That was all she needed to say, really, all April wanted in this moment. She reached out and took Daphne’s hand—for the fourth time, no less—and pulled her toward the water.
“Stay close to me to avoid the rocks,” she said, and Daphne did, the bare skin of her torso brushing against April’s. They splashed into the lake, and Daphne cried out.
“Holy shit, it’s cold,” she yelled.
“Another swear,” April said, laughing and pulling her deeper. The water was up to her thighs now. “I am scandalized, Ms.Love.”
“I don’t cuss often,” Daphne said. Her teeth chattered, and it was pretty fucking cute. “Only when—”
She cut herself off, but April kept moving until they were deep enough that there were no rocks on the bottom and the water covered her bare chest. She let Daphne go and turned to look at her. “Only when what?”
Daphne just smiled, the moon glinting off her teeth.
“Tell me,” April said, laughing.
“No,” Daphne said, laughing too and splashing April gently.
April lifted her brows. “You donotwant to get in a water fight with me, Love.”
Daphne tilted her head. “I think I do.”
April splashed her immediately, aiming the water right below her face to collide with her neck and chest.
Daphne flinched, but laughed, sending a wave of water back toward April. Soon it was nothing but splashes and shrieking as they flicked and slapped and threw water at each other. Finally, April ducked beneath the surface and swam to grab Daphne by the waist and pull her under too. They twisted and spun, limbs tangling in a sort of aquatic wrestling match before they both came up to the surface.
“I think I grabbed your boob,” Daphne said, spluttering and wiping at her face. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, I think I would’ve remembered that,” April said, laughing.
Daphne grinned, then swam a little closer, the water up to her chin, her hair dark purple and slicked back, floating around her shoulders. Her gaze was intense, and April sucked in a breath, not sure what was about to happen.
“So who won the battle?” Daphne asked, a teasing lilt to her tone. She was close enough now that April could see the green of her eyes, even in the darkness.
“I think it’s a t—”
But April’s words were cut off as she was yanked under the water, Daphne’s hands silky around her hips before letting her go, there and then gone. April surfaced with her mouth pursed, flicking the water from her eyes dramatically.
“I won,” Daphne said smugly.
April just sniffed. “Where did you learn how to fight dirty?”
“I had a bossy older sister in a small town where we called the lake a watering hole. I’m country.” She smiled softly, a bit more distance between them now as she trailed her fingers through the water.
“Do you miss them?” April asked. “Your sister and your parents?”
Daphne flinched as though April had sent another wave of water into her face.
“Sorry,” April said. “We don’t have to talk about it.”
“No, no, it’s okay,” Daphne said, looking up at the sky.
April swam a little closer. She made sure to keep her chest covered, despite the fact that Daphne had already seen everything. Somehow, this didn’t feel like a tits out kind of conversation. If Daphne was willing to have it at all. She was still quiet, still gazing at the stars.
“Which one is the crab again?” she asked.
April looked up too, searching for the constellation between the clouds, but she couldn’t find it.
“Hidden,” she said.
