Page 46 of After the Siren
Jake unfolded his towel and tossed his stuff on top of it. Theo followed suit and sat down.
‘I’m getting in,’ Jake said, pulling off his t-shirt.
Theo actively dragged his eyes away from the mermaid tattoo. He’d seen tattoos before. There was no reason this one should exert a magnetic pull on his eyeballs.
‘It’s not warm enough to swim.’
‘Yeah, it is,’ Jake said, unbuttoning his shorts. He was wearing budgie smugglers underneath. They were neon pink with an eggplant-emoji pattern.
‘I am not getting in.’
‘Yeah, you are.’ Jake nudged his toe under the hem of Theo’s t-shirt and Theo wriggled away.
‘Get your gross feet away from me.’
‘Hey, my feet are fine. Xen and I get fucking pedicures all the time, okay?’
The foot intruded under Theo’s t-shirt again and he grabbed Jake by the ankle. Jake hopped free, laughing. ‘Come on.’
‘This is not swimming weather.’
‘Don’t make me make you.’
‘Like you could.’
Jake’s eyes narrowed.
‘That was not a challenge,’ Theo said, rolling to his feet, because he was absolutely not going to get into a situation where he and Jake were grappling and Jake was trying toremove Theo’s clothes.
‘Sounded like one.’
‘I’m bigger than you.’
‘I’m meaner.’
‘I’m faster.’
‘I bought you doughnuts.’
‘I’m sad.’ It came out almost like a joke.
‘ButI’llbe sad if you don’t come in.’
‘I’ll be sadder if I do.’
‘Fine.’ Jake pouted. Actually pouted. ‘I’ll go for a swim and you can just sit here on the sand like a loser.’
‘A loser who isn’t going to freeze his balls off.’
‘Thanks for the concern about my balls.’
Theo resettled on the towel as Jake waded into the water. He spun back around, stretching his arms wide. ‘It’s nice!’
‘I don’t believe you!’
Jake gave him the finger then turned, took a few running steps and plunged into the surf. He surfaced a few seconds later, shaking out his hair. ‘Refreshing!’
Theo realised he was smiling. ‘Fine!’ he yelled back. He did want to get in. He could never be on the sand without wanting to get into the water.
