They were drifting, fast—they were even now with one of the big hotels. It was a strong current, Alma said. It would play itself out. Or they could swim in, walk back up the beach, and go in for another ride. They treaded in the current until they were almost to the town center, before one of the large piers, and started in. Heavy swells again, and then the pounding surf. It was impossible to see the waves coming out of the dark, from behind—one struck him and toppled him head over heels. But he made the beach, and found Alma waiting for him. She took his hand, and they made their way back up to where they’d started.

They rode the current again and again. A half-moon rose—giant at first over the sea, the color of a paper lantern, then smaller and brighter as it rose higher, casting a broad silver river over the ocean. The stars dimmed, the sky brightened with moonlight. He could see Alma’s face in the water now, her nipples when she floated on her back or leapt from the waves like a mermaid. He’d become acclimated to the cold, but gradually the heat left his body, until he was shivering constantly. But he didn’t want this to end—he’d let himself die of hypothermia.

Back on the beach she hugged him, rubbed his arms and back as the surf ran over their ankles, cupped him until his scrotum relaxed in her palm. They sat on the smooth, wet sand, just out of reach of the surf, huddling close. He had never been so in love with anyone. His voice trembled, from the cold, from his nerves. Their bodies were silver. They were nymphs of the sea. “We can just run away together,” he said. “There doesn’t have to be a scene. We can just go.”

“We can go tonight,” she said.

“Not tonight,” he said. “We need to prepare. Pack a bag. Meet at the house tomorrow night, maybe, like usual.”

“There’s tons of clothes and things there.”

“Yes. Meet there and get whatever we need, then go to the train station.”

“We’ll need to go to New York first. I have things I want at Max’s.”

“I’ve never been to New York.”

“From there we could go anywhere. We could take a ship to Europe if we wanted.”

“I don’t have much money with me.”

“I have some. Max would give me more—as much as I wanted.”

“Do you think he would? Do you think he’d approve of this, I mean?”

“He’d think it was all funny, probably. He’d be glad to get me out of his hair.”

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“I can’t believe my luck. That we found each other.”

“I love you so much, Alma.”

“Say it again.”

“I love you, I love you.”