I was submerged up to my shoulders, which was as good as it was going to get. I wasn’t planning on going any deeper than that. Joel swam a little further out and pushed himself backwards, spreading his arms and legs into a starfish float. I watched him floating on the water; he looked so peaceful. He stayed that way for a couple of minutes before he pushed himself back up.

‘What? Why are you looking at me like that?’

I realised my head was tilted and my mouth was open.

‘I don’t know how you can let yourself go like that in the sea. I don’t think I could put my head back in the water.’

‘Why? Scared of getting your hair wet?’

‘No, I’m scared of sinking, especially when you can’t see what’s below you.’

Joel swam a little closer.

‘The only thing you should ever be scared of in life is not trying. Come on.’

He stood to the side of me. ‘I’ve got you. Just push your belly up; imagine it’s being pulled by an invisible puppet string.’

He placed his arm behind my back.

‘Tip yourself backwards. I’ll hold you up.’

‘I can’t do it,’ I whispered.

‘Yes, you can. You can do anything. I’ve got you.’

I turned and looked at him right in the eye before he rested his hand gently on the nape of my neck. I pushed my legs up and I tipped my head back. I could feel him cradling me, his fingers light on my neck, guiding it into place and causing my body to tingle.

I don’t know how long I was floating for before I registered that he was no longer supporting me and I stood back up.

‘I did it, I actually did it.’

‘Told you,’ he said with a smug look on his face.

I took a few deep breaths, taking it all in. ‘I wish this summer would last forever.’

‘Me too.’

Joel turned to look at me and my heart started to beat that little bit quicker.

‘Come on,’ he said, and I thought for a moment he wanted us to get out of the water, but he then pushed himself into a starfish and I followed suit. The two of us stared up at the moon. He reached for my hand and we entwined our fingers and it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

Chapter 15