She considered him briefly, scanning this person she used to know so well. In this light, his drawn, regretful expression made him look like an oil painting of some wealthy anonymous merchant, gazing out from a thousand years ago. In another lifetime, it might have flattered her that he even remembered her father’s profession after all these years—but not anymore. Now, his work was just another tool to sharpen the distance between them. With a loud clap of her hands, she broke the spell of the moment, turning to face their small crowd of onlookers. “I think I’m going to go for a swim. Does anyone want to come?”

Still inches from Danial, she lifted her linen dress up and off her body to reveal a structured black suit that looked more like lingerie than swimwear, hugging her chest with an indecent effectiveness. She could barely see straight, could only move forward in her most forceful performance of unbothered, so above his immaturity that she didn’t even notice him. His mouth hung slightly open, looking at her with a slack heaviness that seemed to tilt involuntarily in her direction.

Always her knight in shining armor, Paul stood up and threw his robe over the back of his chair, jumping into the water with a yell of excitement. She followed right after, diving off the side of the boat and into the cool turquoise water of the Mediterranean. Her legs immediately began kicking, propelling her downward and away from the surface toward a moment of privacy.

Being under the water felt like a waking dream, one in which she could be alone with the surging current of her body. Her higher brain was still fixated on her infuriating exchange with Danial, on the arrogant, shallow man he had become. But their arguments always unearthed the desire she was constantly pushing away, reminding her of their former selves. Eyes still closed, she moved her limbs to keep herself submerged and pictured his exquisite body in her hands. She could feel the gentle roughness of his face as she ran her fingers along his shadowed jawline, bringing his mouth to hers. She could nearly taste the glorious release of having him at least once, of showing him how deeply he could have been loved exactly as he was all those years ago. Her pulse radiated throughout her, the intensity of her own imagination drumming in her ears.

Without realizing it, she had drifted toward Paul, whose body knocked into hers as he bobbed along the surface. She swam up to join him, throwing her hair back and letting the sun cradle her face.

“I’m very proud of you.” He laughed, wiping the water from under his eyes. “You finally took the high road.”

“I take the high road all the time.” She shivered with the aftermath of her own thoughts.