Page 66 of Swept for Forever
“She can be the referee,” I decided.
“She’s not even watching.”
Lulu had, in fact, already turned away. She was far more interested in whatever was happening up the hill than our little showdown.
Dom smirked. “Guess we’ll have to call it fair then.”
I scoffed. “Someone’s planning to cheat.”
He grinned but said nothing, which meant I was absolutely right.
As we lined up at the edge, the river called to me loud and clear.
“On three,” Dom said.
I flexed my fingers, my muscles coiling in anticipation.
“One…two?—”
I jumped.
“Hey!” he yelled, but by the time he hit the water, I was already cutting through it, my body remembering the countless hours I’d spent swimming in pools.
Dom was strong, and he had endurance. But speed? That was my game.
I reached the opposite bank before he even got close.
Panting, I whipped around just as he surfaced, shaking water from his hair and blinking in disbelief.
I beamed. “Guess it’s moss green.”
Dom just stared at me, then dragged a hand down his face, water trickling from his jaw. “Okay, that was—” He exhaled. “You’re fast.”
“Damn right.” I flicked water at him for good measure.
Still dazed, he waded toward me, his brow furrowed like I was some undiscovered species. Then, with absolute sincerity, he said, “You’re a freak, Otter.”
I snorted. “What?”
Otter?
Huh.Autumn the Otter.Why had no one thought of that before? I’d take it overSleeping Beautyany day. And coming from Dom? It wasn’t just a nickname. It was a gold medal.
“I’m serious.” His mouth twitched. “One second, you were right there, and then,poof.” He wiggled his fingers. “You Houdini’d into the current.”
“Wait till you see my backstroke.”
“Oh, we’ve got a backstroking otter now? New subspecies?”
I tossed him a proud smirk. “Nice to be nicknamed for talent, not just cheekbones.”
“Who says it’s about talent?”
I glared at him.
He scrunched his nose, puffed out his cheeks, and mimed whiskers with his fingers. “You’re cute. Actual otter cute. That’s why.”
I choked on a laugh at that pitiful impression.
