23. Mia
MIA
The sunset from the little dock at Judy Turner’s private pond is gorgeous. The weather is perfect as well. It was a hot, humid day that is just now starting to slightly cool as the sun drops. The perfect evening for skinny dipping.
I grin.
Skinny dipping has always sounded fun, but it’s not something I would do with just anyone. Also, I would never do it in the river because all kinds of stuff lives and floats there.
But a private pond on a friend’s property is perfect.
And skinny dipping with only me and David Bennett is exactly how I want to get naked in any situation.
From now on.
I hug my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them as I watch the sun drop behind the horizon.
Thoughts like that have been seeping into my mind more and more often.
I know it’s too fast. But it’s just so easy with us. Chelsea’s birthday party seemed to illustrate that better than anything.
Our families mix so naturally. Our histories are so similar.
Our lives in this little town we both love are so much alike.
Add to all of that the chemistry we have and how much we enjoy being around each other, and it just seems obvious to start thinking about the future.
Even in the short time we’ve been “dating”.
I suppose we should talk about that.
But that will lead to a conversation about telling my father. And frankly, I’m not sure how that conversation will go. I watched them together at the birthday party, and they seemed to be getting along. I saw smiles and even some laughter.
But it’s a big deal, and I can’t just assume David is ready to forgive and forget.
I hear tires crunching on the path leading down to the pond. I quickly scramble to my feet and shrug off the swimsuit cover-up I’m wearing.
Sans the swimming suit.
I tested the water a little bit earlier, and it’s nice and warm. So with a giggle, I jump off the end of the dock.
I hit the water, going under slightly. I have my hair pulled up on top of my head, so it’s out of my face when I break the surface. I wipe a hand over my eyes and tread water, waiting to see David stride to the end of the dock.
From here, I intend to watch him strip out of his uniform with just enough light left to see all of the essential details before he joins me down here in the water.
The footsteps on the dock definitely sound like boots, but it sounds like he’s stomping angrily.
I grin. He’s probably worked up and turned on.
He has to know it’s me. My car is parked off to the side for one thing, and at this point, surely he knows when Judy calls him to come out to her property, it will have to do with me.
Hopefully, Judy never has a real issue she needs David for.
Then again, he always shows up right away so even if it’s something legit, he’ll be here to take care of it for her.
He also has to know that I’m down here, naked, considering my bikini top and bottoms, and the cover-up are lying in plain sight on the dock.
“ Mia ?”
I stop for a second, but then have to start paddling again. But that is not David’s voice.
And worse, I know exactly whose voice it is.
“ Dad ?”
My dad comes to the end of the dock and looks down at me. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Swimming,” I say, trying to inject confidence in my tone.
Okay, he doesn’t know that David was on his way out here to join me.
Oh God, I hope David isn’t on his way out here now.
We’re going to have to lie our asses off if he shows up. I’m so tired of lying about us.
Having my dad catch me and David skinny-dipping is not an ideal situation, but continuing to lie to my dad about a guy that I have big, serious feelings for is really getting icky.
“You’re swimming in Judy’s pond? Without permission?”
“How… How do you know I don’t have permission?”
“Because she called to report that someone was swimming in her pond without permission.” He looks around. “And you’re the only one here.”
I frown. “Judy called you ?” I had specifically told Judy to call David again, and I know she has his number.
“I think she called the Game and Parks office. But they knew David was tied up dealing with the bees at the park. When they found out what it was about, they called me. Figured a trespassing situation was right up my alley.” He plants his hands on his hips.
“I don’t think they knew it was my daughter. ”
I wince.
I knew David had the bee thing. Dammit. I should’ve done this tomorrow night.
“I didn’t think Judy would mind.”
“She probably wouldn’t have if you’d asked.”
“So, what now?”
“Now you get out of her pond. And probably tell her it was you and apologize. I’m going to assume she won’t press charges.”
I can assure him that she won’t. “Okay.”
He continues to stand there.
“Um…” I say.
“I’m afraid I’m going to need to escort you to her house,” he says. “That’s what I would do with anyone else, and I can’t play favorites.”
I roll my eyes. He’s always such a stickler for the rules, and ironically, this reminds me that he and David have a lot in common. “Okay,” I say. “But I’m going to need you to turn around. I’m naked.”
My dad steps back from the end of the dock as if I said I was going to throw a piranha up on him. “You’re naked? What the hell are you doing swimming naked ?”
Waiting to seduce the Game and Parks guy I was hoping was going to show up is not the right answer here. “It just seemed like fun,” I say, happy that’s at least not a total lie.
My dad blows out an exasperated breath. “Get up here and get dressed. Then we’ll head to Judy’s.”
Honestly, as I climb the short little wooden ladder and pull on my bikini and cover up, I’m wincing inside for another reason.
My dad doesn’t get mad at me very often.
He’s not frustrated or exasperated or disappointed in me hardly ever.
Mostly because I tried very hard not to let that happen.
I admire my dad. I think he’s amazing. And he’s been my hero since I was a little girl.
I tried very hard to toe the line and make him proud of me.
This is a tiny infraction. It’s nothing serious. It’s certainly not going to turn into charges. But I can’t deny that the little girl inside me is still feeling very sheepish right now.
“Okay, I’m decent,” I say.
He turns. “Swimming naked is not a great idea for a lot of reasons. Not just because somebody you’re not expecting might show up. There could be poison ivy or oak around the banks.”
I press my lips together and nod. He’s right, of course.
“Also, you don’t know what kind of bacteria there might be in there. And there could be water snakes. Or underwater branches that could scratch you up. There are certain parts of your body where you don’t want scratches, Mia.”
I giggle. I can’t help it.
Not because scratches on my private parts are funny, but because this is so reminiscent of how David acted when he found me in the field the very first night during the storm.
And when he found me in the deer stand. And probably how he would react if he found me out here skinny-dipping, to be honest.
My dad’s brows arch. “What’s funny?”
“Just that you’re maybe overreacting slightly. The chances of me getting scratched by a branch or bitten by a snake out here are slim, right?”
“Slim doesn’t mean impossible.”
I stifle my laughter and nod. He’s not wrong.
But wow, my dad and David really are the same guy in a lot of ways. My mom was absolutely right.
My children are going to either be the most obedient children Sapphire Falls has ever seen or absolute hellions.
Ten minutes later, we’re knocking on Judy’s front door.
The older woman pulls the door open with a huge smile. “Mia!” Then her eyes land on my dad coming up the steps behind me. “Hello, Scott.”
“Evenin’, Judy. This is who was trespassing at your pond.”
“Oh, I know.”
I grimace.
My dad stops beside me. “You know?”
“She figured it out when I showed up soaking wet in my swimsuit,” I say quickly, giving Judy a wide-eyed stare.
I really like Judy, and she has been awesome about going along with all of my shenanigans. But I’m not sure how good she is at thinking on her feet or catching subtle please-go-along-with-this hints.
But she nods quickly. “Right. Of course.”
“Well, I know you called Game and Parks, but they sent me when David was busy,” my dad says. “I wanted to let you know that it was just Mia and nothing to worry about. But…” My dad looks at me expectantly.
“I shouldn’t have been out there without permission. I’m really sorry. I will ask next time.”
Judy holds up a hand. “No need to ask. You’re free to use it anytime. You and David just consider that pond your own.”
My breath lodges in my chest.
My dad freezes next to me.
Oh. Crap.
I swear ten seconds of total silence tick past, feeling like a year, before my dad turns and looks down at me. “David? David, who?”
I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath, then turn and meet his gaze. “David Bennett. David was going to meet me out there. At least that was the plan.”
“Out at the pond. Where you were swimming. Naked.”
I nod.
“And would David have been completely shocked to find you out there like that?”
I shake my head. “Pleasantly surprised, maybe. But…” I swallow hard. “He would’ve joined me.”
“And you know this because you…” My dad trails off.
“We’re seeing each other,” I fill in.
“Okay then. Things make a lot more sense now.” He looks back to Judy. “Have a nice night, Judy.” Then he turns on his heel and descends the steps of her porch.
I watch him go, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. I have no idea what to do.
Should I go after him? Let him go? Call my mom? Call David? Call Kyle and Derek, my dad’s best friends?
Where will he go? What will he do? Will he want to be alone to process this? Who will he tell first?
My mom. For sure.
But she already knows. Will she tell him that? Will that cause them to fight?
I swallow hard.
Well…my dad now knows about me and David. I guess that’s something.
I need to tell David.
I look at Judy. “I’ll see you later, Judy.”
She looks upset. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to slip like that.”
“It is not your fault. We are the ones who should’ve told my dad a long time ago. Please don’t blame yourself.”
Judy reaches out as I start to turn away. “Your dad loves you so much, Mia. This is not a big deal.”
“Oh, it’s a very big deal. There’s history between him and David.”
She shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. David Bennett is a wonderful man. Having a man like that love his daughter the way David loves you will make your dad happy. He wants you to be happy and safe. David can do that. That’s what will matter.”
My heart flips over in my chest, hearing her say that David loves me. “Do you know my dad that well?” I ask. Maybe the number of years that Judy has known my dad gives her special insight into him, and I can trust her word.
“I don’t need to know your dad. That’s how good fathers feel, and yours is exceptional.”
Well, she’s right about that.