Devin was so good to me. So kind, so patient.
“We don’t have to,” he said softly. “It was just an idea.”
No, it was anoffer. An offer Devin had meant so sincerely, that I knew meant everything to him. And I couldn’t let him down, no matter how scared I was.
Hadn’t he taught me anything about the rewards that came with being brave?
I rolled over, turning to face him, looking up into the big green eyes I loved with all my heart.
“We do have to,” I said, gritting my teeth. “Ido have to.”
“You really don’t,” Devin said, but I couldn’t handle the thought of disappointing him.
“I…” I swallowed, bracing myself. “Iwantto,” I said, and it was easier than I’d expected it to be, because Imeantit. Scared as I was, I wanted to do this.
Because it meant something to Devin, and once I got over my nerves, it’d mean something to me, as well.
Devin’s whole face lit up.
“You’ll love it,” he promised. “Morgan, trust me, I wouldn’t have evensuggestedthis if I didn’t think it’d be fun.”
The thing was, no matterhowworried I was about this, I couldn’t resist doing things for Devin.
I loved him. Which meant I’d move mountains, walk over hot coals…
Or even put on the tiny swimming trunks he’d presented me with last week and go down to the pool with him.
“I’ll get dressed,” I said. “And pack a towel and clean underwear, I guess?”
“Already packed.” Devin pecked me on the lips, grinning all over again.
“How early did you get up?” I raised an eyebrow, sitting up in the bed and stretching my arms high above my head.
“Earlier than you,” Devin said. “Now comeon.”
I didn’t need telling… well, more than three or four times, anyway.
Devin watched me from the bed while I pulled on the swimming trunks and then my jeans over them, his chin resting in his hand like this was the best show he’d ever been witness to.
I liked the way Devin looked at me.Stilllooked at me. Like he was thrilled I was here.
It’d been months, and he hadn’t gotten sick of me yet.
I shrugged on a t-shirt, deciding that even at five in the morning it was too warm for anything else now that summer had set in, and turned to him.
“That all I need?”
“I have a gift for you,” Devin said, bending over the side of the bed and producing a paper bag he’d clearly stashed under it at some point, holding it out to me.
I took the bag cautiously, still wary about all of this.
“Goggles?”
“Trust me,” Devin said. “Chlorinated pools will make your eyes sting like crazy, and we’re going first thing in the morning, right after they add the top-up for the day.”
I turned the goggles over in my hands.
This was important to Devin. He was doing his best to make thisourthing, like he’d promised before we even got together. He was going to teach me to swim.
