Page 38 of The Reality of Us
It only took two minutes to get to the jetty, climbing carefully over more rocks and navigating mud, but it felt like forever. “Murphy,” Owen called, and the puppy dropped to the wooden planks, rolled over onto his back and begged for a tummy rub.
“Couldn’t have made it easy and done what he was told, could he?” Alice whispered.
Owen swallowed a smile.
“I saw that.” She nudged him in his side, her anger from before nowhere to be seen. “You were going to make a crack about him being like his owner, weren’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Owen said softly. But yeah, he was going to, even though it would’ve been throwing fuel on the fire that sprung up whenever they were together. The thing was, he couldn’t help it. It was like his brain and his mouth weren’t connected when she was around. Alice made him feel out of control in the best way.
The plank under his foot creaked, and Alice lunged towards him, the warmth of her body pressing against his. “Oh my God.” Her shaky laugh caressed his face. “That scared me.”
They edged forward quietly; the only sound was the thumping of Murphy’s tail against the wooden planks.
“He thinks it’s a game.” Owen shook his head. When Alice dropped to her knees, Murphy tried to jump up, his muddy paws skittering across the planks. There was a pause that felt like forever before the puppy fell sideways off the jetty.
“Murphy!” Alice cried.
Without another thought, Owen jumped into the freezing water. He coughed as he broke the surface, wiping his face. He’d guessed when he said all dogs could swim.
What if Murphy couldn’t?
“He’s over there. Can you see him?”
Owen squinted, finally seeing the dog-like blob amongst the small splashes near the support post on the other side. The poor thing was doing an improvised doggy paddle which was more like a crocodile’s death roll. Instincts, my ass.
Owen swam in his direction, trying to ignore the way the icy fingers of the water seeped all the way down to his bones. The pup collapsed against him, his snout burrowing into Owen’s neck. “Come here, troublemaker.”
“Is he okay?” Alice called, her voice shrill.
Owen followed the light slicing through the gaps between the planks until the metal ladder brushed against his hand. “He’s fine. We’re coming up,” he called, tucking Murphy against his chest.
All his afternoons at the rock-climbing gym in Somers Gully hadn’t prepared him for climbing with sopping wet with a wriggling puppy in his arms, but after a few tense moments, they got there.
“Murphy!” Alice cried, when he passed her the pup. She clutched him to her chest. “That was very naughty!”
She twisted awkwardly, shrugging her shoulders as Murphy’s front legs dangled over her arm. Too late, Owen realised she was trying to take off his jacket. She held it out towards him. “God, you must be freezing.”
He’d been warmer. And he’d never looked forward to his shower more, even if it would only be a few degrees warmer than the dam.
“I’m okay,” he said, rubbing his arms. Goosebumps pricked his skin. His arms and legs were like logs as adrenaline flowed out of his body like the rivers of water pooling around his feet.
Alice rocked Murphy from side to side, a relieved smile on her face … and, worth it. When their eyes met, there was no trace of the usual defensiveness on her features. Instead, her lips widened, her tongue darting out to wet the bottom one. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help.” She seemed to sag, like a balloon that had lost all its air. The funny plait wrapped around her head had fallen out, wet strands of hair sticking to her neck and chest. “He could’ve drowned, and it would’ve been all my fault.”
“But he didn’t.” Owen dipped his head so he could see her properly. Mascara snaked down her cheeks, and the top of her dress clung to her breasts where she was holding Murphy.
“Come on,” he said. His hand hovered near the small of her back. Maybe he was imagining it, but he swore she swayed towards him. Touching her now would be a terrible idea.
“Let’s get somewhere warmer.” His car wasn’t far, parked near the lavender field. He was still debating touching her when Alice placed Murphy on the ground, leant forward and hugged him.
His arms automatically wrapped around her, and he couldn’t help but notice how perfectly she fit, tucked up against his chest, the top of her head resting under his chin. She sucked in a deep breath, her chest pressing against his. Turns out the cold water had been a blessing after all.
Because stirrings … so many stirrings.
Alice released her breath slowly, the puff of warm air skating across his neck.
“I’m sorry about what you heard before,” he said quietly, just loud enough to be heard over the rustling reeds.
She stiffened in his arms, creating space between them before she stepped away. The temperature dropped, and so did his stomach. He didn’t like how weary she looked, like there was no fight left in her.
