We stood there for a moment. Bastian’s thumb ran along the scar on my wrist. I unconsciously stilled. But he didn’t say anything else. There were no more questions.
“On the count of three,” Bastian shouted. “One. Two. Three—”
We jumped.
The world fell away.
There was only me. Only Bastian.
And the incredible feeling of falling with him.
When we hit the water, I held my breath, plunging deep. And still he held my hand.
We broke the surface together, sputtering. It was the most exhilarating feeling I had ever had.
“That was crazy!” Bastian exclaimed. He took my face in both his hands while we treaded water. “Who knew you had that in you, Sara?”
“There’s more to me than you think,” I sassed.
He rubbed my cheek with his thumb. “I have no doubt.”
“Watch out!” we heard David yell, our attention pulled reluctantly from each other.
David stood on the bank, a crazy smile on his face. “Oh no,” Bastian moaned.
We ducked just as he jumped into the river, curling his legs into his chest, creating a huge splash.
“Dick!” Bastian gasped, swimming after his brother. I watched with something like wonder as the two brothers horse-played like kids. David laughed. It was jarring. Shaky and disused, it sounded foreign coming from his mouth.
I swam to the bank of the river where Anne still sat, watching the two men with a dreamy expression.
I trudged out of the water to sit beside my friend. “You’ve ruined that shirt,” she commented, gesturing to the ripped sleeve and mud-stained collar.
I shrugged. “Oh well.”
Anne’s eyes widened. “Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”
I chuckled. “She’s taking the day off.”
Anne put her arm around my shoulders, not caring that I was making her wet too. “Good. It’s been too long.”
David lifted Bastian as though he weighed nothing and threw him into the water. David looked back at the bank. At Anne. He put his hand to his mouth, kissing his palm. Sending it to her.
She beamed.
I felt concern. It could only end badly. She wasn’t allowed to choose who to give her heart to.
I thought of my own boldness. Of kissing Bastian, no matter how chaste. Of holding his hand. Of letting him touch my face.
Neither of us had the right of choice. It wasn’t our fate. Our path.
Anne and I should know better.
I stared harder at my dearest friend. At the affection written there.
I had never seen that expression on her face before. I hadn’t realized I was missing something that had never existed. I wanted that for her.
Happiness.
