Asrequested,Oliviaiswaiting for me by the dock after sunset. She’s wearing a sporty two-piece swimsuit with running shorts over it and holding a towel.
She sees me approaching and calls out, “What’s this all about?”
I wait until I’m only a couple of feet away, then I grin. “Night swim.”
The smile that lights up her face is immediate. “Ooh, fun!”
I take her hand and start pulling her toward the dock. “I’d like it to be acknowledged for the record that, despite my baser instincts, I did ask you to wear a swimsuit tonight.”
“Very gentlemanly of you.”
“If, however,” I continue, “you prefernotto wear it, I’m totally game.” I turn my head and smile at her wolfishly.
She laughs. “Swimsuits are a must.”
I heave an exaggerated sigh. “Fine.”
“That was a good try, though.” She pats my shoulder.
She drops her towel onto the dock and shimmies out of her shorts and sandals. I realize I’m watching her too intently, my mind and eyes wandering where they shouldn’t, so I clear my throat and focus on my own preparations.
I pull off my shirt and am pleased to find Olivia staring at my bare chest. I flex a little to show off.
She blinks out of her daze and moves toward the side of the dock by the cordoned-off swimming area. I follow. We peer over the edge at the water below, almost black in the low twilight.
“Do you think it’s cold?” Olivia whispers.
I chuckle. “I mean, I’m hoping so. Cooling off is kind of the point.”
She stares down at the water. “It looks so dark.”
I nudge her with my elbow. “Come on. You’re not scared, are you?”
“Of course not,” Olivia says quickly, glaring at me.
“Then jump in.”
“I’m about to.”
“Okay, go ahead.” I nudge her again.
She elbows me back. “You haven’t jumped yet either.”
“Fine. At the same time?” She nods, and I take her hand, intertwining our fingers. “One … two … three…”
We jump together. The water is refreshingly cool, but fortunately not freezing.
Olivia laughs when she surfaces. “It feels so nice!”
I shake my head rapidly like a dog, sending droplets of water from my hair flying everywhere.
Olivia shrieks and dunks under the water, popping up again a little farther out.
Even though I’m closer to shore than she is, I yell out, “Race you to the swim raft!”
Without waiting for her response, I start pumping my arms and kicking toward the small wooden platform fifty feet from shore. It floats on the outskirts of the swimming area, anchored to the lake floor underneath by ropes.
I hear Olivia splashing behind me as she tries to catch up. Suddenly I feel her fingers wrap around my ankle as she tries to yank me back. Her jerking is not very effective, though, and definitely doesn’t stop my forward movement.
