Smoke And Steel

• Thirty Two - Live A Little •

Ebony

"I think... Yes! Oh yes, there's something on my hook!" The look of sheer happiness on his face was almost child like. I'd never seen Ave look as happy or as surprised as when he peered into the depths to see a fish on his hook.

"Well, come on then," I said, abandoning my own set beside me so I could help him. "Wind it around your reel until it's up."

He looked so determined as he pulled it in that it was adorable. Maybe I should take him fishing more often.

When the average sized fish popped up out of the water the look of determination turned to pride. "She's beautiful!"

I laughed, "how do you know it's a she?"

"Because I wanted it to be one so now it is." He gently slid the hook out of its lip and dropped a couple more marshmallows into the water before letting it go. "Be free Ebony Junior."

"You named your very first catch after me?" I was so honored.

"Well, the flour baby got named after me so the fish can be named after you," he said as he dropped his newly baited line back into the water.

"How sweet," I said, smiling at his reasoning.

"Plus," he said with a smirk. "I think you're a catch." He laughed at his own pun. We have comedy gold right here folks.

I just shook my head at him.

We stopped for lunch and then fished until the sun got too hot. Over the course of the day I'd caught a fish and Avery another. All went free with what I'd like to think of as a new found distrust whenever they see mini marshmallows.

"Man," I said as I pulled off my sweater. "Why is it so hot? It's over a week into December, it's officially Christmas month."

"Because we live in Southern California, and you should know by now that these past few weeks is the coldest it gets."

"Yeah, but it's extra hot today."

"Well then," he said, crawling out of the blanket fort. "Let's go swimming."

"We don't have our bathing suits though." I was hot, but not that desperate for coolness.

"There's this awesome invention called underwear. It'll dry."

"I don't know," I said. Avery seeing my bra when I'm drunk is one thing, but swimming with him in my underwear is a whole other story. "What about your dressings on your tummy?"

"Gone. The stitches are almost dissolved as well. It's been almost three weeks since they did them."

I tried to formulate an excuse in my head but he could see right through me. Why oh why did I have to get my cast off the other day? "Just live a little, Princess. No one ever accomplished anything by never taking chances. Have some fun, if not for me than do it for you."

"Fine," I said, "but you're hopping in first and you've got to look away."

"Of course."

I looked away as he stripped down to his briefs and waded into the water. "It's so nice and refreshing," he called when he was waist deep. I tried not to stare at the perfectly sculpted body before me. Even with the healing cuts, scars, and last remaining bruises he still had a body that looked like it was cut from marble. It was hard not to drool.

When I finally told him to look away so I could undress I silently thanked the lord that I hadn't worn one of my novelty bras today. I had bras that ranged from Pokemon to Jack o' Lanterns to kittens, so when I looked at my plain black bra with blue lace trim I was proud of myself. The one day of the year that I didn't wear a weird bra was the one day I was thankful.