I snatch my hand back and peer over her shoulder, spotting a plate of fried chicken and a couple slices of strawberry shortcake on a small square table. My favorite protein and dessert.
“Nice. What’s the occasion?”
“It’s our friendiversary.” She beams. “Well, I don’t remember the exact day we met, but it was five years ago this month.”
“Damn, it’s only been five years. It seems a lot longer.” Zilphia was a godsend that night. Now I can’t imagine my life without her.
“Time flies when you’re having fun.” She drops the towels on a chaise lounge and grabs my hand, impatiently tugging me forward. “Come on, let’s get wet.”
“Can we eat first?” I attempt to grab a piece of chicken as we pass the table, but Zilphia swats my hand away.
“No eating before swimming. You’ll get cramps.” She folds her arms and looks at me expectantly. “Well, what are you waiting for? Strip.”
“Nuh-uh,” I reply, shaking my head and gesturing for her to turnaround. Zilphia rolls her eyes, but does as I request. I quickly undress and toss my clothes next to the towels. “I’m ready.”
I wade into the frigid water behind her, watching that damn loose thread again. At least the cold will keep me from embarrassing myself.
“Think fast,” Zilphia says and splashes water in my face, then tries to swim away.
I latch onto her ankle and haul her back. “Got you.”
She squeals and kicks free. I stalk after her, a confident smirk curling my lips. “Prepare to get dunked.”
“You better not, Sam,” she hisses, excited fear animating her features. “I’m warning—”
I pounce, and we both disappear beneath the surface, but only for a couple of seconds. “Apologize or you’re getting dunked again.”
“Never.”
I shrug. “The hard way it is, then.”
The water war escalates, with us battling for the upper hand, though my size and strength give me the advantage. I take hold of her wrists and pin her arms behind her back, bringing her wet body flush against me.
Something shifts, and our playful battle becomes sexually charged, instantly heating the blood in my veins. We stare into each other’s eyes, and everything in me wants to kiss her—but Zilphia turns her head, breaking the spell. We had a moment, right? Fleeting, but there nonetheless, or maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.
“Give up?” I rasp.
“Uh-huh,” Zilphia responds breathlessly. “I’ll apologize, but you have to let me go first.”
I raise a skeptical eyebrow but release her. “All right, I’m waiting.”
She clears her throat. “I’m… um… What was I saying? Oh, yeah, I’m…”
I grasp her slender shoulders. “Okay, you’re going back under.”
“Dang, give me a second.” Zilphia sucks her teeth. “I’m deeply, deeply sorry for splashing you. Forgive me?” she asks, dramatically batting her eyelashes.
I chuckle at her obvious sarcasm. “I guess.”
Before I can think better of it, I remove a silky curl clinging to her bottom lip and tuck it behind her ear, letting my hand linger on her soft skin longer than necessary. The air between us sizzles again. So it wasn’t just my imagination. It’s real, and she feels it too.
“Race you to the end of the pool.” Zilphia propels herself through the water, toward the deep end, but stops short when I don’t follow suit. “What are you waiting for? You do know how to swim, right?” she jokes.
“Never learned.” I climb out of the pool and begin drying off.
I’ll never be good enough for her. I don’t even know how to swim. She’s going to go off to college and make something of herself. My greatest achievement will probably be becoming assistant manager at the local grocery store.
I hear the swoosh of water as she pulls herself onto the deck. “I’m sorry, Sam. I was only joking.”
