“Do you still want to go swimming?” Kennedy asked.
“What?”
“Swimming. Do you want to go?”
“Oh, I was just kidding. I didn’t know you had a pool. That’s all.”
“Answer the question, River. I mean, when was the last time you went swimming? You didn’t even go in the ocean when we were at the beach house.”
“I don’t really like the ocean for swimming.”
“I remember.”
“And with a pool, it’s been a while,” she admitted.
“Then, let’s do it.”
“What?” River chuckled. “Why?”
“Why not? There’s a pool here.”
Kennedy motioned to it.
“We just ate, and you’re supposed to wait twenty minutes after a meal before going swimming.”
“First of all, that’s all crap that they tell kids. But second of all, we’re not racing the hundred-meter freestyle, River. We’re probably just going to be standing more than anything. Come on. Let’s go.”
“I don’t have a suit,” she reminded.
“So? You have underwear. Youdohave underwear on, right?” Kennedy asked.
“What would you do if I said no to that?”
“Pass out,” Kennedy joked.
River laughed and replied, “Iamwearing underwear.”
“Bummer,” Kennedy returned.
River laughed harder and said, “You can’t have it both ways, babe.”
“Go swimming with me.”
The expression on Kennedy’s face told River that this meant more to her than just two people hopping into a pool. River didn’t understand why, exactly, but she wanted to give this to Kennedy anyway.
“Okay,” she agreed.
“Great. I’ll go put my suit on.”
Kennedy went to stand.
“Oh, no, you won’t,” River replied and put a hand on Kennedy’s forearm. “If I’m going in my underwear, you are, too, gorgeous. Fair is fair.”
“But I’m guessing you’re not wearing a thong.”
“You’re wearing athong?” River half-yelled.
“River!” Kennedy clamped a hand over her mouth and laughed. “Babe, don’t yell that in a backyard.”
