My mom waits for me at the kitchen counter, an enamel mug warming her hands. She’s sipping on her favorite sleepy time tea.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” she asks.
Her question feels loaded, and I’m worried she’ll ruin my perfect evening if I tell her too much, so I settle on, “I did.”
When she doesn’t respond, I take it as my sign to head to bed.
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt,” she confesses to the darkness.
I turn around to face her. “You know the other day when you found that sketch,” I say. “It was him who inspired me to do it. And when I told you it made me feel alive? He makes me feel that way too.”
“He’ll keep you here,” she blurts out. “Is moving away what you still want?”
I can read between the lines. She’s asking if I want him. If I’d give up leaving here, give up Reed, even her, for him. I don’t know how to answer that when I don’t know yet. All I know is that I don’t want to ruin the happiest night I’ve had in a long time by putting a label on anything.
“Yes, it’s what I still want,” I say.
“Then you have to be honest with each other, Teddy. You with him, and especially, him with you.”
All I can do is nod, and for the first time since the accident, I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow. I sleep in past nine, my body soaking up every minute like a sponge. It’s too late for Bloomington Lake but not too late for a swim before work.
I slip on my black Speedo one-piece, not bothering with a coverup. I’m surprised when I find the house quiet and the kitchen empty. When I peek through the curtains over the sink, the car is gone too. There’s an even giddier pep to my step knowing I’m home alone, and I bound across the dock, diving off the end in a great big splash.
“Don’t tell me I’m too late,” I hear someone holler from the shore.
“Too late for what?” I ask Reed.
“Skinny dipping!” he yells back.
“Yep, you’re too late,” I say, planting my feet, my upper body catching the breeze above the water.
“Dammit.” He grins at my swimsuit before pulling his shirt over his head and jogging into the water. He dives under, disappearing in the dark shadows beneath.
The five seconds he’s under there I take three backward butterfly pulls with my arms and allow myself to freak out. I kissed Miles last night and don’t want to hurt Reed. I’m out far enough now that I’m treading water and can’t see below the surface. I scream when I feel a pair of hands squeeze my thighs. Reed’s head emerges right in front of me, and he wipes his hair out of his eyes and grins a mile wide.
“You jerk,” I shout, splashing a gush of water in his face.
“Make her flirt with me, check,” he says.
“Forget flirting, there’s payback where you’re concerned.”
“I’m ready, bring it on!” he says, splashing back.
I tangle my arm around his neck and shove against his shoulders, trying to force him under as he grabs me around the waist and lifts me. Then he throws me in the air, and I catch one of his arms before dunking under.
When we sober, we’re both gasping and staring each other in the eye with chemistry swirling between us.
I can’t kiss both of them, I panic. In five swift strokes I put as much distance between us as I can.
“My dad’s throwing this summer soiree at the restaurant next Saturday night. I normally avoid those kinds of gatherings, but I thought since we both worked there this summer, maybe you’d want to go with me?” he asks.
Like a date?I swallow.
“I don’t know, I’m sure your dad is going to ask me to work it.”
“I already talked to him about it and told him not to. You’d be doing me a big favor.”
I groan under my breath, my resolve crumbling with his very blue puppy dog eyes staring back at me.
