I tugged at the bikini top under the T-shirt. Not for the first time, I was grateful to the MIA cousin who left half her wardrobe behind. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have anything to cover up what the bikini didn’t, which was a lot.
Gideon drove, Cort rode shotgun, and I got the hot seat between them. Stewie decided to stay behind, as he thought the kittens needed him. That and I knew he couldn’t swim. Sissy pooh-poohed me when I balked at leaving him behind.
“He’s not an invalid,” she barked. “He won’t be any trouble. I’ll keep an eye on him,” she’d said as she shoved me out the door.
I was the bit anxious to be going to an outing with so many strangers. It’d been a long time since I’d been around kids my own age. I hoped I didn’t do something stupid and embarrass myself.
It didn’t take long at all to get to Miller’s pond. It was laid out in the middle of a vacant grassy field. There was a wooden dock with a couple canoes tied to it. In the middle of the pond there was a large square platform. Two girls were lying on their stomachs, chatting casually as they soaked up the sun.
Gideon parked the truck. I slid out after Cort. We watched a boy swing on a knotted rope, higher and higher, until he finally let go, flipping forward into the water. Shouts rang out when he surfaced.
“Show off,” Cort huffed.
“Who was that?” I asked.
“Jesse Martin,” he sneered, like the name itself was bitter on his tongue.
So this was Maggie’s boy toy. I watched him swim to the edge of the pond. He was shorter than Gideon and thicker. He stood in the shallow end, shaking the water from his shoulder length hair before turning to watch another boy attempt the same flip, only to land belly flat into the water. That was gonna hurt. Jesse laughed and called out something I couldn’t hear.
“Here.” Gideon handed me a towel. “Ever done this before?”
“Swim in a pond?”
He nodded.
“Never.” I shook my head.
“You’ll be alright.” Cort flung a brotherly arm around me. “Just watch out for the snakes.”
“Snakes?” I jerked my head up. “You never mentioned snakes!”
Cort started laughing. I elbowed him in the ribs.
“Don’t ever mention those hideous creatures to me. I hate snakes.” I shivered at the thought of one of them slithering in the water.
“Don’t worry. There are no snakes in this pond.” Gideon slapped Cort in the back of the head. “Stop scarin’ her.”
I wasn’t aware that we had an audience until we reached the big tree. Several faces stared at us, some smiling, some not. I noticed Jesse Martin was. Maggie was not.
“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged out of the barn.” Jesse greeted Cort with a nod and ignored Gideon.
“Jesse,” Cort replied with an edge.
“Ya’ll come to have a good time?” Jesse thumbed to a couple of coolers behind him.
“Just came for a swim,” Cort said.
Jesse eyed him, saying nothing. There was definitely bad blood between the three of them. Jesse suddenly smiled, a feral grin stretching across his face.
“Who’s the babe?” He lowered his head to look at me from under his lashes. A calculated move I’d seen many times. Out the corner of my eye I saw Maggie bristle. Just what I needed.
Neither Gideon, nor Cort, seemed inclined to answer him. I was getting more and more uncomfortable as the silence stretched on.
“This here is Cherry,” Maggie drawled out my name, giving me the evil eye.
“Cherry?” Jesse said my name. He smacked his lips like he was tasting the sound. “What an interestin’ name. How does somebody get a name like that? Is it short for somethin’?” He winked at me.
Pig. That was all I could think of. He reminded me of Cass with his cool demeanor and the way he liked to make himself look like the smart person by talking down to everyone else.
Gideon stepped closer to me, our arms almost touching. His voice quivered slightly when he said, “Watch it.”
Jesse glanced at Gideon then over to Cort, who stepped up to my other side. His eyes focused on me, and his lips twitched.
“It’s like that, is it? You Shepherd brothers do like to share everythin’.” He took a step in my direction. I thought that was either very brave of him or very stupid, maybe both. “If you wanna get wet darlin’,” he paused, “you come see me.”
“I’ll be sure to get a prescription for penicillin before I do,” I said just as sweet as I could. Jesse blinked then threw his head back.
“I like a girl who knows how to use her mouth,” Jesse laughed. Some of the other boys chuckled with him.
I flung my arms out, barring Gideon and Cort from taking another step. “Let’s just go swim,” I said, looking them each in the eye. Gideon nodded, grabbing my elbow, pulling me past the crowd.
“You should’ve let me belt him.” Cort grumped behind me when we were on the opposite side of the pond, under a smaller tree with a longer rope. Clearly this was the beginner’s tree. I unfolded my towel, draping it over a low hanging branch.
“I’m used to it,” I told him. “It’s no big deal. Let it go,” I raised my hands in the air.
“Jesse has no manners. He shouldn’t have talked to you like that.” Cort was like a dog with a bone.
“True,” I conceded, planting my hands on my hips, “But if all you’re going to do is sulk about it we might as well leave. You’re sucking all the fun out of me learning how to Tarzan out onto a pond.”
Cort squinted his eyes and slowly, almost cautiously, advanced in my direction. After almost two years of fending for myself I knew a plan of attack when I saw one.
Cort knew the moment I caught on. He grabbed at me, scooped me up in his arms, and tossed me over his shoulder. I squealed, kicking my legs trying to break free. He was laughing and trying to keep his balance while running awkwardly toward the water.
One minute I was hot and dry, the next I was under water. Cort released me the minute we hit the water. We surfaced at the same time. He was laughing. I was sputtering and splashing him. He splashed back.
“Look out below!” Gideon swung over us. He let go and Peter Panned to the left of us. A wave of water hit me, sending me back into the bank.
I crawled up the muddy side and onto the grass. For once I was glad I’d let Gideon boss me into doing some physical therapy for my arm. It was back to normal, minus a few aches now and again.
My sneakers were water logged. My feet made loud sucking noises when I pulled them off. I knew I had to take off the T-shirt and shorts and hang them to dry. I hesitated for the briefest moment. Then I threw caution to the wind and stripped down to the bikini.
“Come on, guys. Teach the city girl how to swing,” I called out from behind the tree. Gideon cleared the bank first, then Cort. Gideon stopped and just stared. Cort, however, howled appreciatively. “Dang, girl, you rock that bikini.”
I reached back for the T-shirt.
“Might as well leave it.” Cort laughed. “We already got an eyeful.”
“Shut up, Cort,” Gideon said. “Forget him, Cherry. He’s being a jerk.”
“Me? What’d I say?” Cort laughed knowingly. He took a running leap onto the rope, swinging it wide before letting go and falling into the water.
Gideon held his hand out to me. “Let’s swim.”
I took Gideon’s offered hand. He gave me a reassuring squeeze, leading me to the swing. He showed me how to hold the rope, where to put my feet, and told me when to let go. I was a fast learner, but I found myself pretending to be a dummy so I could feel those hands on my waist and shoulders again and again.
I was playing with fire. I shouldn’t even consider letting myself feel anything more than friendship for Gideon. But this was the first time I ever felt the rush of my heart. Its wings fluttering under my breast from a single touch. The thrill of adrenaline as his fingers brushed over my skin was addictive and I wanted more.
I turned to tell him I was ready to be pulled back. His face was right there in front of me. I could have leaned an inch forward and brushed my lips against his if I wanted to, and I really wanted to.
His whiskey brown eyes were serious as they studied my face. He lowered his gaze to my lips. My tongue darted out nervously. Gideon’s eyes snapped back to mine. He seemed to be conflicted. His breathing quickened, and his lips parted. My heart hitched in my throat, anticipation coiled in my belly.
“Any day now,” Cort called out from the water.
Gideon took a step back. “I think you’re set,” he said.
The moment was gone. I gave my head a swift shake to clear the cobwebs. This almost kiss by Gideon was better than any actual kiss I’d ever gotten. I was giddy with the knowledge that Gideon might feel something for me.
“Here goes,” I offered him my biggest smile, then hollered, “Look out, Cort, here I come!”