Page 108 of Only After We Met

“Because it’s from the nineties.”

“That’s not funny, Rhys.”

“I’m serious. When did you buy it?”

“Uh…let me think.” I tried to remember, and I bit my lower lip when I realized. “I was sixteen. Some friends of my parents had invited us to a barbecue; they had a place in the suburbs with a pool…” I took a deep breath and shook my head. “It’s not that bad, is it? It could be vintage, right?”

Rhys laughed and reached over, and I held my breath as he ran a finger along the frill of my neckline. I shivered. That gesture alone made me shiver. It was so small and would have meant nothing if anyone else had done it.

“On you, it’s not so bad, that’s true.”

I rolled my eyes to try to distract him from my blush and walked off to take my first dip in the sea in ages. Rhys followed me. The water was transparent, delightful, and…freezing! I shouted when I stuck a foot in.

“Come on, don’t be chicken. It’s easier to do it all at once.”

He had gone in headfirst and was already several yards away, with the sun gleaming on his body and his eyes focused on me, waiting.

“Are you sure this is good for your circulation? I’m not…”

“Ginger, either get in, or I’m going to come back and throw you in. Ten, nine, eight, seven…”

“Hey! I’ve spent years living in the gray and damp…”

“Six, five, four…”

“I need to acclimate myself!”

He was close now. Very close.

“Three, two, one…”

“Rhys, wait!”

He jumped at me. I turned around and ran off to the shore as quickly as I could, laughing, panting, unable to make it more than a few feet before I felt his hands around my waist. Then he hurled me into the salty water. He fell in with me, his body clinging to mine. I took a quick breath when my head rose to the surface a few seconds later. Rhys laughed, holding on to one of my hands. I splashed around indignantly, but eventually his laughter drew me in, and the water stopped feeling so cold.

It was in that moment, with the sun on his face, his bright eyes half-shut but staring into mine, that I realized that Rhys glimmered. That was it. He was a star. Unlike him, I had always known that. As we rocked in the water, looking at each other as though it were the first time, I remembered that the only stars I knew how to draw had sharp points with a bright center; they were beautiful, but they were hard to touch.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Nothing. I’m happy. I feel good.”

It was true, despite the premonition I’d just had. I tried not to think of it anymore. I looked at the water droplets hanging from his eyelashes, the almost imperceptible freckles around his nose, his wet lips, slightly open…

“I’m going to go get some rays.”

“Sure. I’ll be right there,” he said.

I took a deep breath, swam off, and climbed back on my towel. I opened my backpack and took out a slice of watermelon, watching him paddle around lazily. Then I lay back and smiled as I felt the sun’s caresses.

“You’ll get burned if you don’t put on sunscreen.”

I opened one eye. Rhys was lying down beside me.

“The sun’ll go down in no time.”

“It’s just my advice; you can take it or leave it. But you’re…whatever. You’ll see.”

“I’m what?” I sat up.