Page 92 of Girls Will Be Girls
We hold each other’s gaze for a moment, and I think we’re both considering the same thing.
But we’ve waited this long, what’s another night?
I force myself to drop my eyes away from him, to squash the fire that’s burning inside. I look over the other end of the garden and think of something else we could do that will hopefully make him feel lighter, less stressed.
“I think I have a good idea,” I say.
“Oh yeah?” He leans in slightly.
I fight the grin spreading on my face. “Come on.”
I put my beer down on the decking and stand, pulling at our intertwined hands.
“Where?” He says, still seated.
“Just come with me.” I tug again.
He rolls his eyes playfully — clearly trying to imitate me — before he grins wide and follows me. I pull him behind me, taking him further down the garden. As we reach the water’s edge, I let go of his hand.
“Strip,” I say.
He lets out a laugh. “Excuse me?”
“Strip.”
I smile before walking closer to the water and unclasping my bikini top. It drops to the grass at my feet with a wet slop, and I look at him over my shoulder, his eyes running up and down my bare back.
I tell myself to keep that same confidence when I pull my bikini bottoms down and step out of them.
I hear his intake of breath and something close to a groan before I step into the cool lake.
The water is a touch past refreshing, with my skin still warm from the hot tub. I let out a small gasp as the water touches my stomach before pushing off to submerge myself fully.
I turn to look at him on the shore. His eyes sparkling in the moonlight, and his smile tipping up.
“Why are you still clothed?” I call out to him.
He shakes his head before lifting his arm behind his back and pulling his shirt off in a move that could be considered just as good as a strip tease.
“You’ve just been trying to get me naked this whole time.” He smirks as he pulls his shorts down too, not an inch of self-consciousness to be found.
I shrug playfully, my shoulders coming out of the water.
He gets in, swimming up to me under the surface. As he comes up, he shakes his head a little, showering droplets over me. I squeal and push him away as he laughs.
We still in the water. Our eyes on each other.
“Float with me?” I say.
We push up onto our backs like we did earlier today, our hands linked, rubbing circles with our thumbs. We both look up at the sky, taking in the stars twinkling around us.
“Today’s been my first time in the lake.” He says.
I stop floating and bring my head up to look at him. “We’ve been here over a week,” I say in disbelief.
He moves upright with me and shrugs.
“No wonder you’re stressed.” I joke. “Looking at this lake every day, never going in.” I shake my head. “It’s lucky I’m on a mission to de-stress you now.”
