Mao let out a long, 'Pfffft' at Lukas' boasting, but instead of following it with some of his own, Mao went along. "Oh, yeah, I know. I can barely contain myself right now, just being in your presence. It's a wonder that girls don't strip naked and throw themselves at your feet in the streets." By agreeing, Mao was confirming his own attraction to Luke, but he figured he had already admitted to liking the guy, it'd be stupid to avoid flirtation when the opportunity arose.
"You don't have to swim. You can stand - or sit- by me." He patted the surface of the water as if it were a comfy couch they could share. "But I guess if you want to just bake and sweat all day, you can do that too. I'll just be nice and cool, and having fun here, all by myself." He backed away to slightly deeper water (though it still wouldn't go above Luke's hip, if even) and floated on his back.
"What if I was drowning right now, what'd you do?"