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Lindsey looks at me curiously. “Is everything okay, Theo?”
I nod. Then shake my head.
Lindsey frowns at me, concern filling her eyes. “What’s up?”
It’s hard for me to express all the feelings swirling inside me right now. So what I end up saying is this: “After you go back home, that’s going to be it, isn’t it?”
“Between you and me?” she asks.
I nod.
She’s quiet for a few moments. “It wouldn’t really be practical for us to keep seeing each other. So, unfortunately, I think that’s how it has to be. I’m sorry, Theo.”
“What about long-distance?”
“Long-distance dating?” she asks, looking surprised. “Um…I mean…”
I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I can take a hint. “Never mind. Forget it.”
“Theo.” She touches my arm, which is both wonderful and painful. “Ireallylike you. You’re fun to be around. You make me laugh. You’resosweet. If we lived closer to each other, I would want to keep seeing you. But I’m only here for a little while.”
“I know. I understand.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I clear my throat to get rid of the funny feeling in my chest and stand up. “Come on. Let’s go swimming.”
But she stays where she is, shaking her head. “I’m going to stay here. You can go ahead.”
“You really don’t want to go swimming?” I ask. “The water is perfect right now.”
“I know. It looks great. I just…” She shrugs.
“You just…?”
She twists her lips, avoiding my eyes. “I don’t want you to see me in this swimsuit. I look awful in it.”
I scoff. “There’s no way that’s true.”
“I’ve gained weight since I last wore it. Look, you should just go. I’m fine here.”
“I don’t care how your swimsuit fits you,” I say. “I think you’re beautiful no matter what, Lindsey.”
She looks at me for a few seconds, then slowly stands up. When she takes off the tunic-dress-thing she’s wearing, all I see is a beautiful, curvaceous woman standing in front of me.
“See? I was right,” I say. “You’rebeautiful.”
“Why are you so sweet?” she asks quietly, shaking her head.
“C’mon,” I say, taking her hand and pulling her toward the water. I may not be able to be with her for real, but if we have today to be together, I’m not going to waste it.
7
LINDSEY
The sun, the sand, and the ocean have all been beyond lovely, but my stomach is in knots. What was supposed to be a lighthearted vacation fling now feels like a tangled mess that I’m entirely responsible for.
It feels like I used Theo. But that was never my intention. When we slept together, I wasn’t thinking about the fact that we could only be together for a short time. I was just present in the moment, following my urges, doing what felt good and right.
