Meet Me in the Water

Chapter Seven

Even on the world's comfiest mattress, I couldn't sleep. I was tossing and turning until the bedsheets were entangled in my limbs. Nicholas was sleeping peacefully. Light snores leaving his perfect mouth with each breath he took.

  Since I was young, when I couldn't sleep, I'd go outside and look at the stars. Seeing how many constellations I could remember and recognize. I was always able to make out the Big and Little Dipper with no problem. Within recent years, I was able to spot Orion, Cassiopeia, and Centauras. I planned to memorize them all by the time I left to study abroad.

  Putting on my sneakers, I tiptoed out of the bedroom and through the house to get outside. The door was rustic and would make this loud squeaking sound whenever someone opened it. I flinched when it made that squeaking sound, especially because Jen and Brad's room was right across the living room.

  Sliding out, I slowly closed the door and walked down the steps towards the lake. The stars looked so much brighter than they did back home. I could see all the constellations clearly. I laid down on the dock, probably getting a splinter in my bare back. It felt as if I were floating in space, surrounded by many stars. The moon was larger than I had ever seen it.

  The lake was calm. The only light coming from the moon, causing the lake to glimmer. Sitting up, I looked around to make sure I was alone. That was when I stood up and striped out of all my clothes. It wasn't the first time I went skinny dipping. My exe and I used to sneak into the community pool at night and go skinny dipping. I loved the feeling of the water when it touched every inch of me. My body would move more freely through the water. It felt like I was gliding on air.

  I took a dive into the lake, letting myself be consumed by the water. Oh boy, it was freezing. My body quickly got use to it as I swam around. Taking a deep breath, I swam to the bottom where it was nothing but complete darkness. The water echoing in my ears.

  When I resurfaced, Nicholas was standing on the dock, watching me. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked, arms crossed over his bare chest.

  "Going for a late night dip," I told him. "You should join."

  He narrowed his eyes and looked down at my clothes on the dock. "Are you naked?"

  I laughed and placed my arms on the dock to look at him better. "It's called skinny dipping. Look it up."

  Even in the darkness, I saw his cheeks turn pink. "What is wrong with you?"

  "I'm living my life," I told him, dipping back into the water. "You should too." I motioned my head at the water. "Join me. It's so freeing."

  He uncrossed his arms and looked around the property. "Uh, I don't know."

  I groaned. "Come on. You can keep your boxers on."

  Crossing his arms again, he looked more vulnerable than I had ever seen him. He was scared. What was he afraid of? I'd turn away if he asked me to and our lower halves would be under water. "This is awkward. I'm just going to head back inside." He turned away and started walking off the dock.

  I laughed. "Pussy."

  He stopped in his tracks and turned around, furrowing his brow at me. "What did you just call me?"

  "I called you a pussy," I told him. "I'm not trying to force you to do anything but God, you're sweating like a pig." The moment I told him to join, his cheeks flushed and sweat covered his forehead. When I saw him on that dock, shirtless and only wearing basketball shorts, I immediately wanted him in the water with me. He looked so sexy under the moonlight. 

  He walked back onto the dock. "Turn around." Oh shit. He was actually going to join me. "I'll show you who's not a pussy." Was it just me, or was that hot?