“I just don’t like the water, you know? Like some people never like spinach or going to the dentist or taking their finals?”

“Did something happen when you were little to make you so afraid?” he asked gently.

Two years ago…two endless years of remembering… “I haven’t always been afraid.”

“But you’re afraid now.”

Kelsey nodded. “But you should go in and swim if you want to. I’ll stay here and watch.”

“No. Let’s go back to the house.”

“No, really!” Kelsey’s voice rose. “I’ll feel like I’ve spoiled it for you—”

“Kelsey, don’t be silly. I can swim anytime I want to.”

“Please, Justin! I don’t want to be afraid of it!”

She didn’t know why she said it; the words had tumbled out as if eager to be free of her once and for all. Justin gave her a strange look, and then slowly began to pull his sweatshirt up over his head.

“All right I’ll go in. You’ll see it’s really nice. Warm and soothing. Like a massage after a hard day’s work.”

She stood there, watching him, as he kicked his jeans away and straightened the band of his swim trunks.

“I’ll go in,” he said again, “and then you can come closer.”

“No…I’ll sit here.”

“Just to the edge. Right here. See? The water doesn’t even come up this far.” Justin backed away from her, very slowly, his eyes never leaving her face. She took one cautious step, balked, and crossed her arms tightly over her chest, shaking her head at him.

“No—I don’t want to get my clothes all wet—I’ll just watch you. I can see fine from—”

“You’ve got shorts on, and that practically counts as a bathing suit. Just think of it as going wading,” Justin chuckled. “In a giant bathtub.” He was in the water now, surf bubbling gently up over his calves, and he reached out his hand to her. “Come on. Hold onto me.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. I won’t let go of you. We’ll just stand here and give you time to get used to it.”

Kelsey felt her feet moving, carrying her forward as if they belonged to someone else. There was a roaring in her head that hadn’t been there a moment ago.

“A little more,” Justin urged. “That’s right—”

She felt the sand dissolve beneath her feet, like the earth melting away, and the steady warmth of Justin’s fingers, tightening over her own.

“See? Nothing to it.” His eyes were so blue, even in the moonlight she could see them, and they were gentle, gazing at her encouragingly. In spite of herself she gave a nervous laugh, and he laughed with her, drawing her closer, so that once more she was tucked protectively beneath his chin. “Okay?” he whispered.

She drew a ragged breath, felt his arms go around her as one wave, larger than the others, dashed recklessly against their legs, throwing her against his chest.

She nodded, not quite trusting herself to speak. The dread was still there, the awful feeling that something bad would happen if she challenged her fears too far. But with the dread there was also something else—a racing in her heart, a warmth spreading through her at the feel of Justin’s bare skin against her cheek.