Mad About You

triggered an all-out water fight, reminiscent of many.
    Finally they were all exhausted and traipsed back to the bank to refuel.
    Chad and Bailey both ate so much, she began to wonder if she'd packed enough food—she'd forgotten how much food a hungry male could put away. But at last the two were sated, stretched out in the sun, and patting their stomachs as if they'd spent every Saturday of their lives together, dozing away the afternoon.

    * * *

    Bailey opened his right eye and glanced at Ginny. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't asleep. He opened the left eye and glanced at Chad. Definitely snoresville. Quietly rolling up on his right side, he stared down into her face for several seconds. If ever he'd seen a classic beauty, it was Ginny. But more than beautiful, she was striking—a head-turner—with those huge eyes and full lips... a look all her own... memorable.
    To that he could surely attest. Had a single day passed since their divorce when he hadn't thought of her at least once?
    "Hey, beautiful."
    She started and her eyes snapped open. "Oh." She put a hand to her chest. "Bailey, you scared me to death."
    "Ginny," he said gravely, "you scared me to death."
    When she realized he was serious, she frowned. "What?"
    "When we were married," he said slowly, "you turned so serious and so responsible overnight, I was scared."
    "Bailey, we were having a baby—"
    He put a finger to her lips to stop her. "I know. You should have been serious and responsible, but I should have been too, and I wasn't. I was scared because I didn't want to change."
    Her eyes misted and she breathed heavily for a few seconds, holding his gaze. "And now?"
    "And now," he said hoarsely, leaning over her, "I'm strong enough to change." He lowered his mouth to hers, a feathery, airy kiss. He sampled the tastes and textures of her mouth slowly, with no driving need, no immediacy, no straining. Just an unhurried, thorough exploration of her plump, memorable mouth. She moaned and offered up the velvety tip of her tongue for his to dance with.
    A loud splash broke the silence, startling both of them. He jerked his head around. Chad was gone!
    "Help!" he heard him call from the water, followed by the sounds of thrashing arms and legs.
    Ginny was instantly on her feet. "He went under!"
    Bailey stood and ran to the water’s edge and made a shallow dive. He got a handful of the boy’s trunks and yanked him to the surface. Chad lunged for his neck, wrapping his strong little arms and legs around Bailey's body, nearly dragging him beneath the water as well. Bailey swallowed a mouthful of water, coughed, then shifted Chad's back to his own chest and slowly swam back to the bank.
    Ginny half dragged Chad from the water. He appeared shaken, coughing violently. "Are you okay?" she gasped, bent over him, clutching his hand to her heart.
    "Yeah," he murmured, struggling to sit up. "I'm okay."
    Still gasping for his own breath, Bailey watched as Ginny's expression changed in a split second. "How dare you sneak off—I told you to wear your life jacket! I'm not strong enough to pull you from the water. If Bailey hadn't been here—" She burst into tears.
    Bailey pulled her away from Chad, up and into his arms. "Shh," he said, rubbing her back. "It's okay."
    But Chad had recovered enough to stand, and his defenses were up. "I didn't sneak off! If you two hadn't been rolling around—"
    "That's enough." Bailey held up a finger in warning. He turned his attention back to Ginny, who cried silently in his arms. "Let's go home," he whispered, stroking her hair.
    After a few seconds she nodded, sniffing mightily and swiping at her cheeks.
    He looked at Chad. "Start packing things up. "
    The late afternoon sun was unforgivingly hot, bearing down on Bailey's sudden headache. They walked back to Shenoway in near silence. Conscious of the warring emotions between Chad and Ginny, Bailey knew it was up to him to make reparations. "How about going to see a movie?"
    Chad looked suspicious. "Which one?"
    Bailey shrugged. "I'm sure we can find one we all agree on."
    Chad looked sideways at Ginny, then back to him. "I doubt it."
    "Oh, come on," Bailey urged. "Popcorn, nachos—"
    "Hot dogs, chocolate-covered peanuts," Chad finished, his eyes lighting up.
    Ginny laughed softly, and they both looked at her. "I've never seen two people so preoccupied with food."
    Bailey grinned, glad to see her sense of humor returning. "How about it?"
    "Sounds good to me," she said.
    "Me