Love Me for Me(45)

Libby involuntarily squealed with fright, her stomach full of flutters as they soared the other way toward the water. “It won’t break?” she asked, nearly gasping with concern.

“Trust me,” he said, pushing off again, his eyes locked with hers. Even his gaze seemed strong enough to protect her from anything. The air moved around her and she felt weightless, as if the whole world were gone at that moment, and it was just the two of them. The lack of control and the lift in her stomach was so out of character for her, she was having trouble knowing how to respond. She kept thinking how silly it all was, wanting to get off, but the memory of it as a child held her in place.

After they’d gone back and forth enough that she was starting to feel less anxious, Pete said, “Do you remember what we used to do once we got going this high?”

“We used to jump.”

“Would you jump if I asked you to?”

“What?” He couldn’t possibly be serious. “We have clothes on!”

He pushed off again, a suggestive look in his eye. “So you’re saying you want to…”

“No! We’re not wearing swimsuits.” If she wasn’t terrified of letting go, she’d have slugged him in the arm.

“Are you worried about ruining those expensive clothes of yours?”

“No!” she said defensively.

“Then why not?”

He was baiting her. He was a grown man now. There was absolutely no reason for him to want to jump into the water. She was ready to hop onto the sand. She’d had enough of this.

“I dare you,” he pressed.

“What would everyone say if we showed up at the party soaking wet?”

“Who cares?”

“I do!”

“Why?” He pushed off again, sending them soaring over the water.

This is like having a conversation with a ten-year-old, she thought. “Because normal, respectable adults do not jump into the sea with their party clothes on and then go back to the party. People will think we’ve lost our minds.”

“Who cares?”

“You’ve said that already.” The swing shook beneath them.

“Then clearly I mean it! At the count of three. Ready?”

She wasn’t ready! There was absolutely no way she was going to jump into the water. She would be the talk of the town for weeks. No way.

“One…”

It was an utterly stupid idea.

“Two…”

Her chest was getting tight at just the thought of it. She couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t do it. This had to be the most preposterous idea Pete had ever had.

“Three!”

She held on to the rope, the tire becoming light beneath her feet. Her mouth hung open as she saw Pete fly through the air and dive straight into the water below. The tire swung her toward the trees and then out to the sea. She searched for him, finding him quickly. When the swing slowed enough, she jumped off and paced toward Pete now walking up through the waves as they rippled at his knees.

“That didn’t go how I wanted it to,” he said, wiping the water from his face, one corner of his mouth turned up in a crooked grin. His wet hair curled slightly, and beads of water were dripping onto his temples.

“What were you thinking?” she laughed in bewilderment. She tried not to notice the fact that she could make out his physique underneath his soaking shirt.

He took the bottom hem in his hands and wrung out the water. “I said on the count of three.”

“Are you insane? What are you going to tell everyone?”

“I’ll tell them I jumped into the water, although I don’t know if they’ll need the explanation really. It may be evident enough.” He ran his fingers through his hair and shook the water off his hands.

“You’re ridiculous,” she said, stomping away from him.

“I’m ridiculous?” She could hear him closing the gap between them.

She didn’t know why she was so angry with him, but she was. The wet sand gritted under her feet as she turned around to face him, her hands on her hips.

“You are so worried about what people will think of you, about being perfect little you, that you wouldn’t let go. Life doesn’t have to be that hard. If you want to jump, jump. Don’t think about whether or not others will want you to do it or not. They aren’t you.” He took a step closer. “The only thing that matters is what’s in here,” he tapped his temple. Then he took her hand and placed her fingers on his wet chest. “And here.”

She pulled her hand from his and started walking down the beach. She was irritated and she couldn’t explain why. She thought about Wade. He certainly wouldn’t have jumped. And, even though he hadn’t been the one for her, Wade had been just the type of guy she wanted to date—a non-jumper. She stopped and spun around toward Pete. The sun was on him, making his wet hair shine. “I don’t want to jump, Pete. It isn’t who I am. I don’t know how many times I need to tell you that.” She turned back around and started back down the beach.