Page 40 of Snapshot

“Lennox,” I singsong. “Dodge it all you want, but it’s time to get into the ocean.”

“I’m not ready.”

“Yes, you are,” I assure her.

I’ve been giving Lennox private scuba diving lessons for months now. She’s a natural. Strong swimmer, quick learner, and she handles her tank like a master. Her breath control is that of an experienced diver. She could probably even dive with me, stretching a single tank out to over an hour at a thirty-meter depth. She doesn’t need more lessons or pop quizzes. It’s time for Lennox to get into open water. Except, she’s still scared.

She’s stalling. Maybe a better instructor would encourage her to conquer her fear. I, however, have been savoring my Lennox time. So, we meet at the Lakewood community pool after hours once a week, going over the same technical skills. At this point, I think we’rebothpretending like this is useful. I like to think she looks forward to spending time with me, too.

If I planned to stay in Las Vegas, I would’ve told her how I feel about her. But I don’t want to be one more guy who recklessly falls for her and then leaves her high and dry. But what if…

What if bringing her to Miami was an option?

I sit up and nudge her shoulder with mine. She flinches when my bare skin touches her. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Would you ever consider leaving Las Vegas?”

She raises one eyebrow. “Odd question.”

Shit. Yeah, that was tactless.I make up a lie to quickly recover. “My family’s company had a job become available that I think you’d be good for, but it’s in Miami. I was just curious.”

“Oh,” she responds, easily believing my weak excuse. “Thanks for thinking of me. But no, I’m stuck in Las Vegas.”

I’m relieved when she doesn’t ask more about the fictitious job I just made up. Honestly, there’s not a corporate job in the world I think Lennox would enjoy. All Hessler Group has as far as open positions are accounting and legal, which I’m sure sounds mind-numbingly boring for a girl like her. But curious, I ask, “Why are you stuck? Love the Strip that much?”

“Not for the nightlife or anything. I’m really close to my family. Finn’s not just my cousin; he’s my best friend. My mom, Aunt Hannah, and I still do a weekly lunch. And most importantly, my dad…” Her face flattens, and she stares out across the pool for a while. Then, hastily, she yanks her feet out of the water and hugs her knees. “I couldn’t leave my dad.”

“Why?”

Her eyes snap to mine. “How are you with secrets?”

She doesn’t understand the irony of her question, seeing as I’m basically keeping my entire identity secret from her. “Excellent.”

“I’ve never told anybody this because I don’t trust anyone to understand. But maybe…” She studies my eyes. “Just don’t let me down and go blabbing. Especially not to Finn because he’d worry sick. This is a burden I have to carry alone.”

“Promise. My lips are sealed.”

She gazes back across the pool. “My parents used to be very well off until my dad lost his job. I was in my sophomore year of high school when things dramatically changed. Everything he worked for over two decades was gone like that”—she snaps her fingers—“and it broke him. I did what I could at sixteen. I got part-time jobs and tried to take care of my own lunch and gas money. I studied hard, knowing I needed a scholarship if I had any chance of going to college. My mom reentered the workforce. She got a job at an insurance call center and has been working her way up in the company. But it wasn’t enough. Eventually, they took the house, our cars, and his retirement. My parents went bankrupt.” She lifts her shoulders then drops them as if they’re heavy.

“This economy,” I offer as a lame excuse. “It’s rough right now.”

Lennox’s face twists in disgust. “It’s not the economy. It’s evil, corporate greed, and finance assholes. My dad was spectacular at his job. He got screwed over. Then, all of his supposed friends, who he broke his back helping for decades, turned on him when he needed them most. If I’ve learned one thing…never ever trust people with money.”

I wish I could disagree. But I’ve learned much the same lesson. “I’m sorry to hear that,” I muster out. “It sucks about his friends, but it sounds like he has a really supportive family.”

“He did…hedoes.I just think he had this ridiculous notion that it was his fault, and he let me and my mom down in an unforgivable way. It was so far from the truth. But he felt so bad. I’ve never seen anyone so down on himself. It’s like someone sucked the life right out of him. I think he was too proud to admit he was depressed, but I remember not seeing him smile for months in a row—almost as if he completely forgot how to. And just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, one day I came home from school, and Dad was napping, or so I thought.”

My stomach sinks, understanding where this story is going. “Oh, no. You don’t mean…”

She still doesn’t look at me but nods. “Mom was working a late shift… By the time eight o’clock came around, I realized Dad was going to sleep right through dinner. So, I made him mac n’ cheese and brought it to his room. I tried to wake him up, but he wouldn’t budge. That’s when I noticed the empty pill bottles on the nightstand.”

She suddenly hunches forward, bending at the waist so her face is inches from the water. Lennox splashes her face and hair like she is suddenly burning up and needs to cool off. But I don’t buy it. The pool water drenches her face, enough to cover any tears.

“What happened?” I ask when she sits back upright.

“I was hysterical. Shaking him, wailing, smacking his cheeks, pouring ice-cold water on his face. I had the phone in my hand. I started dialing 9-1-1 when his eyes popped open. I’ll never forget the look on his face. Like he was shocked to wake up and even more surprised to see me. The way he reached out to touch my face like he wasn’t sure I was real.” Lennox touches my cheek to demonstrate. Gentle fingertips across my cheek, tracing my jawline. “He told me later that he thought he died, and he couldn’t believe that he made it to heaven.” She drops her hand, returning it to her lap while muttering, “So fucked up,” under her breath.

---