“Are you sure now? It won’t be too cold for you?” I teased, standing and tossing my jumper onto a high, jutting part of the rock.

“If I lose a nipple to frostbite, I’m holding you personally responsible,” she said, kicking her trainers off.

“I promise, I take full responsibility for your nipples.”

I wriggled out of my shorts and felt a pinch of doubt as a wave of cold water splashed over the rocks and the spray hit my legs. Ruby grasped the corners of her T-shirt with both hands and pulled it over her head. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to look or not. A constellation of freckles across her torso looked like someone had blown them onto her skin like sprinkles from their hand. Her waist dipped in and her hips were full and wide. A bulge of soft stomach sat above the waistband of spotty pink underwear that was a size too small. It dug in and squishy hips and belly strained against the fabric. If you don’t think that sounds beautiful then you haven’t seen her.

She was covered by a striped blue bra, and I didn’t want to seem like the boy who’s been let into the locker room, eyes pinging straight to the chest, but the swell of her breasts disappearing into the fabric made me want something so bad it was like an untamable creature inside me, clawing its way from my stomach, searching with greedy hands. I thought of closing the space between us, but there’s an unspoken quid pro quo of getting to look at someone in their underwear. I peeled my top over my head and held it in my hand, covering most of my body for a moment before I let it drop. I was afraid she wouldn’t like what she saw. My cheeks got hot as her eyes scanned my body. I thought I saw the same expression reflected in her eyes that must have radiated from mine and it made me feel beautiful. I unscrunched myself, letting my shoulders drop and my arms relax to my sides.

“Don’t look,” she said as she reached around her back to unhook her bra, and I squeezed my eyes shut. A few moments later I heard a splash, combined with a scream and followed by quick shallow breaths. I opened my eyes. Ruby was treading water furiously, her face taut with the pain of being plunged into cold water.

“Er, maybe I shouldn’t get in after all.” I pretended to put my top back on.

“Oh. My. God. Get in. Immediately. Or. I swear. I’ll. Kill you,” Ruby said, her words struggling to get out between labored breaths.