Page 74 of Through You
She stares at me but shows no inclination to get out of the water, nor to admit defeat.
Don’t jump in the pool, Artemis. You won’t be able to resist thetemptation if you get near her when she’s wet and no one is around.
I switch off the rational part of my brain and dive in. The splash I make sprinkles her face, and moves her backward. Given our height difference, the water reaches just above my waist but comes to under her chest. My eyes move along the outlines of her exposed skin, traveling from her neck, now covered with tiny drops of water, and down to the rest of her body. Her dress floats and I watch her struggling to cover her legs. This was a bad idea.
“Don’t look, pervert,” she scolds me, holding on to her dress.
I keep my eyes on her face, displaying chivalry in response.
She sucks in her lower lip, and my mind can’t help but wander off to a very bad place. I need something to distract myself.
“Why are you so bad at losing?”
“Because I don’t like to give you the satisfaction of winning.”
“But I already won.”
“Not until I admit you have.”
I squint at her. “You’re as stubborn as ever.”
“And you’re as needy to claim victory.”
Realizing that we’ll never get anywhere if we keep this going, I change the subject. “Despite all the renovation work, the swimming pool still looks like it did when I taught you to swim right here.”
She quirks one eyebrow. “You taught me? Pretty sure I learned how to swim on my own.”
“Do I have to remind you how you clung to me the first time we ventured to the deep end of the pool? Your nails left marks on my neck.”
She shrugs. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I smile, victorious. “Yes, you do.”
“The one thing I remember is you running and screaming because a bee was chasing you all around the pool.” She lets out a hearty laugh.
“I’m allergic! I had good reason to be afraid.”
“Help me!” She imitates my cries of that day. “I’m going to die!” She keeps laughing. “The bee was long gone and you kept running.”
I can’t stop myself from chuckling. Looking back, my reaction was pretty funny. We both stop laughing and stare at each other. The tension that passes between us amplifies.
Do you feel what I feel, Claudia?
I take a step closer to her, and she moves back, clearing her throat. “I should go.”
But I don’t stop. I clench my hands at my sides, staving off the urge to touch her. I keep advancing, and she continues to retreat until her back hits the wall of the pool.
“Artemis.” I don’t listen and continue to corner her. She lets go of her dress and puts her hands on my chest to halt my advance. “Artemis.”
I stare down at her body. Her dress floats, revealing her legs and part of her underwear. I bite my lower lip. Claudia’s breathing is as fractured as mine. Her chest rises and falls unevenly. I raise my hand and gently rub her parted lips. I notice Claudia swallowing. She pushes my hand off her lips.
“I have to go.” She is about to slip away when I grab her by the hand, forcing her to face me.
“I know you feel the same way I do.”
She frees her hand from mine. “I never said I didn’t.” She gives me sad smile. “I’m not the one who needs to decide, Artemis. I know how I feel. I also know what I’m worth. And I won’t belittle myself and play the role of the other woman while you figure out what it is that you want.”
And with that out in the open, she takes her leave. I don’t stop her. I know she’s right. I’m the coward in this situation. I’m the one who won’t fight for what I want. My grandfather’s words replay in my head:Cowardice is a flaw unbecoming to us Hidalgos.
