That was a lie. It was a dream. I was twelve at the time, on a camping trip with Teddi and her family. The kids had gone on a hike around the lake, and Milt, the middle Burathon kid, and Teddi had started to race ahead. Austin had waited for me.

I was a few paces behind when I stepped on a hive of ground bees. I froze in place as the bees swarmed me. The buzzing near my ears felt like it was shaking my brain.

Austin rushed to me and swooped me up into his arms, running with me to avoid the bees. We both got stung repeatedly. I clung to his neck as he thundered us to the shore of the lake and plunged into the water.

The lake water was ice-cold, and he made sure he was touching my hand at all times. When we bobbed together, we saw the bees at the edge of the lake, swarming in an ominous cloud.

Austin had taken care of me, even though his face was swelling.

We treaded water near each other. “Are you allergic?”

He nodded once.

“Why would you save me then?”

“I could never not save you, kitten.”

I’d had a crush on him before the bees, but I’d love him for the rest of my life after the bees.

At twelve, I looped my arm around his chest and told him to relax as his eyes swelled shut.

“I’ve got you. Just lay back. I just got my water safety certificate.” I wanted to be a lifeguard at the local pool as soon as I was old enough. Until then, watching for water safety was my job in my house.

I swam us both diagonally on the lake, Teddi waving her parents over as we got closer.

“Bees! Austin got stung!”

The Burathons splashed into the water, and there was a medic involved. Once Austin had Benadryl in his system, the swelling went down quickly.

“Buzz, buzz, baby,” Austin interrupted my thoughts.

“You were irrational to be willingly stung. I’m not allergic. I was hating it, but I'd have been okay.” I pushed myself to stand.

“When you call for help, I’ll always show up.” He stood up next to me.

You know how you can see perforations in paper? You know where it will break once there’s enough pressure put? That’s how my heart was right then. Anyone could predict how this would pan out. The inevitable tear. But this man had ruined me for anyone else.

I was stubborn and set in my ways.

* * *

After a shower, where I dipped into Austin’s luscious smelling conditioner, I put on leggings and a t-shirt.

When I walked back into his bedroom, he was on the phone. I made sure to pad around quietly as he conducted his business.