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Cat got your tongue?The question echoes in my mind.

He said this at Mystique. But the breathlessness inside me, his grin, his question…it’s all distinctly familiar, and not because of that night at the club.

Textbooks scattered on the ground.

My laptop strewn on the pavement.

Blistering cold. Lots of snow.

A hand stuffing my things back into my bag.

“Lexy?”

I shake myself out of my trance, finding Ethan’s concerned gaze on me. Was that another memory?

“Sorry. Trying to work up the guts to do this.” I walk to the edge of the pool.

“You got this. I have faith in you,” he murmurs and cocks his head toward the other end, where the ladder is. “Want to ease in slowly or just go for it?”

I peer into the water. The nausea comes roaring back.

It looks deep. Really deep. Deeper than the pool back at my apartment.

“Ten feet,” he murmurs, clearly knowing what I’m thinking. “We can start in the shallow end if you like.”

Dragging my gaze up to his, I stare into his eyes. They are steady on me. Constant. Reassuring.

I’ve lost eight years of my life in a coma, plus four years of memories.

I don’t want to waste any more time.

“No. Let’s go for it.” My words echo against the walls. It’s then I realize there’s no one here except the two of us. “Is it always this empty?”

“I closed it off. Perks of being an Anderson. I figured you wouldn’t want an audience.”

I swallow, my stomach flipping.He’s thought of everything.

“Come on then. I’m right here.” He wades back a few feet, giving me room to get in.

I can do this. I’m going to swim, dammit.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I turn around and carefully lower myself into the pool, clinging to the edge for dear life.

“Sh-shit.” My teeth clatter.

Strong arms wrap around me, caging me to the side, then his broad chest presses against my back. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. You’re safe.”

I’m safe.

Blowing out a deep breath, then another, my rioting pulse slowly calms.

I’m safe with him.

After a minute, I turn around to face him, my hands still grippingthe edge behind me.

“I can do this, Ethan. Iwilldo this.” I say it more to myself than to him.

A flash of admiration appears in his eyes. “I believe you, Nova. I have faith in you.”