I lean down slightly. “Told you it was not true.”
She freezes, her cheeks immediately turning a little red. Then she clears her throat.
“Are you, uh,” she says, turning even more red and then pointing to me. “Also going in?”
“If you want me to take off my clothes, you can just ask, you know?” I tease.
She hits my chest lightly and rolls her eyes. I laugh as I turn away, pulling my cap off and running a hand quickly through my hair before tossing it onto my bag. I hook my fingers into the collar of my shirt and lift it over my head. When I turn back around, I catch Maddy mid-stare. Her eyes snap away so fast she nearly gives herself whiplash. Was she checking me out?
The corner of my mouth lifts. I step a little closer, and suddenly notice the height difference in a way I never really have before. She has to tilt her head slightly to look up at me.
“You ready?” I ask.
“Yup, let’s cool our asses off.”
We place our bags in the sand and start walking. A few people jog past us along the shoreline, earbuds in, clearly having the time of their lives.
Maddy looks at me and grins. “Still think I’m faster.”
I raise an eyebrow, feeling amused by her teasing voice. “Is that so?”
“You know it.”
“Wanna bet?” I ask.
“Sure.”
I smirk, leaning closer to her ear. “And if I win—what’ll you give me?”
She blinks. “A round of applause?”
“Try again.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. Loser buys ice cream.”
“Now we’re talking.”
We walk down toward the edge of the water, cool foam washing over our feet. She points down the beach. “First one to the lifeguard tower.”
I nod. “Deal.”
We line up, side by side, sand warm under my feet.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Ready.”
“Three,” I say.
“Two.”
“One.”
“Go.”
We take off.
My feet pound over the sand, wind loud in my ears. Each step sinks just enough to fight me, muscles already burning from the sprint.
