I was laughing when I came up for air.
The water was bathtub warm, and in any other scenario, I’d invite Owen to jump in and join me so I wouldn’t be the only idiot going for a dip in my clothes.
He leaned off the dock, the worry creasing his face obvious even in the dark. “Are you okay? Can you swim?”
He reached his hand down to me as if he could hoist me out of the water like a superhero if I grabbed on.
“Oh my god, I’m anidiot,” I sputtered as I treaded water. “But yes, I can swim.”
“There’s a ladder right there.” He pointed down the dock. “Do you need help?”
“I’m okay.”
“Don’t forget the champagne glass.” Owen finally cackled a little.
“Stop.” I pouted as I swam the few strokes over to the ladder. “I was trying to avoid littering.”
My sundress and sneakers made swimming more challenging. I made it to the ladder and grabbed on, then paused when I figured out what was going to happen next.
I hadn’t worn a bra, and my pale-yellow dress was now essentially see-through.
Meredith had convinced me that I didn’t need one and that the crisscrossed straps in back would be ruined with a bra peeking through them. The minute I hoisted myself out of the water, Owen would have a front-row seat to my nipples.
“What’s wrong?”
I took a deep breath. “Nothing.”
I climbed the ladder awkwardly, because the alcohol combined with wet sneakers made me keep slipping off the rungs. Owen offered his hand to me when I got to the top and I took it reluctantly, because I needed to cover myveryalert nipples. The second he let go of me, I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Are you cold?” Owen asked me, ducking down to study my face.
I shook my head. “No, I’m fine, just sort of mortified I did that.”
He tried to hide a smile. “Gotta admit, it was amazing. You sliced into that water like an Olympic diver.”
“Sure, face-first into the drink. So elegant of me.”
I looked down at myself and discovered that my dress was see-throughandvacuum sealed to my body. As in, Owen, please meet my pink underwear/panties/knickers. I pulled my dress away and I swore it made a suction sound.
I looked up at him and discovered his eyes traveling down my body as I wrung out the hemline. Not gawking, though. He was watching me with awed appreciation.
“Do I have mascara everywhere?” I swiped beneath my eyes self-consciously. “I’m a mess.”
“No.” He shook his head slowly, still watching me. “You look like a mermaid.”
Owen sounded awestruck, like he really believed that I was something beautiful and otherworldly.
“I promise not to lure any sailors to their deaths tonight.” I held up two fingers in a mer-swear.
“Too late,” he said softly.
My heart fumbled at his Kai reference.
Or did he mean something else?
“My phone!” I exclaimed out of nowhere, slapping my hips even though I knew it wasn’t in either pocket. I remembered leaving it on the dock and ran back to get it. He watched me walk back, and despite me feeling like a sea hag, Owen somehow seemed to like what he was seeing.
“What now?” he asked.
