I squealed as I held on to Faith’s hand, dragged into the gentle current.
The thin white fabric of my dress billowed around my thighs and then my waist as I let go of Faith’s hand and sank. I dipped my whole self into the cold river.
The world was silent under the floating water. I gave the water all my air, and the river washed away fear and uncertainty. The clean water blessed my body and mind with every passing drop, and I held myself there an extra second before tilting back up to the surface again.
Around me, Essie dunked herself along with me. The rest of the women. Adorned each other with a few gentle drops on the top of their heads, knowing that alone would be enough. Faith grinned as she shut her eyes and let Essie pour water over her puffy, bleached curls. Lu waded back to the edge of the bank for the coven’s matriarch.
This year, only the coven’s priestess could grant her a similar blessing of equals.
Gertie trickled water on top of Lu’s braided crown before rounding it off with a kiss to her forehead. Lu groaned, splashing the woman, while Ryan laughed from the shore. He took the sound as his turn, rolling up his pants and wading out into the water to Lu.
“I thought you said it wasn’t going to be cold!” Ryan crossed his arms over his chest, taking the last giant step to his girl.
The last one still on dry land raised his eyebrows at me as I made my way toward him. I extended my hands out for him to take.
“Come on, big guy. We need all the good luck we can get.”
Dom smirked, knowing I wasn’t wrong. His eyes caught on the sight of the girls behind me, including Essie and Faith violently splashing each other. They screamed in laughter while the spray stuck to my back in cold bullets.
“Magic still look so scary?” I teased as I pulled him into the cold water.
His body immediately tensed. I laughed.
“Is that what this is?”
The water passed his shins, then his knees, but Dom took a deep breath, letting me lure him deeper into the Barnett River bend. I was a siren, and his eyes were mystified, as if he couldn’t pull them away from me. Letting go of him, I cupped the water in my hands.
Dom continued to stare.
I gestured. “Bend down to be blessed, you behemoth.”
Chuckling, he sank low into the water. His shirt stuck to his chest. His eyeline, however, was right at my chest, where my own thin dress was plastered against my skin. He took another deep breath, staring at my chest, as his hands held strong on my hips.
“Don’t want to let you go and fall over.”
“Is that the only reason?”
I carefully coated his black hair with the water. Dark locks flattened and dripped down his temples as he continued to stare at me.
“The water is more than just purifying for the upcoming new season. If it rains on Beltane, it is considered a blessing to the head. The May waters grant and renew health, luck, and beauty.”
“Is that it?” he asked for a moment, his nose touching the space between my breasts.
I ran my fingers through his hair. I listened to the way he hummed at the sensation before I settled my empty hands back on his damp shoulders. “That’s it.” My voice stuttered.
Pushing himself back up to stand, he let his body graze up along mine.
I raised my eyebrows at his obvious move before he whispered against my lips, “Good.”
Then, a wave of water collided with my side and face.
He cackled at the way I screamed.
“Come on, Sparkles. Don’t be a sore loser.” Dom splashed again, this time gentler.
Only this time, I splashed back. The river was a chaos of petals, laughter, and us. Lu and Ryan smiled, joining the fray before Ryan lifted her up and to his lips for a quick kiss.
The two of them were adorably beautiful. Even when they were old and gray, I’d probably still think that of them.
