Page 85 of Right in Front of You

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No.”

“Then what is it? It’s a beautiful morning, clear water, birds chirping… what’s the matter?”

“You know we can’t. I’m not ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“You know, sex.”

“Is that what you think we’re about to do?”

“Well, we’re naked…”

I had a lot of work to do to teach her all about what loving someone meant. Sex wasn’t the core of a relationship. Yes, it was a large part, but not everything.

“Naked is fine. We’re friends. No, actually, way more than friends. I’d like to think that we’re dating exclusively.”

“I’d like to think that as well.”

“And although skinny dipping isn’t the usual course of action in a relationship this early, I think our relationship started a long time ago. I’m comfortable just being here with you, like this. So no, the sex part will not happen here in the water. Not our first time, at least. And definitely not today. Today we’re simply Carter and Molly, boyfriend and girlfriend, enjoying each other’s company. No ulterior motive. Firefighter’s honor.”

I raised my hand in a true Scout fashion, even though I’d never been a Scout in my life. It just looked like something you should do when giving a girl your word.

“You’re so full of it, Carter!” She laughed and gently pushed at my chest to swim away. “I’ve known you too long to not recognize bullshit. You’re still a guy and I’m still a girl and naked… well… that needs to be saved for a special occasion.”

She pushed her hands through the water, swimming closer and closer to the shrubs behind her. From what I remembered, the water was shallower in that area.

“Okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but is it so wrong that I want to be close to you?”

“I have nothing against you being close to me. But naked?”

“You’ve seen me naked, so it’s only fair—”

“When you were a patient. That’s different.”

“That’s hypocritical. It’s in no way different than now. At least you’re conscious. I was in a coma. Then I was sedated. Did you take advantage of me, Molly, and never told me about it?”

Her cheeks flushed. I knew that she hadn’t, but teasing her like this and trying to swim closer as she slowly backed away was a game of seduction I was willing to play all day long.

She splashed me back as an answer, laughing. Molly was still grasping her bathing suit in her hands, holding on tight to the fabric as if it were going to save her life. Fearing she’d have nowhere else to swim to run away, I stopped moving forward and watched her carefree face change into a horrified one.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“Something’s got me!” And she disappeared under water.

“Molly! Molly!” I wasn’t far away from her, but swimming now, knowing that she could be in danger, felt as if I were swimming through tar. She surfaced again and took a long, deep inhale. “I can’t get away. Something’s got my le…” and she went under again. I dove and after reaching for her for what seemed like forever, I grasped her hand, reassuring her with my touch. I followed the path of her body, down her torso, hips, and legs. On a normal day, this would have been an erotic venture, but not when I was trying to save her life. Maybe Molly was right – seeing someone naked when they were in dire need was definitely different.

I finally reached her calf and ripped the tangled grass around it. It was tough and I wasn’t surprised that the more Molly thrashed around, the more it wrapped itself around her. I held her steady as she tried to push up through the water to get air; otherwise, the weeds wouldn’t give her a chance to surface for another breath. But the weed seemed relentless. I was near the end of my own breath when the grass let go. That’s when Molly stilled, and that’s when I realized that she wasn’t conscious.

Shit!

I quickly grabbed her from behind and pulled her up to the surface. Her beautiful lifeless face was shadowed by the darkened sky above as clouds swept down from the mountains.

“Come on, Molly. Breathe. Please breathe.” I touched her face, supported her head with one hand, tilting it back, opened her mouth and pinched her nose closed with the other. I touched my lips to hers and pushed air into her lungs. I had to get her to the boat because if this didn’t work, she’d need chest compressions. Did she have a pulse?

I should check for a pulse.

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