Page 61 of Lovebug
“I was going to say irritating.”
“Do you always kiss men you find irritating?”
I can feel his breath on my face.
“No, I—”This man has me all sorts of flustered. “Can we just forget this ever happened, please?”
“Hmm. That’s going to be a problem for me.”
“How so?” I ask in frustration.
“I assure you, I won’t be forgetting about this anytime soon.”
For a moment, all I hear is the lapping of water against the rowboat.
Is it me, or did he just inch the tiniest bit closer to me?
“Well, I’m sorry, truly. It won’t happen again.”
“Why not?”
“Because… I’m engaged!” I say as if it should be obvious. Itshouldbe obvious. To me, especially.
“Yeah, but you’re not happy about it.”
I’m embarrassed to find that I have no comeback for that.
“Are you.” He says this like my unhappiness is a fact.
“I’m… getting back in the boat.”
“Fine. Let me give you a boost.”
“I need no boost from the likes of you.”
“The ‘likes of me’? Alright,” he says on a laugh. “You suddenly sound like a sopping wet Scarlett O’Hara.”
“How can Isoundsopping wet?” I pause for a split second when I see his smirk. “Don’t answer that.”
I then proceed to hurl my body at the rowboat in several attempts to get back on board.
“Easy, champ. Reconsidering that boost?” He smiles after my third unsuccessful attempt, still treading water like it requires exactly zero effort.
“Yessss. Please.” I manage to hiss this out through my anger and embarrassment.
“Alright. I’m gonna weave my fingers together like this. You just step that there lady foot into it, and I’ll boost you up.”
“Fine. Just don’t touch any other part of me, you hear me?”
“Excuse me, miss. Have we forgotten thatyou’rethe one who kissedme? I should be warningyouto keep your grubby little hands off the goods.”
“My ‘grubby little…’? You’re ridiculous!”
“Are we boosting you?” he asks, having the nerve to sound exasperated withme. “Or do you want to swim all the way back?”
I glare at him, then take in the considerable distance back to the shore.
“We’re boosting me.” I exhale.
