The river is moving slowly. The water is low at the moment, though it’s still deep in some places, but Elijah leads us straight to a massive and ancient tree that has fallen over the river.
The kids who came here on holiday used to spend a lot of their time here. We locals never had much to do with it.
I shake my head. “I’m going to get wet.”
“Come on, Mack,” Sofia shouts as she strips out of her clothes and down to that absolutely adorable bikini that is covering not enough of her.
She climbs onto the log and starts attempting to walk across it. The problem is it gets slippery, so it’s harder than it looks.
She wobbles and windmills her arms, but Elijah gets up and walks out to meet her. They make it across with laughs and a couple of near misses and disappear into the massive willow tree on the other side.
Devon goes next, and I take up the rear. I slip and go down on one knee halfway across, but then we’re all on the other side, feeling proud of ourselves.
Sofia and Elijah disappear into the massive tree, climbing until they are almost out of view.
Devon sighs. “I’m not a fan of trees.”
I stare at him. “Really? Trees?”
He glares at me defensively. “You’re afraid of spiders, Mr. I-Squeal-Like-A-Teenage-Girl.”
“I wasn’t having a dig,” Imutter. “Sofia,” I call.
She’s up the top of the tree, laughing with Elijah, when I get to the bottom.
“Come down,” I say, peering up at her.
“No way. I’m going to stay up here forever,” she throws back.
“Fine, then I’m keeping Danger.”
She pauses and then scurries down the tree. She stops in front of me. I grab her wrists and pull them up over her head, holding them there. I lean down and kiss her.
“Do you remember who you are yet or do we need to go to more places?”
“What other places are there?”
I raise an eyebrow. “You tell me.”
“Well, there’s eating ice cream. The bookshop. The secret beach. There’s…um…” She stops talking, but that’s because she’s so focused on me and the way I’m edging closer to her that she’s not actually able to think anymore.
“I've been thinking about things.”
“You have?”
“Yes. Tomorrow, I have to go to work, and then I think we’re going to catch up after. I’d like to show you what I do, bring you into my world a little. I’ll let you see my action figures.” I waggle my eyebrows at her.
“Really?”
“Oh, yes, absolutely.”
There is something very vulnerable in her scent, something that has me wanting to draw her closer and tell her I’ll protect her and make it all go away.
“Secret?”
She huffs and tries to look away, but I duck so she has to look at me.
“Don’t hide from me, Omega.”
