giggled at the explanation. “I like it. It definitely sounds like something out of a movie.”

Thomas smiled, though the smile was more reflective this time. “Yeah, well, it’s not exactly a name I just throw around. But with you, I guess I don’t mind.”

There was a quiet moment between them, and for some reason, Thomas felt an odd sense of comfort in revealing that small detail. He hadn’t shared much about his past, and yet, telling Eden felt natural, as though it wasn’t such a big deal after all.

Eden smiled, sensing the shift. “I think it suits you,” she said with a teasing glint in her eye.

Thomas chuckled, appreciating the lightness of the moment. “You’d be surprised how many people have no idea what it means. It’s not exactly a conversation starter.” She paused for a moment, then added, “I’m glad you shared that with me.”

Thomas almost didn’t notice how close they had drifted to each other during their conversation. The distance between them had shortened without either of them realizing, and the air between them felt charged, though still comfortable.

“Let me ask you a question now,” Thomas said, his voice breaking the quiet rhythm of the moment. His mind briefly considered asking her about Braxton, but he decided against it. The curiosity about her life took precedence.

“Why did you decide to live in Nashville?” he asked, genuinely interested.

Eden seemed to take a moment before answering, her gaze drifting out toward the pool. “I wanted to be away from everything,” she said, her voice softening with the memory. “I used to live in New York, and… my family was a little crazy. Toxic, actually. I needed space. After some hard work, things are a lot better now. But I still miss them, often.”

Thomas nodded slowly, processing her words. There was a quiet sincerity in her tone that made him feel like he was hearing something real. Something she didn’t share with just anyone.

“That sounds like it was tough,” he said quietly, thinking about how much courage it must have taken to make such a drastic change. He added to himself, Good thing you came to Nashville. I never would have set foot in New York.

“I’m glad you were here instead,” Thomas said aloud, his voice light but sincere. “I don’t like New York particularly.”

Eden looked at him with a small, knowing smile. “I get that,” she said with a soft chuckle. “The city just has a vibe that’s… a lot. I needed a change of pace, too. Nashville’s more my speed.”

Thomas smiled slightly, appreciating how easily they seemed to understand each other in this moment. It was strange, this connection, how she could understand exactly what he meant without him needing to explain further. It was another small thing that felt real in a world he’d often kept distant.

“I think Nashville suits you,” Thomas said, almost to himself. “It feels like a place for starting fresh.”

Eden met his eyes, her smile soft but warm. “Yeah, I think it does.”

Thomas, now standing close to her, couldn’t help but be captivated by the intensity of her eyes. Everything about Eden seemed to draw him in—her presence, her confidence, her vulnerability. It was almost as if the world had faded away around them, leaving just the two of them in that quiet moment. His thoughts raced, but before he could stop himself, he leaned in slightly, the words slipping from his mouth before he realized what he was saying.

“Yeah…” he murmured, almost to himself. “It feels like I’ve known you.”

Eden’s gaze locked with his, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to still. She tilted her head slightly, as though contemplating his words, before she softly agreed. “Yeah… me too.”

But then, just as Thomas leaned in further, his heart pounding in his chest, Eden stiffened. She pushed him back, her hands firmly pressing against his chest. Her voice, now laced with something sharp and unexpected, cut through the tension.

“How much?” she asked, her tone challenging, almost playful.

Thomas’s brows furrowed in confusion, a sense of concern washing over him. “What?” he asked, still trying to make sense of her sudden shift.

Eden waded away from him in the water, her expression guarded, though there was a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. “The snake oil,” she said, her voice teasing now. “What’s it cost? I might buy it.”