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"We had a pool back in Texas," she says "It wasn’t as big as this one, but it was nice It gets so hot there that the water in the pool would feel like it was heated, even when it wasn’t I bet Texas water on its coldest day is still hotter than this heated pool"

"Are you a good swimmer?" I ask her

"Of course I lived in that pool half the year"

I lean in and kiss her, distracting her fro the coffee cup out of her hands I slowly lean over her, hooking my arm underneath her knees She’s used to my public displays of affection, so she’s none the wiser As soon as she runs her hands throughfor the water She pulls her lips from mine and darts her eyes to the pool, then back at me

"Don’t you dare, Will Cooper!"

I laugh and keep walking toward the pool as she starts struggling to get out ofto o," she says

I smile and kick off my shoes "I wouldn’t have it any other way"

As soon as I toss her into the water, I juhing "These are my only clothes, you jerk!"

When she reaches s up, wrapping them around my waist She hooks her arms around my neck and I swi of the pool I put one are to hold us up and ainst me

"I’ll have to throw this shirt away now The chlorine probably just ruined it," she says

I slide my hand underneath her shirt and up her back, then press ht below her ear "If you throw this ugly shirt away, I’ you"

She throws her head back and laughs "Finally! You love ainstmy forehead to hers "I’ve always loved this shirt, Lake This is the shirt you earing the night I finally admitted to myself that I was in love with you"

The corner of her lip curls up into a grin "And what night was that?"

I tiltand look up to the sky "Not a good one"

She kisses me at the base of my throat "Tell me anyway," she whispers

i love her

"CAULDER, ARE YOU sure Julia said it was okay for you to stay the night?" He’s ru for socks while Kel loads a bag with their toys

"Yeah She said I can’t coht, so I should spend the night tonight"

Fa Lake she’s sick A knot forms in et your toothbrush, Caulder"

I’ for Caulder when I hear yelling co roo out of her house toward Eddie’s car I can’t hear what she’s saying, but it’s obvious she’s pissed Her face is als open Eddie’s back door and turns around, still yelling

That’s when I see Julia

The look on her face makes my heart sink Eddie’s car pulls out of the driveway and Julia is left standing at the edge of the yard crying as she watches the open the front door and run across the street

"Is everything okay? Is she okay?" I say when I reach her Julia looks up at me and shakes her head

"Did you tell Lake that I’m sick?" she asks

"No," I answer immediately "No, I told you I wouldn’t"

Julia stares down the street, still shaking her head "I think she knows I don’t kno she found out but she knows I should have told her sooner," she says, still crying

The front door to my house sla their way out the front door "Boys! You guys are staying with ht instead Go back inside," I yell They roll their eyes and groan, and then head back into the house

"Thank you, Will," Julia says She turns to head back to her house and I follow after her

"Do you want ets back?"