He has no idea. “Doing my best.”
He runs his teeth along his bottom lip, and my mouth goes dry.
“When my sister teases me, I dunk her in the pool.”
“But you won’t do that to me,” I say, my breath unsteady.
“Are you sure about that?” He inches closer, and my pulse races. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”
I could easily move away—he’s giving methe space I need. But I’m stuck like one of those water creatures I keep waiting for.
His arm snakes around my waist, and he tugs me into him. “Silence isn’t a reason,” he whispers, and then he drags us both beneath the water.
In the blackness,I can only focus on him. My legs intertwine with his, and my heart pounds so violently against my ribcage he can no doubt feel it against his own. His hands are on my hips, pulling me infinitely closer.
And then we popup to the surface.
I take a breath of the cool night air and expect him to let go, but he keeps a tight hold on me, and I have no choice but to grip his arms in return. I certainly don’t want to drown, and those shoulders look like they could hold up a mountain.
“You dunked me,” I say, trying my best to be offended.
“What are you going to do about it?” He taunts.
Oh, I’ll tell him, right after he takes his big hands off my waist so I can think.
“I…” I start as his thumb rubs circlesabove my hipbone.
“Yes?” he taunts, his eyes dancing with mischief. He leans ever closer until his nose brushes mine.
My lips part, and my eyelids fight to stay open. What am I doing? I can’t kiss him. I barely know him. This is how people get tricked into love. This is not smar—
“Cannonball!”
Water slaps us in the face, and I push toward the rock wall, coughing up mouthfuls of water.
“Are you okay?” Michael swims next to me, concern in his eyes.
A few teenagers laugh and point in our direction.
I catch a breath and turn away from Michael. “I think I’m done for the night.”
“Same.” He mutters and hauls himself out of the pool and holds a hand out. I let him lift me out like I’m a helpless baby animal. Only when I’m on dry land again do I regain strength in my limbs.
Chapter 13
Michael
Ten seconds ago, I was gearing up to kiss Juliet. Now my arms are empty, and I’m cold.
Teenagers are the worst. I was never that immature.
I glance at Julietas a shiver overtakes her body. “What’s wrong?”
“Just c-cold.” She wrings out her hair and shoots me a smile. It’s not real, like the ones she gave me earlier. This one is forced, preventing her green eyes from lighting up like I know they can.
She walks away from the pool.
“Okay.” I’m sure that’s all it is.
