With a manufactured grunt and slightly mumbled words, Gavin accepted his "loss".  He swam back toward the shore, away from his wife and his best friend.  He had lost, sure.  And it had been given that he would, yes.  But, there was a slight part of him that stung.  He hadn't thrown the race by much...if any, he had to admit.  And that part kind of bothered him.<br/><br/>He shook it off by the time he got to the shore.  He glanced back, but was unable to make too much out of what they were doing.  And of course, the waves meant he couldn't hear them or any words they would say.  Night time waters, darkness around them, water masking their words...not much else he could do to give them privacy.<br/><br/>Well, save do what he was supposed to.  He started back toward the house.  They had some wood on the back deck, just for this purpose.  It'd take him awhile to get the fire going...but that was the point.<br/><br/>Right?<br/>