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That’s what all of this was about in the end, wasn’t it?

Trust.

Athena dropped her gaze, staring at Monti’s outstretched hand. Her breathing slowed, her lips parted. She was about to protest again. Monti could feel it in her bones. She held still and sucked in a breath.

“All I’m asking is that you trust me. One last time.”

“One last time?” Athena flicked her gaze up to meet Monti’s eyes. “I don’t want this to be the last time.”

“Then you have your answer, don’t you?”

One more brief moment of hesitation and Athena pressed her hand into Monti’s waiting one. “What are we doing?” This time her question was filled with confidence.

“You’ll see.” Monti folded their hands together, lacing their fingers.

With full conviction, she walked down the hallway and the stairs. She went straight to the back deck and outside. Athena followed her without a protest. Their toes were bare in the sand, digging into it. Monti walked straight for the ocean.

She’d always been fascinated with the water and the way it moved, the metaphors it held, the darkness and unexplored depths but also the lightness and familiarity. She let go of Athena’s hand and tugged off her shirt.

“What are you doing?” Shock rippled through Athena’s tone.

Monti chuckled as she reached for her waistband. “I’m going to clear my head of all the bad thoughts. And I’m going to come back up a whole new person.”

“What?” Athena held onto Monti’s hand tightly, preventing her from pushing her pants off her body. “You’re getting naked.”

Monti grinned wickedly. “Don’t feel like you have to though. The rebirth will be the same whether you have clothes on or not. I just want to be as close to the water as possible.”

Monti stepped back and finished undressing. She walked into the water, letting the waves hit her ankles and then her knees and her thighs before she turned around and faced Athena on the beach. “Don’t you want a new lease on life?”

“Yeah, but not like this!” Athena called back. “This is insane!”

“Maybe!” Monti kept walking backward into the surf. Athena became smaller on the beach the farther she went out. She knew she wouldn’t go that far. She’d be able to stand no matter what so that she could get back in, but she craved this freedom. “I need to start over in the best way possible!”

“Monti!” Athena nearly shouted, but there was no command that came with it.

Not that Monti would have listened. Raising her hands above her head she looked up at the moon and the stars, a full smile blooming on her lips. Fallon had been right. She just needed to get out of her own way, and that was exactly what she was doing. Sinking to her knees first, Monti let the water cover her shoulders. Then she dipped her head under the cold water, closing her eyes and getting lost in the sea.

The water rushed over her, caressing her, encompassing her. Monti held her breath until she couldn’t anymore, and then she pushed up, breaking through the water. Brushing her hair out of her face, Monti looked back at the beach to find Athena still watching her.

What would it be like to have Athena there with her? Naked in the water?

What would it feel like to press against each other, touch each other, kiss in the moonlight?

Magical?

Intimate?

Like peace?

thirty-two

Monti was crazy.

Never in her wildest dreams had Athena thought to go skinny dipping in the ocean in the middle of the night. Anyone could walk by and see her. Anyone could stumble across their clothes and steal them. Anyone.

Athena crossed her arms, watching as Monti dipped below the surface again. Her heart caught in her throat as she waited to see if Monti would resurface. If she’d have that same giddy expression on her lips when she did.

Because that Athena did want.