AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER6
Calista waited patiently for Ronan’s net to reach her. A few of the dancers saw what was happening and looked over. Several rocked their hands as if they held pompoms and were cheering her on. Cute, their friendly gestures made her smile around her mouthpiece; they definitely deserved better costumes.
Willow, who’d been spinning with her pearl prize, paused. She clutched the gem to her chest, floated her body forward, and mermaid kicked with her legs together. She was heading to the back of the tank again.
Great, have all the jewels and the coins. Calista was abandoning her treasure to the women remaining with only goodwill toward them.
Willow stopped in front of Calista; she tucked the pearl against her side, pointed to herself with her free hand, and made a number one sign.
What did that mean?
Willow jabbed her index finger toward the surface.
Did Willow want out of the tank? All she had to do was swim up. Calista waved her hand upwards like have at it.
Willow pointed to her chest, made a hashtag with her fingers, and a number one again.
Ah, got it, Willow wanted to be the first scooped out of the tank. Dodo was up there. He could fish for Willow. No way he’d beat Ronan in any athletic competition though, even fishing. Willow would have to take Dodo’s tardiness up with him directly, another Applebaum failure. Calista was not getting in the middle of their super healthy dynamic. She had her own ride to take. She shrugged.
The net was almost here. Giddiness rocked her body. All the times she’d tried and missed out on having time with Ronan, here was her opportunity. Ronan extended the pole far enough that the end waited in front of her waist.
Eagerness spun through Calista, but oddly so did the purity pledge. Make him work for it.
Calista hopped to the side.
The net followed her with a flatteringly smooth swish.
Okay, that was enough playing hard to get. Calista drew in a deep draw of oxygen, filling her lungs, and clasped the sides of the net. She twisted her body and hopped in. The coarse mesh of the small round hammock bit into her skin, but the sensation wasn’t uncomfortable, and to her own credit, the maneuver had been performed with a touch of grace. Success.
Ronan lifted the pole, and she began rising. Calista was moments away from actually getting to speak with him. Her heart rate increased. Yes, netted by Ronan. She hoped Vivien was still here and catching this on camera, because she’d make the video her screen saver. Calista gave a quick two pumps in the air imitating Vivien’s favorite celebratory motion.
Willow swam, keeping level with Calista, and made the number one sign again. Willow pointed at Calista and arched her hand palm to back, over and over, indicating Calista should jump out of the fishing net.
Annoying. Calista shook her head. She couldn’t help herself; moving slowly, using both hands, Calista made a hashtag with her first two fingers, and then a number one with her index finger. Calista turned her finger inwards and pointed to her own chest.
Willow reached out and latched onto Calista’s wrist with one slim, cold hand. With her other, she shoved the pearl behind Calista, dislodging her position. Simultaneously, Willow kicked her petite legs up and pushed against the underside of the net. A pinched wrist, hard flippers against her back, then the three-pronged approach forced Calista out of the mesh basket. Willow immediately released her, and Calista drifted toward the rocky bottom. What was happening?
Above her, Willow situated her narrow butt into the net, and threw the pearl down in the direction of Calista’s head. The currents slowed the white orb, and Calista dodged the round gem, moving easily in the water. She put her hands on her hips and looked up, no clue what to do now, and too surprised to even be fully angry.
Willow hung in place as if Ronan had stopped lifting the pole. On the pier above them, the guys were all laughing, except Ronan. Ronan dropped the pole back into the water, extending the length, lowering Willow until her flippers touched the rocky aquarium bottom. He’d given her back to the tank. Willow was now within a foot of Calista but still sitting in the net.
Calista reassessed the situation.
Willow wasn’t dealing with sweet Piper or delicate Dahlia. Just the thought of how Willow had done her family wrong gave Calista the strength to move. Calista swam up to Willow, grabbed Willow’s arm, and jerked her from her perch.
Willow came forward, but the rope basket did too, because the puck at the backside of her bikini had gone through the netting like a button through a hole. The basket inverted, holding Willow in place by the backside of her puck swimsuit. Willow hung there, arms and legs out, paddling just above the rocks, but going nowhere, like a crab being lifted from the water.
Hmm, without her tools, Calista couldn’t cut the ropes and free Willow. Not unless Willow wanted to remove her bikini bottoms, which was almost happening now, and Calista didn’t want to see that.
Ah well, Willow had won this round, or her costume had. Calista pressed her lips against the mouthpiece and held out her arms, palms up. Fine, go up first, Willow.
Calista would follow. If the guys were allowed a second catch, Ronan could fish for her again. If the men only got one turn, would one of the other guys give her a lift up? Or would they go after their own prizes? She didn’t have enough information to know, and she didn’t want to be uncaught, unchosen, or unwanted, the tuna left behind. Her battered ego shuddered.
Willow reached backward, got hold of the frame, and got back inside the net. She swiveled to get comfortable.
Calista backed away.
Willow made another number one sign and scrunched up her petite frame so she could fold her bent knees inside the hammock and tuck her red-painted toenails into the webbing. She was going nowhere.
