Lost Time by D. L. Orton Page A

your hands on my shoulders,” she says. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
    Lucy makes a disapproving noise. “My first double drowning.”
    “Ready to try standing on your own?” Lani asks, and I nod. “Okay, here we go.”
    She releases me.
    My chin bobs in the water for a few seconds, and then my legs pick up the slack. Stabs of pain flit across my calves and thighs, but I ignore them.
    “Okay?” Lani asks, her eyebrows raised.
    “Yes!” After months of being lifted, dragged, and pushed, it’s difficult to put into words just how exhilarating it feels to be supporting my own weight, even if it’s in a kiddie pool. I lift my shoulders out of the water, unable to stop grinning.
    Mierda , I’m more than a foot taller than she is.
    “Easy, Diego,” Lani says, putting her hands back on my waist and looking up at me, her golden eyes full of concern. “Let’s take this slowly.”
    “You have the most beautiful eyes,” I say without really thinking about it.
    A surprised look flashes across her face, and then there’s a sharp pain in my thigh, and the next thing I know, my head is underwater.
    A moment later, I feel her hands on me, and I want nothing more than to sweep her up in my arms, whirl her around, and tell her that everything is going to be okay.
    We’re both going to be okay.
    When our heads break the surface, I let out a whoop, kiss her on the mouth, and then wiggle out of her hold and start swimming on my back. After I manage to keep my head above water for a bit, I steal a glance at Lani.
    She looks annoyed, even angry.
    “It’s okay, doctor,” I say, squirting water out of my mouth like a whale spouting. “I know how to swim.” I paddle in a circle, waving at Lucy.
    “Maybe you could have told me that sooner.” There’s an edge to her voice, but I can’t tell if she’s mad about the kiss or just miffed that I don’t need her anymore.
    “Bless my soul,” Lucy says, standing in the shallow end with her hands on her hips. “But I’d say you no longer require my assistance.”
    “Thanks,” Lani says. “Go have some apples for me.”
    “I’ll save some for both of you,” she says, winking at me as she gets out.
    I swim to where the water is shoulder deep and then try standing again. The muscles in my legs have warmed up, and there’s almost no pain. I let out a whoop of delight. “This is great! You’re a genius.”
    Lani follows me into the deep end, half smiling at my exuberance.
    “Woohoo,” I say, “I forgot how good it feels to stand up.”
    A worried look crosses her face. “It’s too deep here, Diego. We should go back to the shallow end.”
    I put my hands on her waist, still able to touch the bottom. “No worries, doctor. I’ve got you.”
    “Please!” She tries to push my hands away. “This isn’t helping.”
    “We’ll be fine. Honest. It’s your turn to relax.”
    She glares at me, her brow one thin line.
    “Trust me, Lani. If I lose my balance, I’ll let go of you and swim back to the shallow end, okay?
    “You’re impossible.”
    “Water, taken in moderation, never hurt anybody.” I kiss her on the nose. “And you’re beautiful when you’re mad. Shit, you have the most gorgeous eyes, golden like a dragon or something.”
    Her mouth falls open and then she tries to push me away again.
    I take a couple of steps to rebalance us. “But if you don’t stop doing that, we will be going under.”
    “Damn it, Nadales. What has gotten into you? I’m your doctor not your mistress.”
    “Ouch.”
    “Who are you?” She stares at me, her eyes narrowed. “And what really happened to you?”
    “I could ask the same of you,” I say.
    “I have never lied to you.” Her voice is icy cold.
    “Lani, please. I didn’t want to lie to you, but I didn’t have any other choice.”
    She goes limp in my arms. “When it comes to lying, there is always a choice.”
    “If I told you what happened, you wouldn’t believe me.” I let go of her, and she