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“It’s better to just get in all at once. It’s not as cold.”

“I need the cold.”

He hasn’t removed his hands from his package once.

“Then get in.”

“How deep is it right there?”

“Not deep at all.” I stand, letting the water cascade down me. “I was just on my knees.”

With a muttered, “Jesus Christ,” he takes the rest of the stairs, lowering himself into the water until it’s up to his neck.

I let out a laugh before trudging over to him.

“Are you okay?”

Eyes shut tight, he grits, “Fine.”

“Seriously, why do you want to swim?”

Those sapphire eyes open and crash into mine, almost knocking me over.

“I don’t give a fuck about water safety.”

“Then why are we here right now?”

His shrug lifts his shoulders above the water. “I needed an excuse to get you to stop.”

“Stop…what? Herkies? I don’t know why you—”

“Torturing yourself.”

“—care,” comes out much quieter, so much quieter.

I sink into the water until it tickles my jaw, my hands out beside me making small waves.

“That’s not what I was doing,” I argue way too late and way too softly to sound convincing.

“Your boyfriend’s a—”

“Pussy?” My eyes almost roll out of my freaking head. “Yeah, you’ve said that.” A thousand times.

“A dumbfuck that deserves to get the shit kicked out of him.”

“Why?”

“Too many reasons to list.”

“Name one.”

“Mm.” He pretends to think about it, but if he has an entire list, I know he has at least a few at the ready. “He left you alone with me.”

“He did not.” He literally did.

He tsks. “Like leaving a jewel in the hands of a thief.”

A jewel in the hands of a thief.