I think it through. “What about your brother? What does he say?”
“Amnesia. I suspect it’s selective.”
His tone is bitter and I think better of prying too hard in that direction.
When he sighs again I hear just how strained his chest is. How much he’s hurting.
I notice how his fists are clenched under the water.
My stomach flips as if I’m falling. My heart pains as I try to comprehend how he feels.
“How’s that for secrets?” he asks. “Enough?”
Such pain. Such horrible fucking hurt.
I think of her, Mariana. Of her last moments. Of being trapped behind that door with the flames coming for her.
Of the desperation.
He’s rigid as I go to him. Every muscle tense as I press my body to his and hold him tight. My body feels so soft against his firmness. My edges mould to his, skin on skin. My face in his neck as I breathe.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper and he flinches.
I grip a little tighter, flaying my soul alive against his jagged edges until they come to rest easy. He takes a breath. I hold mine.
My brokenness feels tender against his. I feel so small against him.
And then he holds me. Wraps me in arms so huge they could crush me alive but crush me just enough.
I press my forehead to his, stare into eyes that chase me in my dreams. I see his nightmares staring back at me.
“I was her monster,” he whispers. “It destroyed her.”
“You loved her,” I say. “Right until the end.”
“Just be careful the monster doesn’t destroy you too.”
“I don’t want careful,” I tell him. “I just want you.”
“That’s just as well,” he says. “Because it’s now you I’m chasing in the dark.”
His lips press to mine so slowly. He squeezes the breath from me as he holds me tight.
And then he looks beyond me, up to the house above. There’s a light on when I turn my head. A curtain moves.
He answers before I can ask.
“My sister,” he says.
“I’m totally naked,” I say, like it needs pointing out.
It makes him smile just a little. “That comes with the territory.”
I smile back. “I’m not sure your sister will be all that impressed to find a naked stranger in your garden. It’s hardly a great first impression.”
He tips his head. “You may have a point. I guess we’ll have to resume swimming pool nakedness another day.”
I nod. “I think a rain check would be sensible, yes.”
I smile against his mouth as his lips press to mine.
“Let’s get you home,” he says.
Phoenix
I climb out of the water first. My jacket is waiting as she pulls herself out after me.
She picks up her shoes and opts to go barefoot.
I’m drenched right through to the bone, dripping water all the way. I hand her the keys to my truck and tell her I’ll be back in a minute.
She nods and smiles.
I’m relieved she still has a smile for me after everything I’ve said tonight.
I ditch my clothes in the porch. Serena heads into the kitchen even as I’m tugging on a pair of fresh boxers from the laundry.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” she says.
I smirk. “She doesn’t think her nakedness will make the best first impression.”
Serena rolls her eyes. “What happened to her clothes?”
“Don’t ask.”
She knows me well enough by now to take my word for it.
“Cam asked for a story tonight,” she tells me.
I smile. “That’s great news. He’s getting better.”
“Three full sentences today.”
I nod. “All in good time. The lad’s a champ. We won’t be able to shut him up in a few months, you wait and see.”
She gestures to the door. “When are you going to introduce them?”
“Abigail and Cameron?”
“Unless you have any other girlfriends you’re not telling me about.”
I pull my jeans on. “She doesn’t know about Cameron yet.”
Her jaw drops. “She doesn’t know you’ve got a son?! That’s a pretty major staple of an introduction, don’t you think?”
“Our introduction wasn’t particularly conventional,” I admit. I meet her eyes. “I’ll tell her. Soon.”
“And then you’ll introduce them?”
I tug on a shirt, then pull her close enough to kiss her head. “All in good time.”
She slaps my arm. “Take the girl home, finish what you started in the swimming pool. Tell her to bring clothes next time.”
She has no idea what we started in the swimming pool, but she’s more right than she knows.
There is a lot more to finish.