Page 56 of Lovebug
“Oh.”
“Maybe I just wanted some company.”
“Oh.”
From me, though? Why would he want company from me?
When we arrive at the lakefront, he goes to a weathered wooden trunk next to the boats and pulls out a single bright orange life vest.
“Here, let’s get you strapped into this bad boy,” he says.
“Where is yours?” I ask. “Aren’t you going to wear one?”
“A life vest? Nah. Don’t have one.”
“But—” I start to protest.
“Never found one that fits me.” He shrugs.
“Why, because you’re so big?” I chuckle.
We’re standing face-to-face now, just a few inches apart.
“Yes. That’s it exactly.”
“What? Come on. I mean, you’re… big.” Did my eyes just scan his body? Oh god, I think my eyes just scanned his body. “But notthatbig.”
“Lady, I wouldn’t presume you understand my size.”
He’s silent a moment, then his lips spread into a brilliant grin. Before I can even consider a response to that, he reaches the vest over my head and behind me, so I’m gently caged between his arms.
“Arms out,” he says.
I immediately plunk both hands up on his shoulders as though we’re about to slow dance.
He laughs. “Aw, thanks for the hug, girl. But I actually meant armsout. Like to your sides. So we can put this thing on?”
“Right, yes. Of course.”
I feel my face flush as I whip my arms out into a bent T-shape situation. He helps me maneuver the vest over each shoulder. My breathing goes shallow as he starts fastening the buckles up the front. Each time he pulls a belt tighter, he gives it a little shake to make sure it’s secure. It makes me feel… cared for somehow. Like making sure I’m safe is important to him.
“Alright, in the boat you go.”
He bows and gestures toward a rowboat tied to the dock.
“Great!” I chirp. “Let’s do it!”
Not quite sure why, but I break into a jaunty jog.
“Quite a prance you got there,” he calls after me.
I stop in my tracks and turn around.
“Would you call it a prance, though?”
“I would. Nothing else would be an accurate descriptor. I’ve seen it twice now. You panic-pranced away from me the other day when I caught you spying on me after my shower. And you prudence-pranced away from me just now to avoid that intensity you felt between us.”
“I didn’t… terror-prance, mister.”
