“I’m stronger than I look, and I can handle her, but I’ll tell you if anything happens. I promise.”
20
ASTRID
“I’m sorry, girls, but class is canceled today,” Greta tells Freja and Erin when we arrive for their swimming class. “We’ve lost power to the building, and I’m waiting for the electrician to arrive. All classes are canceled until we get the issue resolved.”
“No problem, Greta,” I tell the instructor as Callan steers two very disappointed girls away. “I hope you get it fixed soon.”
“Tell your mom I’ll send an update text later.”
“Sure.” I wave before running to catch up with Callan and our sisters as they head toward the car.
“This sucks,” Erin says when I rejoin them.
“I really wanted to go swimming,” Freja says, pouting.
I tilt my head up, and there is barely a cloud in the sky. “Maybe we could go swimming at Whispering Lake,” I suggest.
“Yes!” Freja grips my arm, pinning me with puppy-dog eyes. “Please, please, can we go there, Azz?”
“I’ve never been to that lake,” Erin supplies, snuggling into Callan’s side. “I really want to go.”
“The water will bea lotcolder than the pool,” I warn, “and if it doesn’t look clean after the recent rainfall, you won’t be able to get in.” I tack that on as a precaution, but it should be fineas Vermont is generally known for having some of the cleanest lakes due to low levels of phosphorus. I’ve never had an issue swimming at the lake before, but there have been occasions where volunteers have had to clean up some of the bigger lakes, usually after a big storm.
“I bet the water won’t be as cold as the Irish Sea,” Erin says. “I used to swim with Mum a lot when we lived in Kilcoole. It’ll be grand.”
“You okay with this plan?” I ask Callan, considering I maybe should’ve run it by him first.
“I’m game if you are.”
“The girls have their swimming stuff, and I have extra towels in my trunk as well as a few blankets. We could stop at the store and pick up some drinks and snacks?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Wow, this is amazing,” Erin says when we reach the small sandy beach on the southern end of the lake.
“And we have the whole place to ourselves.” Freja grins as she widens her arms.
Callan presses his mouth to my ear. “’Cause we’re the only nutters insane enough to swim here in late September.”
“You couldn’t pay me to get in there today.” It might be the warmest day we’ve had in weeks, but that doesn’t mean the water will be warm. “I’ll be supervising the girls from the shore.” I lay down the thick plaid blanket I grabbed from the trunk.
“We’ll see.” He smirks as he unfolds the second blanket, lining it up beside mine.
I help the girls get changed into their swimsuits, caps, and shoes before joining Callan on the blankets. The girls shriek andscream as they enter the water, and a shudder works its way through me. “You’re right, they are insane.”
He chuckles. “Or they’ve got the right idea. They’ll warm up once they swim around, and then it’ll be invigorating.”
“Maybe,” I concede, because swimming in the lake is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. Can’t say I’ve ventured here when it’s colder, so I can’t discount his statement. I hand Callan a bottle of water from the bag before popping the lid on my own. “I just realized something the other day,” I say as I keep an eye on the girls. They are splashing one another and giggling as they play in the water.
“That I’m incredibly sexy and amazingly talented?” His brows waggle as he stretches out his long jean-clad legs before bringing the bottle to his tempting lips.
“Incredibly arrogant is more like it,” I quip, sitting cross-legged beside him.
“A little arrogance never hurt anyone.”
“Only someone arrogant would say that.”
