the way I felt about him. He made me want to burst out of the shadows.”
Amen. If anyone were to put into words how I felt when I met Theresa, those are the words that would ring truest. “I know exactly what you mean.”
We share a nostalgic glance, and then she blows out a breath. “So he jumped first, made it look so easy. He popped from the water and waved me down. I was still at the point in my life where leaps like this, metaphorical and literal, required a helping hand. So I grabbed Delia’s arm and we jumped off together. I remember exactly how it felt too—being in midair before hitting the water. It wasn’t exhilarating or freeing or felt like flying or anything like that. It was
terrifying
. Because when we jumped, Delia hit her head on one of the wooden railings on the bridge. She banged it so hard I felt her hand go instantly limp in mine. The whole way down I knew she was unconscious, and there was absolutely nothing I could do but scream.”
Rian looks down at her empty hand, running her fingers over her palm. “The water slapped us like we’d hit a stone wall. Delia was sinking, dragging me down with her, and I wasn’t a strong enough swimmer to pull us both to the surface. And I couldn’t…I
wouldn’t
let go of her.”
“Where was your boyfriend?”
“He dove down, tried to find us. He must have, because after I blacked out the next thing I remember was the hospital.”
“And Delia?”
“She made it, but…well, things change after something like that. Sometimes it brings people together. This time it drove us apart.”
She shivers slightly, and I step closer, hoping I can warm her with my body heat. This girl, this woman, has brought us once again to a deeper level than I’d expected for the evening.
“That’s why water.” She gestures to the mural and then sticks her hands in her back pockets. “That’s why I changed my name, too.”
“It’s not Rian?”
“Rian…like ‘rain’ with a couple of flip-flopped letters.”
I grin at her. “So what’s your real name?”
“That is my real name. It’s who I am now.” She sighs. “But if you really want to know, it’s Charlotte.”
“Charlotte?” I don’t mean to laugh, but I do, and I get a flirty punch to the shoulder out of it.
“I know. Doesn’t fit, but it used to.”
I playfully snatch her by the waist and bring her close. Being invited into the raw parts of someone’s soul has never been so simple before. When it came to Theresa and me, every time she realized she had let me in, she cowered away, or shrugged it off like it wasn’t a big deal. After learning about Theresa’s sort-of ex I understood why she was so guarded. And after her, I know firsthand what it’s like to protect the most vulnerable pieces so that they aren’t beaten down again. Rian seems to have thrown all that out the window. Either that or she’s told the story so many times already that it’s just a part of her, and she doesn’t realize how much she’s sharing with a near stranger.
I pull her up tight against me, and the corner of her lip twitches upward. It’s not exactly a weird moment, but it still doesn’t feel natural. I should kiss her, but that’s just it. It’s something I feel like I
have
to do, yet have no
desire
to do. Something’s still in the way, preventing me from looking her in the eye. My gaze flicks over her shoulder to make sure no one’s watching, as if I’m about to make a mistake or do something that violates my moral code. My jaw clenches, and I internally curse myself for letting unjustified guilt cock-block me.
Rian puts her hands on my face, jerking my eyes back to hers. She gives me a wicked smile before pushing up and brushing her lips against mine. But before we can really truly kiss, before I can escape the whirlwind of thoughts in my head, I catch something flying toward us from the corner of my eye. I’m not quick enough to duck, and it pelts us both in the face.
My cheek starts
Amen. If anyone were to put into words how I felt when I met Theresa, those are the words that would ring truest. “I know exactly what you mean.”
We share a nostalgic glance, and then she blows out a breath. “So he jumped first, made it look so easy. He popped from the water and waved me down. I was still at the point in my life where leaps like this, metaphorical and literal, required a helping hand. So I grabbed Delia’s arm and we jumped off together. I remember exactly how it felt too—being in midair before hitting the water. It wasn’t exhilarating or freeing or felt like flying or anything like that. It was
terrifying
. Because when we jumped, Delia hit her head on one of the wooden railings on the bridge. She banged it so hard I felt her hand go instantly limp in mine. The whole way down I knew she was unconscious, and there was absolutely nothing I could do but scream.”
Rian looks down at her empty hand, running her fingers over her palm. “The water slapped us like we’d hit a stone wall. Delia was sinking, dragging me down with her, and I wasn’t a strong enough swimmer to pull us both to the surface. And I couldn’t…I
wouldn’t
let go of her.”
“Where was your boyfriend?”
“He dove down, tried to find us. He must have, because after I blacked out the next thing I remember was the hospital.”
“And Delia?”
“She made it, but…well, things change after something like that. Sometimes it brings people together. This time it drove us apart.”
She shivers slightly, and I step closer, hoping I can warm her with my body heat. This girl, this woman, has brought us once again to a deeper level than I’d expected for the evening.
“That’s why water.” She gestures to the mural and then sticks her hands in her back pockets. “That’s why I changed my name, too.”
“It’s not Rian?”
“Rian…like ‘rain’ with a couple of flip-flopped letters.”
I grin at her. “So what’s your real name?”
“That is my real name. It’s who I am now.” She sighs. “But if you really want to know, it’s Charlotte.”
“Charlotte?” I don’t mean to laugh, but I do, and I get a flirty punch to the shoulder out of it.
“I know. Doesn’t fit, but it used to.”
I playfully snatch her by the waist and bring her close. Being invited into the raw parts of someone’s soul has never been so simple before. When it came to Theresa and me, every time she realized she had let me in, she cowered away, or shrugged it off like it wasn’t a big deal. After learning about Theresa’s sort-of ex I understood why she was so guarded. And after her, I know firsthand what it’s like to protect the most vulnerable pieces so that they aren’t beaten down again. Rian seems to have thrown all that out the window. Either that or she’s told the story so many times already that it’s just a part of her, and she doesn’t realize how much she’s sharing with a near stranger.
I pull her up tight against me, and the corner of her lip twitches upward. It’s not exactly a weird moment, but it still doesn’t feel natural. I should kiss her, but that’s just it. It’s something I feel like I
have
to do, yet have no
desire
to do. Something’s still in the way, preventing me from looking her in the eye. My gaze flicks over her shoulder to make sure no one’s watching, as if I’m about to make a mistake or do something that violates my moral code. My jaw clenches, and I internally curse myself for letting unjustified guilt cock-block me.
Rian puts her hands on my face, jerking my eyes back to hers. She gives me a wicked smile before pushing up and brushing her lips against mine. But before we can really truly kiss, before I can escape the whirlwind of thoughts in my head, I catch something flying toward us from the corner of my eye. I’m not quick enough to duck, and it pelts us both in the face.
My cheek starts
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