Page 2 (2/2)

What else was there to say? He didn’t want to leave his life, to start over, and more than that, he didn’t want to abandon Dare

Chris followed the progress of a spider in the boards over his head, watching as it went from one end of a web to another

It was then that he saw the very blue eye staring down at hi, he pushed out froe and hauled himself up

Stretched out on her sto in!"

"Well, duh Seriously, guys, we could all hear you"

Chris looked beyond her, up the hill Everyoneto pretend not to pay attention Bringing his gaze back to Arizona, Chris said, "But you’re the only one down here butting in"

Going up to her elbows and propping her chin on her fists, Arizona nodded "Yeah, that’s me The pushy one"

"What do you want, Arizona?"

"To tell you that you’re an idiot But I wanted to say it to Matt, too, so…" She put her face back down to the dock and peered down at Matt "Youchicken"

Up at the house, Spencer called, "Arizona, honey, come back up here Leave them be"

She yelled over her shoulder, "No" And then, with another smile aimed at Chris, she said, "You knoant you to be happy"

God As Matt climbed the ladder to join her on the dock, Chris dropped back with a splash

"Chris?" She ca down at hi the front of her shirt "Butt out"

Gasping at the cold water, she held her shirt away from her body and huffed "Don’t be childish"

"Ha!" He splashed her again, this ti her hair "You’re one to talk"

Mouth open, face dripping, she stared at hihed as he started back-paddling He was a better swiotten away But it wasn’t that long ago that she’d been scared to death of the water--a residual effect fro bastards had tried to drown her

Reed, he waited for her, and when she broke the surface of the water, he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her up