Page 88 of Begin Again Again

“Is this a lake?”

“Nah, a billabong. Not up to New Zealand’s level?”

Beth shook her head. No, comparing this place to the lakes of her homeland was like comparing a worm to a fire-breathing dragon—but the natural pool was still beautiful. Surrounded by gum trees, mottled rocks, and yellowing grass, the land was as hard and unpretentious as the man beside her. A little bit alien, but gorgeous.

Byron walked back from the edge, dropping the towels and pulling his t-shirt over his head. She’d never seen his body in the sunlight before, and the definition of his back and chest muscles almost took her breath away. He looked like he’d been carved out of stone. Beth kicked off her sneakers and socks, determined to look busy if he caught her staring. She pulled her sundress over her head and tried not to hunch. The sunshine that turned Byron into a work of art made her feel hyper-pale and aware of every flaw on her body. She took a breath and focused on Byron—now tugging down his shorts. She wanted to enjoy his beauty without panicking she couldn’t match it.

Byron turned, taking in her green bikini. Beth threw her shoulders back and smiled like she was in a pageant. “Like my togs?”

He shook his head. “You mean bathers?”

“No, I mean togs.”

Byron cleared his throat. “You know, no one’s around…”

“I am not swimming naked!”

“Not even if I said I think it’d be sexy?”

Beth folded her arms over her boobs. “Exactly how charming do you think you are?”

He shrugged. “You tell me, Horoscopes.”

Beth wasn’t going to tell him; she was worried what he’d do with the answer. “What about the women in the car beside us? Are you going to show them your penis?”

“They’re hiking. They all had boots on.”

Beth considered his proposal. Unconsidered it. “No way.”

He shrugged again. “It’s your own fun you’re ruining, Bethany.”

Maybe, but she wasn’t going to risk getting busted naked in a public swimming hole. Especially when she knew for a fact other people were around. She searched the dirt around them and spotted a rocky path winding down the cliff. “Shall we head to the water?”

“In a sec.” Byron walked to the edge and looked down at the green-grey water. “Diving’s illegal here.”

“Oh, for how—”

He jumped. Vanished into thin air. Beth rushed to the edge just in time to see him hit the surface, sending a cascade of water into the air.

“What did youjustsay?” she bellowed, her heart racing.

Byron remerged. Beaming up at her, he swept a hand through his sodden hair. “This spot’s safe.”

“Oh, is it?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re a fucking dropkick! I thought you were, I don’t know, committing suicide or something!”

“And deprive myself of seeing you in your bikini?” Byron somehow grinned wider. “Never. Follow me down?”

Beth chewed her lip. With Byron in the water she could appreciate the billabong was much bigger than she’d thought. A hundred people could have swum there comfortably. And it was clearly deep enough to dive in…

“You coming?”

Beth glanced at the natural staircase then back down at Byron. Part of her wanted to dive. Wanted to impress him and shock herself. The rest was wondering why they’d banned cliff diving and concluded it was probably because if you hit a rock, you’d die. And if she died, or even had to go to the hospital, she wouldn’t be sleeping with Byron today as she really wanted to sleep with Byron today. Beth headed for the stairs and eased herself down the rocky flight, hands brushing the hillside for extra safety.

“I respect your decision!” Byron yelled.

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