Evie | a lesbian fantasy romance [girlxgirl]

fourteen

After staying out on the water for an hour or so, simply staring at the stars and having mindless conversation, Evie and I decide to make our way back to the house.

So far, everything has gone to plan and I definitely don't want to jinx it. That is, of course, until I try to row us back and one of the oars is jammed.

"Hold on, it just needs yanking out of the rowlock," I assure Evie, who is watching with concern. "I just need to..."

I sit on the edge of the boat, balancing carefully and grabbing the other side of the oar.

"Leila, be careful!" Evie warns, holding out her hands with worry.

"I'm always careful!"

She lifts a brow in disagreement, but I ignore her as I focus on loosening the oar slowly but firmly.

"It just needs shimmying out," I tell her, twisting the oar and pulling it towards me. "We'll be rowing in no time."

It doesn't take long for me to start tugging it a little harder since none of my other tugs seem to be working.

"Leila, don't pull too hard or you'll–!"

"I have it under control, I just need to– shit!"

And just like that, I yank it too hard and lose my balance, immediately falling back into the water. It's freezing, is the first thing I think, before I realise I'm still holding the oar. With difficulty, I resurface and spit the water from my mouth, treading water to stay afloat.

"Oh my God, Leila!" Evie shouts from the top, looking over the edge.

Embarrassed and frustrated, I toss the oar into the boat. "I'm really starting to hate these unwanted swims."

For the first time tonight, Evie starts to laugh. "Come here, you fool."

With her help, I manage to get back into the boat and out of the water, but I'm soggy and cold and disgruntled. Evie has a permanent smile fixed on her face as she goes to grab a blanket, wrapping it around me like a parent with their child.

"I told you to be careful," she comments between laughter, pulling both ends of the blanket in front of me so I can hold it together.

But before I can grab it, I forget what's happening because she's so close, close enough for me to make out the gold flecks in her eyes, only enhanced by the lantern. Her smile softens, eyes flickering between mine, and my insides float like I'm on a rollercoaster. Nerves almost get the better of me, but I come back to reality and clear my throat, gladly accepting the ends of the blanket and keeping it tightly around me to keep in some warmth.

"Thanks," I mumble, too flustered to fight her teasing.

"I'll row," she says, re-fixing the oar into the rowlock and completely unfazed by her effect on me.

"It's probably for the best."

Her grin widens but she holds in another laugh for my sake. I force myself to look away as she rows us home because I'm terrified of how she makes me feel with a single look.

When we reach the house, she grabs our things and leads me inside where I can't wait to immediately get into the shower.

"Thank you for tonight," she says before I can peel off my clothes and wash away the salt in my eyes. "It made such a difference."

"Even the part where I basically drowned for the millionth time?"

She laughs at my dramatised retelling. "Even then, yes."

I sigh, a small smile curling on my lips because she looks a lot happier compared to when we left. "I'm glad you liked it. And we can go out whenever you want. Anytime you're down for a boat ride. I'll try not to go for a swim next time."