“I’m definitely done talking.”
She slips a hand around the back of my neck, drawing me closer. She kisses me, tentatively, like it’s our first time all over again. I cradle her face, urging her vanilla lips open. She smiles against my mouth. We build from a warm-up jog to an all-out sprint to a leisurely cooldown that lasts until we’ve reclaimed the breaths we lost to each other.
“Want to go swimming?” she asks.
I arch an eyebrow. “I’m not wearing—”
She tips into the pool, water splashing up behind her.
When she surfaces, I’m laughing. “I’m having déjà vu.”
She pushes her wet hair off her face. “That was intentional—not like last time.”
“It was equally graceful, though.”
She shoots a stream of water at me, soaking my shorts. “Now you have no excuse.”
“Oh, I’m coming in.” I lose my hat, pull my shirt over my head, leave my phone and key ring in the bundle. Then I hop into the pool, dipping to submerge my shoulders. I grab her hand and reel her in. She drapes her arms around my neck, hooking herankles behind me. There’s a glint of mischief in her eyes.
“I’m cool with swimming,” I tell her, linking my hands at the small of her back. “But I wasn’t done kissing you.”
“Good,” she says, leaning in.
Piper
A week later, I meet Henry at Clementine’s for late-afternoon acai bowls. He’s scored a spot by the window, and he’s waitingwith spoons and napkins and bottles of water.
He stands as I near the table. I rise onto my toes to kiss him.
“I ordered,” he says. “I got you a Sunrise Bowl, but it’s not too late to switch if you want something else.”
“Nope, that’s perfect.”
“You’re all dressed up,” he says, taking in my outfit: black cigarette pants with Mary Janes and an emerald tie-front shirt on loan from Tati. He looks uncertainly at his frayed-hem shorts and faded T-shirt. “Should I have worn something nicer?”
I swat his arm. “You always look good.”
“So do you,” he says, tucking a curl behind my ear.
The guy behind the counter catches his attention; our bowls are ready. I take a seat while Henry goes to the counter to get them. Then he slides into the booth beside me.
“What’d you do today?” I ask, mixing granola into my blended acai.
“Golfed with my dad.” He grins. “I beat him.”
“No way! Was he grumpy after?” I’ve never actually seen Davis grumpy, but I know he’s competitive. Unsurprisingly, I can relate. Losing makes me super irritable.
“Nah. We had a good time. I know it’s only been a week, but I swear I can see a change in him. It’s like his skin fits him better.”
I smile. “That’s amazing.”
“Yeah,” Henry says, scooping up a banana slice. “He’s excited to have you on at the restaurant.”
“I can’t wait to start.”
Davis has hired me as a hostess. They had an opening, and after getting Tati’s blessing, I ran the idea by him the other night while I was eating takeout with Henry at their place.
“We’d be lucky to have you,” he said. “When can you start?”
