Mia had frozen, a grape halfway to her lips. Her eyes darted to the rumpled mess of fabric Chloe dangled from one finger. Her confident smirk flickered. For a split second, Leo saw it: a flash of genuine, animal panic in her eyes. She was terrified.
Three heads swiveled toward him. Leo, in his baggy swim trunks and faded t-shirt. Leo, who spent more time reading comic books under a tree than showing off his abs. He felt his face ignite. bikini dare
She was standing in the shallows, water lapping at her shins. Her carefully constructed cool had shattered. Her eyes were wide, not with the mockery he expected, but with a raw, naked wonder. She looked at him—not at the suit, but at him —as if she was seeing him for the very first time. Mia had frozen, a grape halfway to her lips
“You know,” she said, a real, un-armored smile blooming on her face, “green is totally your color.” For a split second, Leo saw it: a
“You’re insane,” she whispered, but it sounded like a compliment.
She reached out and, very gently, touched the absurd green string tied over his collarbone. Her fingers were cool from the lake.