Free Northern Proposals by Julia P. Lynde Page B

go.
    "Wait, please," I told her. "One more short kiss, first?"
    She smiled and pulled my lips to hers. This was a shorter kiss, but still a proper kiss. Then as she finished the kiss, she slipped away from me. "Care for a race?"
    "You'll win. You're a better swimmer than I am."
    "I'll give you a head start. Three times around the boat, no diving underneath, and if I pass you, I have to do it on the outside."
    "How much of a head start?"
    "Half a lap."
    I considered her suggestion. "I could win that."
    "You could. Wager?"
    "Only if it's something I'm willing to give you."
    "If I win, I get to blindfold you again later," she said.
    "And if I win?"
    "What do you want?"
    "Bedtime massage."
    "Deal." She pulled away from me towards the front of the boat. " Swim on the surface, no touching the boat at any time. We'll start in front and I'll start when I see you at the back."
    I paddled after her then turned left, planning to go counter-clockwise around the boat. I turned to her. "What if it's so close we can't tell?"
    "Then we both win."
    "Deal." I took a big deep breath then started swimming, conserving myself until I got to the back, then giving it my all.
    When I swim, I breathe to my left side. As I crossed the back of the boat, I took a breath and briefly looked up the length of the boat between the hulls. I saw Jessica at the other end just starting to swim. I made the turn and headed up the side of the boat, keeping enough distance I wouldn't accidentally bump the hull. I turned left again across the front, taking a breath, and I saw Jessica directly behind the boat.
    One lap, and I hadn't given up any noticeable lead.
    At the back again, I got my breath, and I saw her feet kicking. She had gained a few feet on me, and the race was half over. I was going to win.
    I wasn't sure I wanted to win.
    At the front, when I looked, I didn't see her at all. She had gained at least a body length, but there was only one lap left, and going around me on such a short course would give her a longer trip.
    As I turned towards the back of the boat for my last lap, I felt her brush my foot. She was right behind me. We bumped briefly again on both of the turns at the back of the boat. I was getting tired. If the race had been four laps, she would have easily beaten me. It was going to be close.
    As we swam the last length, I could tell she was slightly ahead of me, but she would have a more difficult turn around the front of the boat. We began the turn together, leaving it very close, then just one more stroke and it was over.
    I stopped, grabbing the boat, panting, and turned to her. She wasn't even winded.
    "It was close," I said, panting. "I don't know if you won."
    "Tie?"
    I smiled and nodded.
    "Are you okay?"
    I nodded again. "Ready to climb out though."
    She hovered around me, clearly worried about me, but I was fine. I climbed onto the boat, still panting, then grabbed a towel and lay down on the front deck. Jessica climbed up after me, settled her own towel next to mine, and lay down.
    She let me catch my breath and said, "I've never convinced anyone else to do something like that."
    "Agree to a wager?"
    "Oh, I do wagers all the time. And this one has a really tame reward. But I've never gotten anyone to agree to a wager about something like swimming or a foot race." She looked at me pointedly. "I'm trying to tell you something."
    "Your past girlfriends haven't engaged in athletic activities with you?"
    "I could get a few to go walking."
    "And this is important to you."
    "Yes."
    "I'm enjoying it, too, Jessica." I paused. "You're a much better swimmer than I am, but that was fun."
    We lay for a while, not talking, just soaking up the sun and letting the summer warmth dry us off. A few boats drove by, but none buzzed us. It was perfect.
    "You're throwing yourself at me," she said.
    I turned away from her, not responding. I was, and I didn't understand why. I was straight. What was it about her that meant I was throwing caution to the wind?