“I swear on my lucky hockey stick,” I call out.
“That’s not even a real oath.” She laughs under her breath.
“Still binding.”
“If you peek, I’m telling my brother.”
That has me cracking up.
“Melody,” I say, letting the name roll off my tongue, “if I peek, I hope he kills me. Because at least the view will be worth dying for.”
“Turn the hell around,” She groans.
“Turned.” I spin in the water, facing the horizon and the last bits of orange.
I hear the shuffle of fabric, the nervous laugh and the unmistakable sound of water splashing as she gets in.
I grin wide.
“This feels so weird,” she gasps.
“You’ll get used to it.”
She splashes toward me, and I hear the water shift closer.
“This doesn’t mean I trust you,” she mutters.
“Noted.” I tilt my head, still facing away.
She’s somewhere behind me in the water. I can hear her splashing softly, testing the depth, paddling aimlessly, probably keeping a full ocean of distance between us.
And I’m giving her space. I am. But I’m also losing my fucking mind.
Because Melody isnakedin the water…with me. I can’t see her body, but my brain is doing me zero favors. I’m picturing every inch, every curve, and every drop skimming her skin.
“Okay,” she says finally, water sloshing as she drifts closer. “You can turn around now.”
I turn and look at her. I can only see her head and shoulders above the water. Her hair is slicked back, skin gleaming, eyes wide and uncertain and burning.
I can’t see anything below the collarbone, but it doesn’t matter.
I know.And that knowing hits like a sucker punch.
Something inside me flips. That thing I keep caging starts to rise.
“Careful,” she says, her voice still light. “I can see your thoughts written all over your face.”
“Yeah?” I murmur, voice deeper, heavier. “What am I thinking?”
“Something bad,” She whispers.
“What gave me away?” I ask, slowly drifting towards her.
I stop about a foot away. We’re both treading water now, bodies hidden beneath the surface, but so close the ripples from her movements touch mine.
“You want me to stop?” I tilt my head.
“I didn’t say that.” She licks her lips.
