Page 57 of Not Until I Found You

She pauses before threading her fingers through mine. Her hand is soft and fits there perfectly. She sets the Bible down onto the dock, and I lead her down the dock toward a giant oak tree, its shadow stretching long across the bank. The old rope swing still hangs from its thick branch, frayed in a few places but sturdy enough for another reckless jump.

Maxinne stops beside me, brows furrowing. “What are you doing?”

“I’m about to cool off.”

I throw her a look over my shoulder, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. Then, I grab the hem of my shirt and peel it off in one motion, tossing it at her feet.

Her eyes widen for a second before she attempts to school her expression. “I think you just wanted an excuse to take off your shirt again.”

“Maybe.” I wink. “Why don’t you come with me?”

“I’m not taking off my shirt.”

“I’m not asking you to.” I tug the rope forward, testing its weight. “Jump in with your clothes on. I promise you’ll feel better than you do sitting in this heat.”

She shakes her head adamantly. “I don’t know. I didn’t come out here with plans of getting soaked.”

I grip the rope with both hands, backing up into position. “Come on, Max!” My grin stretches wide. “Live a little!”

Before she can protest again, I take off running, the rope pulling taut as it swings me out over the water. For a split second, I’m weightless, air rushing past me, water glittering beneath my body, and then I let go.

Chilly lake water erupts around me in a roaring splash. The shock of the cold steals my breath, but in the best way possible. When I surface, I shake my hair back and blink against the sunlight. Maxinne is standing on the bank with her hands on her hips.

“You’re full of surprises.” She laughs, and something about the sound ricochets straight through my chest.

I splash a handful of water up at her. It barely reaches her ankles, but she still jumps back with a squeal. “Zane!”

“Come on.” I beckon her forward, splashing again. “You know you want to.”

She shakes her head, but a grin betrays her. She’s battling with herself, shifting from one foot to the other, chewing her lip. She glances from me, to the lake, to her clothes, and sighs dramatically.

“Fine.”

“That’s the spirit!”

She steps closer to the rope, gripping it loosely, eyeing the lake as if waiting for it to give her permission.

“You’re overthinking it.” I raise my voice across the distance. “Just jump.”

She closes her eyes and inhales a deep breath before she runs and jumps. The water splashes around her as she drops into the lake. When she surfaces, her dark hair is plastered to her cheeks, and a wild laugh bursts out of her.

“Oh my gosh!” she gasps. “It’s colder than I expected.”

“Yeah, but a good cold, right?”

She paddles closer toward me, her eyes bright in a way I haven’t seen until now, and she says, a little breathlessly, “Okay…you were right.”

“Say it again.”

“No way.”

I laugh and splash water at her. She splashes back, drenching me with a wave that hits me square in the face. When we finally stop splashing each other, we rush out of the water in a race and take the rope swing a few more times.

After the fifth time, we stay in the water and float on our backs, side by side, hands bumping with the movement of the water. The sky spreads out above us, painted with golden yellow and orange layers as the sun starts to dip low on the horizon.

Maxinne’s voice drifts toward me. “This…was a good idea.”

I turn my head, and the water laps at my ears. “Thanks. I have them sometimes.”