Page 47 of The Summer We Lie

I do like he says and pull away from the dock. The initial jerk of movement pushes me back against his chest, and I hear him inhale sharply, his arms tightening around me reflexively.

He tells me where to go, murmuring directions in my ear, holding onto my hips the whole way there which is maddening. Each bump of the jet ski over a wave sends a jolt through my body, the vibrations and his touch and the salt air all combining into something intoxicating. The sun beats down on us, warming my skin while the spray of water provides momentary relief from the heat—both outside and within me.

I wonder if Harper is already waiting, if she'll be able to tell what's happened between us just by looking. I wonder if I'll regret this later. If this fantasy is better left as just that—a fantasy.

But right now, with the wind in my hair and Dominic's hands on my body, I can't bring myself to care about later.

The sea cave unfolds before me, a natural cathedral that takes my breath away. I slow the jet ski as we approach the rocky opening, glancing back at Dom questioningly.

"Go inside," he encourages, his deep voice steady against my ear.

"Yeah, it's okay. Go in," he reassures when I hesitate, and I carefully navigate through the entrance.

My gasp echoes against the ancient walls as the cavern reveals itself. Sunlight spills through a jagged opening in the ceiling, sending shimmering beams through the space that dance across the turquoise water below. The surface sparkles like thousands of diamonds scattered across velvet, catching and reflecting light in hypnotic patterns. The walls themselves tell stories of time—deep purple algae blooms contrast against creamy white patches where shells have embedded themselves over centuries. Rusty orange mineral deposits streak down in rivulets, painting the stone with nature's patient hand.

The gentle lapping of water against rock creates a haunting echo that resonates throughout the space, a natural symphony that makes my fingers itch to somehow capture this moment, this feeling. Stalactites descend from the ceiling like delicate stone icicles, water dripping from their tips in a meditative rhythm that's somehow both random and perfectly timed. Some sections of rock have been polished smooth by countless waves, while others jut dramatically outward in formations that my artist's eye immediately wants to sketch, to study, to understand.

"It's beautiful," I whisper, afraid that speaking too loudly might somehow break the spell this place has cast.

"It is," Dom murmurs against my ear, his breath warm, and I'm not entirely sure whether he means the cave or something else entirely. The ambiguity makes my skin prickle with awareness.

I carefully navigate around a natural curve, and there's Harper, swimming in the crystal-clear water with her jet ski already parked on a small sandy area.

"Just pull over here and I'll push it up on the sand," Dom instructs. I do exactly as he says, cutting close to Harper's abandoned watercraft. He shuts off the engine and dismounts in one fluid motion, then offers his hand to help me. I take it, feeling the strength in his grip as he guides me down into the refreshingly cool water.

"What took you guys so long?" Harper calls out, swimming closer with curious eyes.

I glance quickly at Dom, my mind racing for a plausible excuse. "It took me a bit to get the hang of it," I offer, hoping my face doesn't betray everything that's happened between us.

"Ahh," she accepts with a nod. "Well, what do you think?" She gestures grandly around the cave, clearly proud to show it off.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," I repeat, meaning it completely.

"Right?" Her eyes light up at my enthusiasm.

"Yeah. I think I want to paint it," I say, my fingers already mentally mixing colors that could capture the magical light quality.

"You should," she encourages.

"You paint too?" Dom asks, genuine interest in his voice.

"She does everything art related," Harper answers before I can, her pride in me warming my chest despite my guilt.

"Not everything, but I like to sketch and paint and, of course, digital art," I clarify, suddenly self-conscious about my skills under his intense gaze.

"That's pretty cool. I messed around with sketching a long time ago. Now all I do is for work," he offers, and I remember he's an architect.

"Can I see some of those sometime?" I ask impulsively.

"Yeah, anytime," he agrees easily. "They're pretty boring though."

"I doubt that," I say, genuinely curious to see what his skilled hands create on paper.

"You should show him some of Justin's landscapes," Harper suggests.

"Justin? Your brother?" Dom asks, connecting the dots.

I nod, warmth filling me at the thought of my talented brother. "He's an amazing artist. He definitely could make a living with it, but he wants to be a paleontologist," I explain, pride evident in my voice.