She thinks it over for only a moment before she gives me her answer.
“Okay.” She leans in and presses her smiling lips to mine. “I’ll go with you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I’d love to.”
I kiss her once more before the energy flowing through me becomes too much. I’m too amped up. Too excited. Too fucking giddy around this woman.
Slipping out from behind her, I stand and strip off my shirt, tossing it onto the dock.
“What are you doing?” There’s so much joy in her tone, matching the way I feel.
“Going for a dip. And you’re coming with me.”
She bursts a shocked laugh. “No, I’m not. I don’t have a bathing suit.”
I drop my pants, kicking them off to the side.
“You don’t need one. There’s no one else for miles.”
“I’m not skinny-dipping with you, Emmett.”
“And why not?”
“Because we’re not kids.”
“Then why do I feel like one?”
That admission halts any retort she may have.
Yeah, I feel like a kid with her. Excited for what life has to offer. Excited to spend it with her.
Reese stands from the dock, joining me with an eager smile on her lips.
“Come on, baby. Slip that dress off and have some fun with me.”
And she does, letting it pool on the wooden planks before she takes my hand so we can jump in the water together.
37
Reese
I hesitate with my fist held up to the front door, ready to knock.
But I can’t. I’ve been out here for a few minutes already, baking in the summer heat, and still, I can’t find it in me to let them know I’m here.
As soon as we landed back at the Chicago airport, I got in my car and came here.
My grandparents live about forty minutes outside of the city limits, and I came all this way. So why can’t I find it in me to knock on the door?
Because everything is about to change, that’s why.
Closing my eyes, as if that’s going to help anything, I drop my fist against the wood. Then I do it a little harder two more times.
The wait afterward is the worst part of the anticipation. I can no longer run back to my car and leave, pretending I was never here. I’ll have to go inside. I’ll have to have this conversation.
One that I’m terrified of.
