Page 88 of Vespertine
“We were literally ten feet away from the island. You couldstand. You were being a fucking baby because I beat you.”
“Fish food, Nicky.” Jasper leaned forward quietly, dippedhis finger in the water, poised it over Nicky’s face, and then waited.
When the droplet fell, Nicky flinched and opened his eyes. “Youlittle shit.” He laughed and leaned up on one elbow so he could give Jasper agood shove. It didn’t do much more than unbalance him, and he grinned.
“We could always have a rematch.”
Nicky squinted at him. “Right now?
Jasper shrugged. It was less than two hundred yards away buthe still worried about Nicky not being strong enough. “If you’re up for it.”
Nicky stared across the water. From where they were sittingthey could see the roof of their fort, and suddenly Jasper was dying to knowwhat it looked like—if it was still intact and if the strongbox with comicbooks and other things was still there or if nature had taken over completely.
Jasper’s parents owned the island. It was part of the parcelof their land. He remembered how excited he and Nicky had been when their dadshad built the fort for them.
The strongbox was big and heavy. It might’ve survived theyears. They’d nearly sunk the boat bringing that thing over to the island.
“We can always take the boat and paddle across.”
An angry glint flashed in Nicky’s eyes and he sat upabruptly. Tugging at his clothes with jerky movements, he took off his T-shirtand the cut-off jeans. “You going to give me an advantage and swim in yourclothes, Father Jazz?”
Jasper hesitated but he knew that look really well. Nicky wasgoing in the water whether Jasper followed or not, and he wouldn’t be waiting. “Whatdo I do with my phone and wallet?” he asked, pulling his own T-shirt over hishead. He hesitated for a second, but Nicky was already down to his boxer-briefs,so Jasper tugged his shorts down too.
“We can roll them in our clothes and put them in the boat.Ready?” He handed Jasper a stack of clothes and before Jasper could do muchmore than grab hold, Nicky turned on his heels and dove straight into thewater.
“Oh jeez.” Jasper quickly stuffed his phone and wallet inthe bundle of clothes, tucked them under the bench in the boat and dove afterNicky, who was already a good dozen yards ahead of him. “Nicky!” Jasper yelled.“Wait! You cheater—” He gasped at the cold water and then set off in a strongstroke that fatigued his arms and legs in no time. He wasn’t used to swimminganymore, but at least he ran and did yoga and took care of his body. Nicky was…Nicky was coming to a halt and Jasper slowed in relief. At least he waswaiting. But then Nicky turned back, his hand outstretched. He tried to swim inJasper’s direction and one moment he was there and the next he wasn’t.
“Nicky!” Jasper yelled. Oh please Godno.“Nicky!” Saving his breath, Jasper redoubled his efforts and swam as fast as hecould to where Nicky had disappeared. Sputtering, Nicky kicked to the surfaceand fought to stay there. Jasper’s body burned all over but he paid it no minduntil he grabbed hold of Nicky’s wrist right before he went under again. “I’vegot you!” he yelled, wrapping an arm around Nicky’s heaving chest. They wereboth nearly swallowed up by the water when Nicky kicked out. “Stop strugglingright now!”
Instantly, Nicky went limp. “I’m sorry,” he gasped.
“Shh.” Jasper glanced over his shoulder as he franticallytread water. They were over the halfway point and he stood little chance ofmaking it back to the mainland dragging Nicky along. A good part of the island’sshore was shallow and he’d have better luck going that way. Without speaking hebegan an awkward one-armed stroke toward the island. He could always gather hisstrength, swim back and get the boat. All that mattered for now was gettingNicky out of the water.
“It’s okay, I can stand now.”
They clambered to their feet but Jasper didn’t let go. “Youscared the shit out of me.”
“You’re swearing.” Nicky hugged him back.
“Yeah well, this situation calls for it.” Jasper leaned awaya little. The sun beat down on their heads, already drying their shoulders. “Youokay? Did you swallow any water?”
“Some, but I didn’t inhale any. My whole body hurts though.”
“Let’s dry out.” Jasper kept an arm around Nicky’s waist asthey trudged to shore, and Nicky let him hold on.
“It all looks the same,” Nicky said.
“More overgrown, but yeah. Look, the rock is still there. Itused to look bigger.”
Nicky gave him a wry smile and pushed his wet hair out ofhis face. Glittery pearls of water clung to his eyelashes, inviting the lightinto his irises until they looked the palest of blue. “I think it’s us thatgrew, not the rock that shrank. You wanna…?”
“Sure.” It’d been their go-to sunbathing spot when they’dcome over to the island as kids. It used to be big enough for both of them tostretch out on until they were dry, so they could either swim back or play inthe fort. The air was thick with the typical sandy, sunny salt smell that neverfailed to make Jasper feel right at home. It had ingrained itself in his boneswhen he was a child and he’d missed it something fierce during his collegeyears. The ocean held its own kind of call.
It turned out they still fit on that rock, although it was atighter squeeze. Their arms brushed together shoulder to fingertips, their skincold and still clammy from the water where they touched.
Nicky grasped Jasper’s hand. “Thanks,” he whispered.
Jasper let their fingers tangle a little longer. “Of course.What happened anyway? Did you tire out?”
