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The trauma is subsiding though. It’s just going to take time.

“Capri! You look ready.” Gil grabs the tank and holds the flaps open for me to slide into like a backpack.

I give him a kiss on the cheek and then slide right in. A part of me wonders if Trino would be mad right now if he saw this. But if he only knew how little I ever felt for any other guy. It’s like my entire body is only drawn to his darkness. If nothing else, this lack of spark only proves it more.

“When am I going to see you back at the law firm?”

“Maybe after the wedding. Well, maybe after the honeymoon, really.Eeee!”I squeal, then remember it might be in bad taste if Gil still has a crush.

He offers a fake laugh. “I’m happy for you.”

I look over at him, analyzing his face.

“What? Iam.”

“Not sour about us never dating?”

“I wouldn’t have invited you to scuba if I was. Besides…” He laughs nervously. “I can’t keep up with you. Seeing you on that stage was the shock of my life.”

“Mine too.”

We both laugh.

“I’m going to need you to erase those memories of my dance moves, please.”

“Yeah, sure.” His eyes widen like he’s envisioning it right now, making me slap him playfully on the shoulder.

“It’s back to legal Capri for you,” I say.

“I’ll believe it when you’re actually back at your desk. There’s a gaping hole at that table. But the rest of us share a special bond now.”

“Yeah, about that. I appreciate you all not going to the cops.”

“How many times are you going to tell us? We’re your friends, and we’realive. Besides, Trino said we’d all be dead in a week by the Lucrazis if we ‘sung.’”

I tilt my head. It’s probably true.

“Capri.”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry I led the mob straight to you. I know you asked us to give you your space…”

“Forget it, Gil. It’s over. You couldn’t have known.”

“Mhm.” He nods.

“Shall we?” I stuff the breathing apparatus in my mouth, strap on my flippers, and pull down my goggles. After giving him a dorky thumbs up, I hop right into the deep end of the pool.

Fshh!

Bubbles kick up all around me as I stare at the fine detail of the stone decorations of the pool siding.

It’s so weird down here. Peaceful, kind of. It’s like having noise cancelling headphones on. Only… it’s hard to breathe in this thing. Like,reallyhard. Last time Gil said I’d get used to it. Whatever. This is nothing compared to dancing near-naked for horny men.

I’ve survived car chases, mobsters ready to kill me, mobsters whonearlykilled me, and the mortification of all my friends watching my bare ass twerk. This is nothing.

I swim leisurely, ignoring the bubbles of Gil hopping in beside me. He gives a thumbs up, asking if I’m alright. I give one right back.