He had so much stuff saved up to tell her—about Clara’s questionable dorm room decor decisions, about how Joel had caught a couple getting it on in the lane next to Lawson’s Lager House, but it had turned out not to be Art and Jamila. But he couldn’t make his mouth work.

But that was okay, because a chorus of sea creatures had taken up residence in his brain, and they were loudly reminding him that talking wasn’t the only thing mouths were good for.

He kissed the girl.

And the girl kissed him back.

They were both smiling as they kissed, laughing almost. He didn’t know what was up with her, but for his part, he was just so happy to be here.

“So, VIP swimming?” she said when they separated. “How amazing is this?”

“Don’t get too excited. It’s still just the Moonflower Bay Community Center.” He led her to the locker rooms.

“Oh my gosh! I can go in the men’s locker room since the place is closed!”

“You can, but again, I feel the need to manage your expectations. It’s the men’s locker room, not the Ritz.”

“I remain delighted.” She grinned as she pushed through the door. “Ahh!” She jogged past the lockers and swung her head around to gape at the urinals. “Transgression!”

His heart was light as he followed her onto the pool deck. She immediately started shedding her clothing. Instead of the blue one-piece she’d worn for their swimming lessons so many months ago, she was wearing a bikini. The top was purple with a “shell” over each breast. The bottom was shimmery green. It was an Ariel bikini. She was going to kill him. Both because that suit was inherently sexy as hell and because it was so her.

He moved toward her. He’d only been going to hug her. He just needed to hold on to her for a second. But she must have misread his intent—probably on account of the groan he couldn’t hold in. “So we’re getting right to it, are we?” she teased as she slid her hands up his shirt.

“Not necessarily.” She had wanted to eat. He pointed to a beach blanket he had set up in one corner. The effort required was Herculean, but he managed it. “Lunch.” He’d come with takeout from Sadie’s.

She skipped over—but she ignored the lunch and laid back on the blanket. Her hair fanned out all around her, and her eyes were bright with mischief. “Lie back and look at the sky, right? That’s what you tell all the girls?” She cocked her head as she contemplated the ceiling. “Lie back and look at the community center ceiling? I bet you’ve never used that line on any other girls.”

“There aren’t any girls.” There’s only you.

“Currently?”

“Correct.”