Page 20 of In Love With the Leshy

I lay my package on the ground and fumble with the ties. Once I work the vines open, I stand again. “I don’t have anything to change into.”

“I know.” She answers, looking at me like I’m either crazy or stupid. “That’s why I gave you some of mine.”

Before I can explain that I can’t take her clothes because I’ll be unable to return them to her since I’ll be banned from returning once I leave and I don’t have money to offer her for them, Anastasia’s joyful squeals stop me.

“Mama, hurry!”

The little girl pulls her dress over her head and tosses it to the ground. Completely naked, she rushes the last foot into the water. Wanting to stop her from exposing herself, I glance around the area to make sure there aren’t any peeping eyes that shouldn’t be there.

I admire the child for feeling so free and unabashed. She’s not worried about perverts or judgmental idiots reprimanding her. A feeling of nostalgia washes over me. I flash back to a time when I was five and didn’t care about what I wore, how I looked, or what people thought of me.

The older I got, the more restrained I felt. Every year, I was expected to follow more societal norms. By the time my teenage years rolled around, everything I did was done to follow rules and please other people. I don’t think I ever had the courage or confidence to throw my dress off and run like I didn’t have a care in the world. At this moment, I’d give anything to go back to being a kid.

A kid with parents who love and adore her.

“Aren’t you coming in?” Masha calls, pulling me from the past.

While I was reminiscing about the freedom of childhood, she had joined her daughter and was up to her shoulders in water. I can’t tell if she’s kneeling or sitting on something. My face heats with embarrassment at my lack of response. I don’t know what to do. Do I strip down? Letting out a frustrated breath, I look for our escort.

“I’ll look the other way while you undress.” I’m not sure I like the tone of Masha’s voice. I feel like she’s making fun of me, like I’m putting her out by being modest about my body.

“Thanks,” I say like the unpopular kid, happy that she matters enough to the in-crowd that they mock her.

I take a quick look around, hoping no one will see as I strip down. My face heats with embarrassment as I’m down to the final garments. The bra comes off. I want to rush and get redressed, but that would be even more awkward than standing here topless. This is as far as I go. There’s no way I can step out of my panties without dying of embarrassment on the spot.

“I promise Em isn’t around.” She smirks and rolls her eyes. “It’s just us.”

“But—” I cross one leg in front of the other, trying to keep as much of my body hidden as I can.

“Safra’s standing guard.” Masha looks up in the tree across from her. “She’ll warn us if anyone approaches.”

I follow her stare and spot the animal crouching on a branch, ready to pounce.

With my teeth chattering, I step into the pond, allowing the water to swirl around my ankles. It feels like a warm bath. It soothes me. Cajoles me to take a step further, and then another one, until I find myself sitting on a slab next to Masha, submersed to the top of my shoulders.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?”

I close my eyes, allowing myself to indulge in this bit of pleasure.

“Feels amazing.” My body feels like it’s effervescing in the water.

“The colder it is outside, the warmer it feels. Like you’re being wrapped in a heated blanket.”

Every muscle in my body relaxes, releasing the tension I’ve carried for the last twenty-four hours. “I feel like I’m floating on a cloud.” My injured ankle feels strange. It tingles and is hot in comparison to the rest of my body. I work the leaves off, circle my ankle one way and then the other. There’s no pain or soreness.

Masha reaches behind us and takes from the ground what looks like a bunch of flowers tightly wrapped in vines. The second she hands one to me, I can’t help myself. I bring it up to my nose and fall in love with the sweet floral scent. It smells like a rainbow mixed with citrus and spring: fresh, clean, and beautiful.

“Homemade loofah and soap.” She says, rubbing Anastasia’s back with the other one.

“You made these?”

“I wish I could do this good of a job. Mine fall apart before I even get to use them. Em made these. He leaves fresh ones for us every morning.” She pauses, and I’m not sure why her next words feel like an arrow through the heart. “Looks like he went out of his way to make sure they’re more colorful than usual. It must be the company, considering he’s never invited anyone to join us before.”

“Oh.” I turn my face from her, looking down into the water. It seems like she and Em have an arrangement I don’t fully grasp. Masha made that clear. Now I feel like a third wheel, making things awkward and intruding on their life together.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I wouldn’t have imposed.”

“You didn’t.” She reminds me. “Em wanted you here, and I practically twisted your arm to make sure you came.”

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