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I looked up at the deep blue sky scattered with glittering stars and was in absolute awe of the wilderness that was America. I sat up a little, trying to make out the constellations when I felt a nose on my back.
“Eugie?” I asked and he licked the side of my face.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Cricket’s sweet voice rang out like a balm to my soul, making my eyes roll back into my head. “I was just coming for a late-night swim.”
“It’s okay,” I said, sitting up even more, my heart beating rapidly.
Those words were the only I’d heard her address directly to me in weeks. She turned like she was going to leave, and I bolted out of the water.
“Don’t go,” I said, grabbing her forearm gently.
Her eyes followed up my hand and arm to my face.
“Okay,” she whispered.
She peeled off her short robe and sandals and slipped into the water with me. We were deathly quiet for more than ten minutes and I felt so tempted to leave. It was getting awkward, and I never liked to feel awkward with Cricket. I made a move to get out of the water just when she spoke.
“Do you like Finley?” she asked, startling me.
“Yeah, she’s a fine girl.”
Her head bobbed up and down as she stared at the stars.
“She’s quite beautiful,” she said.
“I suppose so, yes.”
“Was she interesting to you?” she asked.
I wasn’t sure where she was going with her line of questioning.
“Cricket?” I asked.
“Yeah?” she said, running her hands over the top of the water.
“Are you jealous I talked to Finley all night?”
Her head whipped my direction. “No!”
“Then why are you so curious?”
She cleared her throat and looked back up at the night sky. “I don’t know.” She sighed.
I ran my hands through my wet hair.
“Thank you for taking care of Eugie for me,” she said, changing the subject.
“He’s been helping me through some stuff.”
“He’s good at that.” She smiled.
I smiled back. “I know.”
She stood up and the water reached just below her breasts, which made me laugh because it met my waist.
“Come here,” she said, walking to the opposite edge of the pool.
I followed her and we peered over the precipice.
