Page 116 of Making It Up

Mia. The most important thing Scott and I have in common. And it turns out we have a lot of important things in common.

“Let’s just make an agreement that going forward we’re going to communicate well,” Scott says. “When there’s something going on, we’re going to say it, clearly, and even if it needs to be blunt, we’ll talk it all the way through. Not just the basics. We tell each other everything behind it.”

And now my stomach cramps.

Communication. Honesty. The full story.

Yeah. We should definitely do that.

Fuck.

CHAPTER 23

MIA

The sunset from the little dock at Judy Turner’s private pond is gorgeous. The weather is perfect as well. It was a hot, humid day that is just now starting to slightly cool as the sun drops. The perfect evening for skinny dipping.

I grin.

Skinny dipping has always sounded fun, but it’s not something I would do with just anyone. Also, I would never do it in the river because all kinds of stuff lives and floats there.

But a private pond on a friend’s property is perfect.

And skinny dipping with only me and David Bennett is exactly how I want to get naked in any situation.

From now on.

I hug my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them as I watch the sun drop behind the horizon.

Thoughts like that have been seeping into my mind more and more often.

I know it’s too fast. But it’s just so easy with us. Chelsea’s birthday party seemed to illustrate that better than anything.

Our families mix so naturally. Our histories are so similar. Our lives in this little town we both love are so much alike. Add to all of that the chemistry we have and how much we enjoy being around each other, and it just seems obvious to start thinking about the future. Even in the short time we’ve been “dating”.

I suppose we should talk about that.

But that will lead to a conversation about telling my father. And frankly, I’m not sure how that conversation will go. I watched them together at the birthday party, and they seemed to be getting along. I saw smiles and even some laughter.

But it’s a big deal, and I can’t just assume David is ready to forgive and forget.

I hear tires crunching on the path leading down to the pond. I quickly scramble to my feet and shrug off the swimsuit cover-up I’m wearing.

Sans the swimming suit.

I tested the water a little bit earlier, and it’s nice and warm. So with a giggle, I jump off the end of the dock.

I hit the water, going under slightly. I have my hair pulled up on top of my head, so it’s out of my face when I break the surface. I wipe a hand over my eyes and tread water, waiting to see David stride to the end of the dock.

From here, I intend to watch him strip out of his uniform with just enough light left to see all of the essential details before he joins me down here in the water.

The footsteps on the dock definitely sound like boots, but it sounds like he’s stomping angrily. I grin. He’s probably worked up and turned on. He has to know it’s me. My car is parked off to the side for one thing, and at this point, surely he knows when Judy calls him to come out to her property, it will have to do with me.

Hopefully, Judy never has a real issue she needs David for.

Then again, he always shows up right away so even if it’s something legit, he’ll be here to take care of it for her.

He also has to know that I’m down here, naked, considering my bikini top and bottoms, and the cover-up are lying in plain sight on the dock.