Page 35 of Love Contract

She was a mystery to me, back in high school. A lottery student, obvious despite the uniforms because of the cheapness of her backpack and shoes. Her grades were mediocre, and I never saw her raise her hand in class. In fact, Theo did just about everything she could to avoid attention, but I noticed her anyway.

There was something secret about her, even then. I’d watch her reading or drawing or writing in her little notebook. I’d catchthe hint of a smile that was only for herself, and I’d wonder what she found so interesting in another tedious school day.

She glances over now, wide-eyed behind her mask as she points to a bat ray cutting through the water like a dark angel, wings flapping, tail extended behind.

Theo takes chase, following the ray at a cautious distance as it floats sedately over the sand.

We stay together, her hand in mine.

There’s something ethereal about the ink-dark ray. This world beneath the water might as well be an alien planet. I’ve been snorkeling before but never like this, slow and quiet, with someone else by my side.

Seeing this world through Theo’s eyes is different, punctuated by the soft and steady rush of her breath through the snorkeling tube. She looks like a sea creature herself, her long hair trailing behind her like a mermaid.

We don’t have to talk. We can’t talk.

In the strangest way, it reminds me of spending time with Reese. It’s comfortable, natural…requiring nothing but peace.

We’ve swum far from where the boat was anchored, out into open water, away from the island and the reef.

The sand below drops away as the ray swims out over a canyon. The dark water spirals down into nothingness, and Theo pauses like she could fall over the edge, though of course we’re still floating near the surface.

The sense of depth is dizzying, like looking up into the sky and realizing there’s no end to how far you could fall.

Theo clings to me, her hands on my shoulders, her feet treading over empty space.

I gently tow her back until we’re floating over bright gold sand once more.

“Thanks!” she gasps when we pop our heads above the water. “Jesus, that’s creepy!”

“Do you want to head back?” I nod toward the anchored boat, tiny as a toy from this distance.

“We’d better,” Theo says, her teeth beginning to chatter. “Before I get too cold.”

“Come here.” Once more, I sweep her into my arms and hold her pressed against my chest, sharing a little of that perpetual furnace inside me that only burns hotter from swimming. And a little bit from how that swimsuit hugs her curves…

“How are you so warm?” Theo says, looking into my face.

Hers is stamped with red marks in the shape of her snorkeling mask, now pushed up on her forehead.

Theo might be the only person on the planet who looks good in goggles. Even inch-thick plastic can’t dull those bright blue eyes or hide those outrageous lashes.

She looks cuter than ever, mask pushed back like a crown, wet hair plastered to her cheeks, her pearly teeth bared in a grin, her heart pounding against mine.

I remember what Theo said, the reason she likes cooking so much…

I like taking care of people…

I get it.

It feels good to take care of Theo, to protect her, to keep her safe…

But I already have two people I have to take care of.

And neither of them is Theo.

So I gently push her away even though she hasn’t had enough time to get warm.

“Come on,” I say gruffly. “Let’s get back to the boat.”

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