Serendipity

I won't look

I never learned how to swim.

I never did, and I don't plan on it.

But of course I didn't tell Tim that as he was leading me into the deeper water. Because somehow I knew I'd be fine.

Just because I'm fine doesn't mean I'm particularly happy about being tossed around by waves, and getting sand up my nose and in my mouth.

Now I study Tim as he watches Kiki frolicking about in the water. His eyes follow her movements, but I can tell he's looking at me from the corner of his vision.

I swallow and return my gaze to my lap. My shirt is soaked and clinging to my skin, and it makes me wish I could take it off, but then that would lead to a whole trove of other problems.

I don't know how I would feel if Tim were to see me like that. So... exposed. Like sure, I trust him, and I want to believe he'd never do anything bad...

But even the idea of it makes my stomach twist.

"You alright?" Tim's voice startles me out of my thoughts. I look up at him and he tilts his head, eyes wide and concerned.

I open my mouth to speak, but every word I can think of evaporates on my tongue.

He slides closer so he can speak softly, sparkling eyes meeting mine. "Do you wanna wear my shirt? It's dry. And looser."

How many times is he going to read my mind?

I nod.

He smiles, then grabs his shirt from under his phone and hat (they were all stacked nicely on top of eachother) and carefully unfolds it before handing it to me. He puts his hands over his eyes.

"I won't look," He promises. "Even though I know for a fact that you're gorgeous."

I feel my face heat up, and I hesitate for only a second before quickly peeling off my shirt.

"Oh, and let me know if you need help with the buttons, if you wanna close the shirt," Tim adds, right as I'm struggling with the first pair of stubborn buttons. "I can do it with my eyes closed."

I raise one brow at that last part. "Oh really?"

"Yeah!" He sounds excited. "It's very impressive."

"Wow, very humble."

"I know. I'm like the most humble person out there."

"I agree."

I give myself another ten seconds, then give up, shaking out my fingers.

Tim stays silent, until I cough, and then I see a smile quirk in the corner of his mouth.

"Need help?"

"I've never had a button-up before," I say defensively. "But... yes."

He laughs, but I know it's not directed at me. He lifts his hands from his face, but— true to his word as ever— his eyes are closed.

"Where are you?" He chuckles, swiping at the air gently. I grab his hands and guide them to the buttons.

He spreads his fingers along my chest, and my heart skips a couple beats. I suck in a breath and hold it.

"Alrighty..." He mutters. "Here we are..."

It takes him a second to orient himself, but once he figures out the rhythm his fingers dance down my chest with ease, buttoning with skill that makes me wonder if he's practiced this before.

His hands search for another pair of buttons, sliding lightly around my lap until realizing there aren't any more.

He opens his eyes and checks to make sure he didn't mess up (he didn't).

Then he checks my face.

"Woah, are you okay?" He leans close and presses the back of his hand against my forehead. "You're all flushed! Did you get sunburnt?"

I swallow thickly.

I'm fine. Well, I'm not feeling bad.

Thing is, what he just did was... super hot.

I'm really glad there's a breeze at this beach, so my stuttering breaths weren't noticeable.

I turn my eyes away from him, leaning back slightly. I see someone else walking along the stretch of sand, not far from where we sit.

I frown. For some reason, I can almost recognize the person, but their name lingers just out of reach on the tip of my tongue.

I can hear Tim speaking to me, but I'm not listening.

I don't like the feeling the person is giving me. My stomach twists with the burning sense of betrayal and hatred.

Then they turn their head, and the light hits their face, accentuating the bridge of their nose.

The sight of it practically spits his name into my mouth. How could I forget it when it's been burned into my brain as the moment he turned away from me?

His golden hair is shorter than it was back then. He's also gotten taller.

"Tim," I whisper urgently. He stops fussing over me and freezes. "Don't be obvious, but look behind you."

His eyebrows twitch, as though he considered frowning, then he pretends to be looking for something in the sand behind him. He subtly glances up and sees the person walking vaguely towards us.

"Who is that?" Tim asks quietly, turning back to me.

I clench my teeth. "You don't know him. But he's the guy that outed me to the whole school."

"Oh, shit."

"Yep."

Oh, shit isn't the only thing on my mind.

Suddenly, he lifts one hand and waves.

"Sydney! Is that you?" He calls out, and the sound of his voice makes me feel sick.

Tim whips around, then stands as he approaches.

I push myself off the ground, wondering if the sand made my legs wobbly or if it's because of his presence.

"It's me, Luke!"