That was an unconventional, yet effective route to revenge. “That’s quite a way to make her never forget.”
“I’m not entirely soulless. I was one hundred percent transparent with my plans if she refused to rectify the situation. Causing violence toward someone else because you’re afraid of what others will think of you is intolerable.”
I nod in agreement.
She tosses me the sunscreen lotion bottle. “She hurt my sister. Of course I was protective. Our parents had divorced six months prior. Rumors were flying about our family, and I’m not one for standing around doing nothing. Feeling helpless doesn’t sit well with me. Should I have handled it differently? Maybe, maybe not; but I created a plan and executed it. Reputation matters to me.” She exhales deeply. “After trusting my heart to the wrong person, I guess I should add loyalty and integrity to the list.”
I nod my head and cross one leg over the other. Me too. “That’s understandable.”
“I felt guilty about the fundraiser, but then I started to receive messages from people sharing their stories and how I had helped them, so I created an organization that’s expanded over the years, helping thousands to cope and learn to live authentically. Some risks are worth taking.”
She goes quiet, seeming lost in thought, her gaze is planted on a buoy floating ahead. After a long stretch of sounds of rolling waves and birds, she downs her remaining wine and meets my eyes. “Swim with me?”
I shake my head. A playful smile paints my lips, but she doesn’t seem as amused, only tilting her head in disbelief. “That was not a part of our agreement.”
“Neither is the way you keep looking at me. But here we are.”
“Right.” I pick up my aviator sunglasses and cover my eyes. “Problem solved.”
She laughs. “What on earth do you think happens when two people go on a date?”
“Is that what this is? A date?” A part of me wants to hear the words out loud.
She leans close enough to make my insides constrict and gently removes my sunglasses, forcing our eyes to hold.
Her eyes travel to my lips and back up. Her voice is barely audible. “Yes.”
When she drifts closer, I sense her fingers near mine. It’s nearly impossible, but somehow, I stop myself from kissing her and face the water. “Lucky for you, I’m not much of an ocean person. Feel free to enjoy yourself though.”
She exhales at the rejection and backs away; same with her fingers. “Not a fan of swimming?”
“I don’t care for swimming with other animals. You know it’s their territory, not ours.”
“You're afraid of fish,” she says in a deadpan manner.
“That’s not what I said.”
She raises her brow in the way she does when challenged, then she stands, legs hovering near my face, and shimmies her shoulders until her cover-up falls to the ground. “You’ll know where I’ll be if you care to join.”
I trail every step she takes toward the water. As if knowing I’m watching, she runs her fingers underneath the sides of her bikini bottoms and throws a casual smile over her shoulder, then enters the water.
Five minutes later, the blazing sun beams on my body, and I wipe the sweat from my temples. Sighing, I give into temptation and join Basil. For the case.
We linger where our feet can still reach the rocky bottom. The sunlight reflects off the water, detailing the textures of gray and black rocks. There are tiny fish, but I try to dismiss them, unlike Basil, who offers me a victorious grin when she sees me. It’s hard to ignore the effect her big dimpled-grin has on me. When the distance closes between us, the fluttering sensation deep in my chest returns. Taking two hands, I playfully splash her. She returns the favor, slamming the water, and jolts away. I chase her.
The distance between us slowly dissolves with each minute. Our playful touches grow into teasing hands on skin. Any worry about the case vanishes as we exchange giggles. Another joy-filled day, another moment the world melts away, only us remaining.
Basil emerges from underneath the water, then fixes her gaze on me, her damp brown hair dripping down her shoulders. She feels something too, doesn’t she?
My question is soon answered as smooth legs brush against mine. I don’t pull away. My thudding heart forces me forward, both hands sliding down Basil’s sides. The coolness of the water is now in contact with the wetness building between my thighs as Basil’s legs tighten around my waist. We don’t speak, letting our bodies do the talking. Not breaking eye contact, I maneuver my hands underneath Basil’s ass and prop her up until her full breasts press against me. Suddenly, my fear of what’s swimming in this ocean with me is the least of my problems.
Our mouths remain inches apart. The way she whispers my name makes my skin goosebump and my planted stance nearly collapse. Sensing her lips within reach, I close my eyes and lean in, unable to stop myself.
“Ouch! Damn it!” I yelp and writhe, bucking my hips forward, and launch Basil backward until her back slaps the water with a volume that makes me cringe. Searing fire zips up my leg. My eyes well up as I grimace from the tormenting pain flooding over me.
“What?” Basil yells in concern. She waves her arms, searching the water for the culprit. She asks again after I answer only with a string of expletives. “Slow down. What’s wrong?”
Not seeing anything either, I pause. Our eyes meet, and my face sinks. “Everything.”
