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After I had taken his hand, we chased Bean twice around the pool before Asher’s family stepped in to help. That’s when he’d dropped my hand. I wasn’t sure if it was to corner Bean more effectively or if it was because his family had surrounded us. Once Bean was finally settled at our feet, Asher and I dried him with several towels while chatting with Asher’s mom and sister.

Eventually, everyone filed out, only a few people giving Bean a tentative goodbye on their way.

“Iwillfix it in editing,” Asher assured me, leaning back on his palms and looking out across the still water of the pool.

“Will you edit Bean as well?” I asked. “Make him a dog who doesn’t pee on his future.”

“I think we all pee on our future sometimes.”

I lowered my brow at him and he laughed.

“I thought that would sound deep, but it really didn’t.”

“No, it didn’t,” I said. “But thank you. For editing again. Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. You said I was a genius last time, so you’d be stupid not to use me.”

“I believe I called you brilliant.”

“Same thing.” He bumped my shoulder with his and I wiped at the wet mark he left behind. “Where did Kamala go?”

“She had to work,” I said. Chad was on the other end of the pool, talking to the rec center director. I wasn’t sure what he was saying. I didn’t think a single person had signed up to join the center. “I drove Chad here.” Why had I done that? Sitting next to Asher, all I wanted to do now was spend the rest of the afternoon with him.

“Cool,” Asher said. Did he mean that?

“But can we, can I, can we see each other later?”

The puddle that had formed around Asher from his wet clothes was spreading closer to me. I scooted back.

“Are you afraid of a little water, Wren?” he asked, inching closer.

I laughed. “Yes, I don’t want to get wet.” I backed up again.

“What? You don’t want to get wet?” He jumped to his feet.

“Don’t you dare,” I said, ready to run.

He launched himself forward and I only got off the ground and two steps before he wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“Ew!” I squealed. “You’re so wet!” I screamed it while at the same time relaxing back against him. Even soaking wet, Asher’s arms felt good around me. Was I the perfect size for his arms or washe just the perfect hugger? I wanted to think it was the first one, that we fit just right together.

“You are very warm,” he said next to my ear.

“Are you cold?” I asked. “I can’t believe you jumped in with your shoes on.”

“Sometimes I do impulsive things, stupid things,” he said.

I stiffened at those words. They were the ones (along with many others) I used to describe my mother. I knew Asher was a free spirit, impulsive, someone who could hurt me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…I…um…thanks for jumping.”

“You were stressed and I wanted Bean to jump.” His words reminded me of something he’d said on the phone a while back. That he was doing these things for me. Which reminded me of what Chad had said earlier: thathehad come here for me. My eyes shot over to Chad, who was now staring at us. I took a step forward, out of Asher’s arms.

Then I turned to face him. I needed to tell him the truth so we could get out from under this cloud that hung over us, ready to burst. “Can we…talk later? After I drop Bean and Chad off?”

“That sounds serious,” Asher said, his brows drawing low in faux concern. “We definitely shouldn’t be having serious conversations while I’m soaking wet.”