I didn't expect to wake up to a message from Amelia the next morning. While we texted all the time, after yesterday I figured she would take advantage of the chance to sleep in. One would think that she would be exhausted, but she probably couldn't sleep and was looking for a distraction.

      Amelia: Are you doing anything, today?

      Of course, I wasn't doing anything. I spent every waking moment with her or thinking about her, with the occasional sprinkle of torment from Jaxson. Even his torment usually involved teasing me about Amelia.

      Me: No, I'm free. How are you feeling?

      I pictured her rolling her eyes at the question.

      Amelia: Better, thx. Come over. Bring a bathing suit.

     My brows pinched together, wondering what she had in mind. She didn't have a pool or hot tub, and I couldn't imagine that she would be interested in the water park with her fear of heights. Maybe we would spend the day in the lazy river.

      Me: When?

     Amelia: I'm already ready. Whenever you can.

      With just six words, I was rolling out of bed even though my eyes were still crusted half-way shut.

      I rooted through the closet, hoping that Jaxson thought of supplying it with bathing suits. Finding nothing useful in my search, I sighed when my exploration was interrupted by a knock on the door. Thus, marked the arrival of my favourite tormenter.

      "Hi, Jaxson," I greeted before fully opening the door.

      Leaning against the doorway with one hand, he smirked in greeting and waved his other hand around that held multiple bathing suits.

      "Your knight in shining armor to the rescue," he sang.

      I chuckled softly and let him in. Of course, he couldn't have simply made them appear in the closet. He had to get his moment of glory from my acknowledgement that he chose suits to my taste.

      "Thank you," I took the bathing suits from his hold. "But this is not something that we're doing another fashion show for."

      Jaxson crinkled his nose. "Obviously."

     I cocked a brow at him. While I didn't disagree, he didn't have to be so blunt about his lacking desire to see me in a swimming suit.

      "I'm just agreeing that it would be weird! You're like my little sister," he defended. "That's not to say you won't look great. Amelia will love anything you choose to wear."

      My stomach lurched at her name. It seemed silly to worry about something so simple when she was likely to pluck the first bikini from her drawer, but the idea of wearing something even remotely revealing, around Amelia, had me in a cold sweat. At least I wouldn't have to worry about her seeing my inevitable pit stains in the swimsuit.

      I especially missed my mother in times like these. She would know instantly which swimsuit to recommend, in an honest yet simultaneously complimentary way. Her approval would have significantly reduced my nerves.

      "Are there no women left in this house?" I asked. Though I could have used someone's opinion, upon second thought, I supposed that the small number of occupants in the safe house was a blessing.

      Jaxson shook his head. "The pen that orchestrates this world has yet to name our newest member. You're stuck with me and grandpa for now."

      I blinked. "What does that even mean?" A simple yes or no would have sufficed in answering my question. He was beginning to speak in riddles, just like he always complained that Leonard used to do.

       "I'll tell you one day." Without any further explanation, he winked at me and left the room. To make his departure more dramatic, rather than use the door like a normal person, he took advantage of his state of unliving and vanished through the floor. From the yelp of surprise that echoed through the safe house, and the deep grumbling that I assumed came from Leonard, I surmised that we had a new member. Perhaps the pen that Jaxson had been referring too, had been busy at work without his knowledge.

      With Amelia's house in sight, the smile on my face already began to flicker alive. Not even the pinecone that narrowly missed my nose, could deter my mood. My first thought was an overly excited squirrel, but when the second pinecone came hurdling towards my head, in a trajectory that could only result from a person's careful aim, I swivelled around. I had yet to meet any of Amelia's neighbors, but I suddenly suspected that one of her neighboring homes housed a menace of a child.

      My gaze flickered to the closest home and discovered my pinecone throwing menace to be none other than my girlfriend. Standing atop a porch from a house three doors down from hers, Amelia waved me over. I approached her with a smile, but hesitation weighed in my steps. Had she invited me to someone's pool party? Surely, she knew me better than that, by now.

      She greeted me with a quick peck on the lips, and then ushered me inside. My steps remained hesitant and by the way she bit her lip, I knew she was amused by my telling behavior.

      "Am I missing something here?" I frowned at her.

      "I want you to meet someone."

      I found some reassurance as I followed her through the house. Someone didn't indicate a pool party. She led me through an opened concept living room and kitchen and stopped when we reached the patio door. The reaction to her hand touching the handle was almost immediate. She had pulled the door open but a crack before a flurry ball of fluff flew towards us.

       "Meet Meadow," Amelia laughed. She crouched as she took the brunt of the dog's excitement. I laughed as she fell over, losing balance as the dog wiggled animatedly. I crouched beside the two, saving Amelia from endless slobbery kisses. I was welcomed as warmly, a wet tongue dragging across my face.

      It was only when Meadow calmed down, that I noticed the white sweater across its multicolor fur. I pulled the hood atop her head out of curiosity and threw my head back in laughter when a horn sprung forward.

      "Mia," I giggled. "You didn't."

      It wasn't just a white sweater. With a rainbow tail and horn, the poor pup was wearing a unicorn costume. I had no doubt that that was Amelia's doing.

      "It wasn't easy," she said, grinning at her handy work. "It involved many T.R.E.A.T.S, but we made it work. Doesn't she look cute?"

      "Yes, adorable." I laughed. "I should have known you'd be the type of person to dress their dog up."

      "You just wait until I get my own Meadow," she said. "They'll be spoiled, and you'll love every minute of it."

      She had indeed voiced her desire to own a dog of her own when she moved out, specifically a blue merle Australian Shepherd. I wondered if Meadow was responsible for her preference of the breed. She was right that I would love to watch her spoil her future furry friend, even if I wouldn't physically be by her side.

      Amelia took my backpack and placed it on one of the wicker patio chairs. The four chairs that surrounded a glass table, sat atop a large square of patio stones. Meadow trailed behind us, attached to our feet despite the many toys that littered the patio area.

      "I'm dog sitting for the weekend," Amelia explained. "I'm the Carpenters' go to puppy sitter. Pays well, plus they let me use the pool."

      At the mention of the pool, I took the time to study the yard. In the middle of their large fenced-in property, was the inground pool. Today was the perfect weather for swimming, scorching sun drenching me with sweat. I had only walked part of the way to Amelia's house, but the few minutes under the blaring sun had been enough.

      "Meadow's due for her nap anytime, now," Amelia said. "We'll get to swim in peace then."

       She was right. All it took was thirty minutes of fetch and hide and seek, and Meadow's eyes were fighting to stay open. Curled under the table, she fell fast asleep.

       After running around with the dog, I was eager to dive into cold water, but with distractions gone, my morning dilemma returned. If Amelia felt any of my same hesitation, she didn't show it. No sooner was Meadow asleep, was Amelia throwing her romper off and jumping in the water. I was both envious and admired her confidence. I couldn't take my eyes off her on a regular day, but today, in her plain orange bikini, I really stood no chance. I was thankful that the sun had long warmed my cheeks for it hid most of the blush rising on my cheeks. The swimsuit, like most, revealed a whole lot of skin, and I suddenly didn't know how I'd keep my thoughts straight for the rest of the afternoon.

      She resurfaced from her dive just as I made it to the edge of the pool. I wiggled out of my jean shorts but kept my shirt on for now. I took a seat on the edge of the pool and emerged my legs in the cool water.

      Amelia watched my every move, from where she floated in the center of the pool. I was tempted to wake Meadow, just to ease the tension. The way she looked at me through her wet lashes had my pulse spiking.

      "I half expected you to reveal a unicorn swimsuit," I teased, hoping to maintain some of my composure.

      "That would just be silly."

      I snorted. She spoke as though she hadn't bought her neighbor's dog a unicorn costume.

      Perhaps I should have remained silent, because the comment earned me a crooked grin that did nothing to clear my thoughts. She swam up to me, right up to my thighs where she propped her elbows to then hold up her face. I had no doubt that she knew what she was doing. She truly was a menace.

       "Are you coming in?" she asked.

      The look in her eyes was nearly enough to dragged me into the water without a second thought. She looked even better up close, and I knew just like the way I was blatantly checking her, that she was likely to do the same. There was no fear of facing judgement from Amelia. However, the idea of her not experiencing the same level of attraction was cutting. I thought briefly about keeping the shirt on and jumping in, but this was Amelia. I didn't ever want to have to hide in her presence. She had not once made me feel like hiding any part of me, physical or emotional, was warranted.

       I knew by the way that her eyes softened that she understood what I wasn't speaking. Wordlessly, I saw the flash of realization as she interpreted my fear and insecurities, through my body language.

      "Have I told you about the giant collection of teddies I have hidden in the basement?" she asked.

      "No..." My brow twitched at the random turn of conversation.

      "I have well over a hundred," she continued energetically. "I was obsessed with them as a child. They all had an assigned spot on my bed and a part me truly believed that they had a conscious. I used to feel bad if I didn't pay them enough attention. I refused to place them in the closet for the longest time, no matter how much room they took, because I felt like I would be abandoning them... I think that part of the child in me is the reason I still can't get rid of them—"

      I giggled at her words, enjoying the story but too soon I was distracted again, and unable to follow her words. My gaze zeroed in on her lips that kept moving, even though my ears didn't register what was being spoken. She was so animated; eyes sparkling behind their wet lashes. It didn't help that her fingers were sprinkling water onto my thigh and tracing lines across my skin. I wondered if her tactic was to distract me, to fill my mind so full of Amelia's light that there was no room for those insecurities to flicker alive.

      It took me a few moments to realize that she was drawing her version of a unicorn, on my thigh. Over and over, she traced the same pattern. And thus marked, the complete vanishment of any rational thought.

      My breaths slowed and my heart thumped so loudly in my ears that Meadow could probably hear it from the patio. She was labelling me with her signature unicorn, labelling me as one of her happy moments. The simplest draw of her finger caused an explosion of emotion that I couldn't begin to process.

      A smirk played at her lips when she took notice of the way my eyes lingered on her hand on my thigh. I almost couldn't stand it. The attention of her index on my skin; the warmest gaze fixed on mine. My chest was going to explode.

      It felt conceited to admit but I truly believed then that she loved me. Green eyes glazed with warmth; she regarded me as though nothing was as important as the two of us in this very moment. There was only her and I. There was her and I, and a stalled breath in my chest.

      I had yearned for a love like this for so long. I longed for someone to love me so deeply that it would make up for the lack of love I've shown myself. I asked to be consumed this way, but a love of such intensity, especially in my circumstances could only be destructive.

      Our love burned like a fire. It was strong. Passionate. And most of all, it was warm. Scorching. I wanted only to welcome the heat, but part of me feared that it was only a matter of time before the fire lost control, and we would be left with nothing but ashes. And so, though I was possibly the happiest I had ever been, a deep fear turned my blood cold. I knew that our love story would end with her clutching my ashes; souls destined to be torched by the fiery love we let consume our bodies.

       I saw the devastation that would surely follow this deflagration. Yet... I didn't find myself seeking shelter. I didn't search for a fire extinguisher. I was terrified of getting burned – of letting her get burned... but that fear was nothing in comparison to the horror triggered by the idea of Amelia never knowing how much I truly cared. I didn't realize three words could be so scary to speak but even scarier when left unsaid.

       It was only in that moment that I realized how much I was truly holding back. It didn't seem fair to give her all of me when it would oh so soon be taken away. But did our minimal time together not also urge the importance of ensuring that she knew how truly special this was; how she truly special she was?

       While my mind raced with words, I was too overwhelmed to speak them. My lips burned to share my newfound truth, but I didn't know where to start. I didn't know how to even begin expressing what I truly felt for her. I could almost hear the clock ticking in the back of my mind. I knew that my time was running out. I knew that she deserved to know.

      Cold fingers on my hip startled me back to reality. Amelia's gaze held mine as she stood in the water so she could reach me better. She continued to hold my gaze, eyes silently asking for permission as she toyed with the hem of the shirt clinging to my skin. With the most subtle nod of head, I let her remove my shirt.

       I exhaled a shaky breath as her fingers slid across my arms. She tossed the shirt behind me, eyes never leaving my body.

       I had chosen the plainest swimsuit of the bunch. A black high-waisted bikini with a halter top.

       The heat that trailed behind the eyes that looked me up and down, was stronger than the blaring ball of fire above our heads.

       "Beautiful," she whispered.

      Before I could physically combust, Amelia guided me into the water. The shock of the cool water on my stomach, grounded me for a few seconds. Alas, as has been made abundantly clear, it appeared that I stood no chance in staying focused around Amelia.

      With a hand on my waist and the other on the back of my head, she drew me towards her. She captured my lips softly, at first. When my lips parted with a sharp inhale from her tenderness, she didn't hesitate to pull me deeper.

       Locked at the lips, tongues gliding together, there were but four words that played through my mind: Amelia, and those three unsaid words. They echoed through my body with every beat of my heart. If only I could find a breath to attempt speech... Alas, breathing wasn't a priority at the moment.

       It was Amelia that pulled back first, placing a fraction of an inch between our lips. I expected to find a silly grin on her face as she tried to catch her breath, as would be typical for her character. Instead, I was startled by the seriousness of her hooded eyes and panting chest. Her lips parted with shaky breath, and as the breath parted her lips, mine stalled once more.

      "I love you," she whispered against my lips.

      I heaved a sigh of relief. "I love you too."

      With those three words finally voiced, I could return my entire attention to the fourth one dancing in my mind: Amelia. I drew her towards me this time.

       Our lips were as swollen as our fingers and toes were pruned, by the time we came out of the pool.