Two…
Fifteen…
I could faintly hear someone calling my name from above. I swam to the surface and grabbed the wall, careful to avoid Dennis’dark shoes.
“You should probably get out now,” he said.“You’re soaked. The chlorine might ruin your clothes.”
“You could get me a lot wetter.” I smiled, leaning forward to show more cleavage.
“Okay. I’m leaving. You guys have fun.”
I laughed as Ari snatched up my shoes and practically ran inside. Sean followed and shut the door.“Do you think I could make this a real sport if I tried?” I hoisted myself over the ledge and sat on the cement. “The mermaid division, I mean?” I crossed my legs and started finger-combing my hair.
I looked over as Dennis sat beside me. I wasn’t expecting him to do that. He played with his lip ring, falling into a thoughtful silence while his hazel eyes studiedme.I shifted uncomfortably—he was watching me the same way as before, like I was a complicated puzzle he was determined to solve.
“Maybe,” he finally said.“If you really work for it.”
“Yay!” I almost knocked him over in a hug. He laughed and caught me around the waist.“I knew you’d have faith in me. That’s why you’re my favorite bind. Have I told you how much I love your hair?” I scooted into his lap to play with it.
“Do you really?”
“Mhmm. I love your hair and I love when it does this.” I pushed the black part to the side, running my fingers through the blonde at the same time. And then I let go to watch the black part fall.“I’m gonna tell you a secret but you can’t tell Dennis, okay?”
He gave me a weird look as I ran my fingers through his hair again.“You do realize I’m Dennis, right?”
“Don’t ruin the game. You’re supposed to go along with it,” I said, pushing his hair back again. I reached up to do it again but he caught my hand.“It’s okay, I’ll tell you anyway. I love when you do this with your hair.” I ran my other hand through it and let it fall.“Whenyoudo it yourself. It makes me melt everytime.”
“I know. I can hear it in your thoughts almost every time.”
“You can hear my thoughts?” I asked excitedly. “How? That’s so cool!”
“You can’t be serious.” He stared at me. I tilted my head, patiently waiting for an answer. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No,” I said. “But does that mean you’re telepathic? Are you psychic?” I was so intrigued, but it faded when he refused to answer. “Are you okay?” I scrunched my nose when he wouldn’t stop staring.
“Yeah. Fine,” he mumbled. A few seconds passed before his attention was caught elsewhere. “I didn’t know you have curly hair.” He held up a lock of my soaked curls. “I like it.”
“Thanks.” I smiled and gently pulled the hair from his hand. “I always straighten it because the curls are annoying. Like now. Don’t do that.” I caught his hand before he could start playing with one. “It’ll frizz.”
“Don’t do what, this?” He ruffled my hair, laughing as I twisted and tried to escape.
“Okay, fine!” I squealed when he pulled me back down. “I guess you can play with it. But be careful. Don’t make it frizzy.” I settled into his lap, playing with the padlock chain around his neck while he twisted a loose curl.“I need to practice,” I decided. I unwrapped my curl from his finger and got up.
He stood and took my hand.“Save it for tomorrow. Our complex has quiet hours and it’s getting late.”
I glanced over my shoulder as he led me away from the pool, half wanting to make a break for it and dive back in. In the end I decided to go inside. He opened the door for me and I thanked him, but five steps in I stopped. I touched my clothes and stared at themin horror.
“I’m all wet.” I pulled at the heavy fabric.
“Did you barely notice?” Dennis asked, searching my eyes for some type of answer.
“I’m gonna die in these shorts! I can’t get them off and they’re sticking to me,” I wailed, trying desperately to separate them from my skin. They’re too tight to budge. What do I do? I’m gonna die in these shorts. I’m really gonna die in these stupid shrinking shorts. Maybe I should cut them off.
“You’re really serious,” he realized.“You’re so cute.” He tried to pinch my cheek but I slapped his hand away.
“I am not. Stop it, I’m not cute!”
“You’re fucking adorable.”
