“About fifteen years ago, Park Services took it under their wing and fixed it up when the town mayor petitioned for extra funding to increase the safety and preservation of the spring and lake. A park ranger ventures out here on a daily basis to do various things that I have no idea about, but I do know they make sure the cabanas are clean and nest-free.”
“Nest?”
“You know, spiders, wasps, other wildlife. It gives us a place to change. In the midst of the summer when school lets out, this place is filled with people.”
“What if you need to…?”
Laughing, I set my bag on a bench just outside the sandy area. “This is still the country, and those woods over there serve their purpose.” I laughed again at the expression on his face.
Welcome to the country, city boy.
The twins rushed over to us, eager to get their swimsuits on and play in the water. I couldn’t wait to see their expressions when they felt its temperature. We had some storms move up from the south recently, dumping some warmer rain onto the mountains, so it was going to be just above freezing. But I remembered as a kid not caring in the slightest and only being forced to leave the water when my lips turned blue.
I directed Nate and the twins over to the wooden cabana that resembled an outdoor shower but with multiple stalls. With the girls' bathing suits in hand, along with his trunks, Nate looked over at me wearily before opening the door.
Figuring they would take a while, I removed my clothing and pulled on my bikini out in the open. By the time they exited, I had my towel laid out and was catching up on the latest novel for our town book club. It was more like a gossip club, but I read the books anyway.
“That was surprisingly clean,” he said as he laid his towel out beside mine. The girls were tiptoeing their way to the waterline.
“Told you.”
“Should I be worried I didn’t bring their life jackets?”
“It’s only about three feet deep until you get closer to the falls. I have a feeling they won’t go out too far.”
“What makes you say that?”
His question fell away as both girls screamed, “It’s freezing!”
“That’s why.”
He shook his head before standing and making his way to the water, mumbling that it couldn’t be that cold.
He went about ankle deep before stepping back out. “Holy hell.”
“We’re in the middle of the mountains. Did you think it would be warm?”
Stomping over to his towel, Nate plopped back down. “I don’t know what I thought. California water is cold enough. I should have known better.”
“It warms up a bit by the end of summer.”
The twins were still giggling about their dad squealing like a girl as they took small steps into the water. In a matter of minutes, they were waist-deep and splashing each other.
“Damn,” Nate commented as both Molly and Eloise jumped out of the water, only to run back in. They were playing a game of some sort.
Setting my book on the towel beside me, I decided to watch the girls splash for a while. On my bent legs, I rested my chin and wrapped my arms around my shins.
“Should we talk about last night?” I murmured, not taking my eyes off the kids.
“Probably.”
“Was it a one-time thing?” I asked, because I knew his answer was going to determine how we proceeded.
“I don’t want it to be, but you need to know, Alex, it can only be sexual,” he whispered. “Look at me, please.” I turned my eyes toward him. “I need you to understand I can’t do a relationship again. I won’t do that to the girls or myself.”
I didn’t have to be a genius to know his ex, Sasha, did a number on him. My quick internet search of him last week disclosed little other than multiple affairs and her selling his ideas to outside companies without his permission. All over the course of just six months.
He didn’t need to worry though. I had trust issues myself and was practically allergic to any sort of emotional relationship.
