Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

vessel back towards her house. “Exactly why you need to be off the water. Everything is going to be okay now. I’m here.”
    “ I’m confused. Shouldn’t you be a—?” She pointed at my legs underwater and her cheeks flushed.
    I hesitated telling her the truth, unsure how she’d react. I’d answer all her questions on shore. “It’s a long story. Let’s get you home.”
    Frustrated I couldn’t swim as fast as I wanted, I climbed into the boat and took the oars.

50
ASH

    I stared at Fin as he rowed the boat, the water dripping off his abs. All I wanted to do was touch him. Could he actually be here? Or was I having another splendid dream? I didn’t trust my senses at this point after all that had happened. My heart pounded as my eyes caressed every inch of his body.
    Tears spilt over my eyelids and down my cheeks. With each passing moment, I wavered between shock and disbelief. But there he was, in the flesh and blood. Fin. He was alive and here again—finally. And nothing coherent would come to mind to say. I hesitantly reached forward and touched his knee; the water on his jeans was hot under my fingertips. The sensation sent a chill down my spine.
    He stopped. His blue eyes, burning with want, met mine.
    “ I can’t wait anymore.” He put the oars down and clasped my hands with his, taking away my breath. “Ash, I’ve done nothing but fight to get back to you since your accident” —I gulped— “and I can’t live without you. We’re bonded in a way I never knew existed. Something so wonderful yet so horrible when we’re apart. You have to know I’ve been going crazy with worry for what you’d think after you saw what happened at the beach. I never wanted you to find out about us that way. Please know, I hated that I couldn’t tell you the truth.”
    I wanted to say I understood, I didn’t care. That I loved him. That I was relieved he was okay. Overjoyed he was finally here with me. But nothing would come out of my mouth.
    “ Ash—”
    His eyes sparked as if he knew what I was thinking. Then he reached up, palmed my cheeks with his summery hands, and brought his mouth crashing into mine, soft and warm. Fireworks exploded between us as our lips hungrily devoured one another’s. My hands wove into the back of his hair, my fingers wrapping into the soft, delicious strands. He crushed me into his body and I melted under his touch. All the grief vanished as his breath swirled into my being and healed my wounded soul. Though nothing made sense, everything finally felt right.
    I couldn’t be sure how long we stayed there, in the boat, bobbing on the water, our arms circling one another. I didn’t care. We were together and nothing would break us apart now.

51
FIN

    We finally disconnected ourselves enough to get the boat closer to shore. Though her face beamed now, I grieved at how much she’d hurt in my absence. Was she wearing the same swim team jacket from the time before?
    “ I wish I would have taken a shower today,” she finally said, smoothing down her red fly-away curls.
    “ Ash, you’ve never looked more beautiful to me.”
    She blushed and pulled her jacket down over her hips. I docked the boat and reached for her hand, pulling her into my arms. She melted into me and I never wanted to let her go.
    “ I’m so glad you’re safe,” she whispered.
    I planted feather-like kisses up her jaw line and she giggled. “Being apart killed me.”
    She moaned lightly in my ear and swayed. “Then don’t ever leave me again,” she said.
    I inhaled deeply and hugged her tighter. “I promise.”
    She giggled again. “Can I please go shower? I look horrible and I’m pretty sure I reek.”
    “ No,” I said, wanting nothing more than to hold her all day.
    She pulled back and gave me a crooked smile. “Please?”
    “ Fine, if you insist.” I took her outstretched hand and kissed it.
    She stood with a slight tilt, favoring her right foot. Then I remembered she was still injured.
    “ Wait.” I had her sit on the bench on the dock. “This is going to be weird but I have something to help your leg. We need to take off your bandage.”
    “ You do?” She pinched her eyebrows together, but folded up her pajama bottoms to reveal a large ace bandage that covered her thigh.
    “ Trust me.”
    Together, with our hands touching, we loosened the wrap. I winced once I saw the horrific bruise and jagged red line held closed with Steri-Strips.
    She frowned. “Looks ugly, doesn’t