13. Neavh

Everything feels brighter, sharper, like the whole world has burst into high definition as I sprint up the trail with Clover's hand still gripped tight in mine.

The crisp scent of fir needles burns in my nose, seeps into my lungs until it's all I can smell. The woods around us are a vibrant, almost alien green, and the sound—the sound is getting closer.

Water.

The river.

I can hear the rush of it sloshing over stones and logs, gurgling and splashing as it surges ever forwards. A breathless peal of laughter bursts out of me as we scramble along the trail. Clover shrieks as we both stumble over a stick and nearly land flat on our faces, but then she's laughing too, and we're running.

Still running.

All I know is that we can't stop. If we stop, we'll think, and I don't want to think right now. I don't want to sift through the magic that led to this moment.

I want to swim in it. Drown in it. I want to submerge every part of me in this moment when she's brushed all my fears aside with a handful of words.

That summer meant everything, not just to me, but to her.

Maybe I got everything else wrong, but that part—that part was right.

"Neavh!" Clover calls, still laughing as I tug her along. "Where the hell are we going?"

"You'll see!" I shout, twisting around to look at her even as I keep tugging her forward. "Come on!"

I follow the sound of the water and the way the earth starts to slope down to its banks. I only stop when we reach the edge of the river.

One of three rivers.

Just like her.

We stand just close enough for the tips of our shoes to dip into the rippling current. We're both panting and sweating from the muggy summer heat. There's not a cloud in the sky on this rare, blazing Vancouver Island day, but the air still feels charged with electricity, like there's a storm about to strike. I can feel the static buzzing inside me, coursing along my skin and sizzling between us like a live wire.

Side by side, we stare out at the water as it shimmers and flashes in the fading light of the evening. A few leaves drift lazily along the surface, skirting around the lichen-covered boulders that jut up out of the depths.

I look at her, at the way her hair burns like copper in the orange light of the sun, and I feel like I'm burning too. Something has been lit inside me, something that's stayed cold and quiet no matter how many places I've travelled to or how many astounding sights I've seen.

The world has taken my breath away more times than I can count, but the only thing that's ever set me on fire is her.

We start yanking our shoes and socks off at the exact same time, compelled by the same frenzied rush of energy that sent me sprinting to the river.

Our shirts are next. Blood rushes in my ears as I tug my sweaty t-shirt over my head and get a glimpse of her stomach as she does the same thing.

We lose our shorts, and then, in just our bras and underwear, we race each other into the water.

"Calice!" I swear when I get out past my knees and feel the shock of just how cold the river is.

Clover is up to her waist already. She spins around and flicks a spray of frigid droplets towards me, cackling as I shriek.

"It's not that bad," she teases.

She twirls around and wades out further. I suck in a breath and hold it as I submerge myself up to my thighs. The riverbed is lined with slippery stones, and I curl my toes around them for balance as I inch along behind her.

We've found a part of the river that opens up into a wide area deep and calm enough to swim in. The current tugs at my legs each time I lift them to take another step, but it's only a gentle insistence. Clover can still stand with her shoulders above the surface when she reaches the deepest point.

She squats low enough to plunge her head under the water and then shoots up to flip the copper strands in a mesmerizing arc of shimmering droplets. I freeze, my breath catching as I stare at her.

She lets out an indulgent sigh and floats on her back while she massages her scalp, her eyes shut and a soft, blissful smile on her lips.

I can't move a single muscle, not even when the slippery algae under my feet begins to threaten my balance.

I can barely even breathe. She's so beautiful it's like all the air in the forest belongs to her, like the entire river is racing with the need to brush against her skin.

She's a fucking goddess.

Maybe she deserves a more eloquent title than that, but it's all I can think as I watch the shape of her legs wave beneath the fractured surface of the water.

I wouldn't be surprised if she sprouted a mermaid tail. I'd just accept it as part of the magic of Clover Rivers.

She blinks her eyes open and tilts her head when she sees I'm not all the way in yet.

"You coming?" she asks.

I shake myself out of my stupor and move to take another step, but the algae gets the best of me. I wobble, arms flailing to try and save me as I let out a screech.

I end up belly flopping into the river.

Clover cackles again, her laughter echoing across the water as she watches me come up spluttering. I shove my hair out of my eyes and stay low enough to do a couple awkward froggy strokes out towards the middle of the river instead of trying to walk again.

Clover crouches down low too, a mischievous grin on her face as she hovers with her lips just above the surface of the water.

"What's that face for?" I ask when I've finally reached her.

She purses her lips and shoots a jet of water right at my head.

I gasp, frozen with shock for a second before I lunge for her. She screams and tries to paddle away, but I've grabbed onto her arm.

"Not so fast, petit monstre," I jeer as I yank her closer. "Let's see how you like getting splashed!"

She squirms in my grip, screaming again as I use my free hand to scoop up some water and dump it over her head.

"It's cold!" she shrieks.

I scoop up a second handful.

"Don't dish it out if you can't take it."

She twists her head to the side just in time to miss my shot. A growl climbs up my throat as she makes another attempt to free her arm.

"Oh, that's it. You are so getting it."

We both give up on any attempt at finesse and use our free hands to splash each other point blank. We laugh and shout, egging each other on as we keep the splashing going until our muscles give up.

I'm still caught between laughing and panting for breath as we take a moment to pause our battle. We're grinning at each other, but both our smiles slip when we realize just how close we are.

I'm still clutching her arm.

Our chests are just inches apart.

I could slide my arm around her waist and pull her to me.

I could feel her move against me, both of us wearing next to nothing, with no one around to see what happens next.

Before I can do any of that—or consider any of the reasons I shouldn't—she closes the gap between us.

She shifts to stand in front of me, anchoring us both, and wraps her arms around my neck. I slide my grip down to lock my hands behind her waist. She presses her chest to mine, so close I can feel her heartbeat.

I don't know how long we stare at each other.

Water droplets cling to her eyelashes and streak down the sides of her face. I can feel her every exhale, feel the way her lungs contract and expand.

I can feel the warmth of her as the cold water continues to rush around us.

I can almost feel the kiss before it happens.

My gaze drops down to her lips, and I can already feel how soft they are. I can taste the river water on them.

I close my eyes, and her mouth meets mine.

The contact is cold at first, both of us shivering as we stand motionless in the frigid current, but then our mouths warm against each other. Her hands dig into my hair. My hips press hard against hers.

I slant my mouth open and let my tongue brush against hers, and it's like the memory of every kiss we've ever shared slams into us all at once.

I know her.

I know this person, and she knows me.

I'd know her anywhere, after any amount of time. We could have spent decades apart, not just years, and still, I would know her.

We've wasted so much fucking time.

It's the last conscious thought I have before she moans into my mouth and I stop thinking altogether.

I just move—on her, against her, with her.

I don't know how she keeps us upright as we grind against each other, seeking out every bit of pressure and friction we can find, but she does. She keeps us steady.

I suck her bottom lip between my teeth and bite down with the gentlest pressure. She arches her back, tugging my hair so hard my scalp stings.

I hiss at the pain even as I crave more of it. I want to feel everything she'll give me.

We kiss for so long that we have no choice but to break apart and gasp for air. She keeps her eyes closed longer than I do, giving me a chance to watch her as we continue to cling to each other. Her tongue darts out to lick her lips, and the ache that's already building between my legs gets even sharper.

I can hear the sounds of the river again, the trickles and gurgles of water passing over stone. A bird trills somewhere in the distance.

She would know what bird it is.

She always knows.

A rush of tenderness joins the desperate need coursing through my body. Before I can ask myself if it's too much, I lift one of my hands to brush a damp lock of her hair out of her face.

She trembles.

She's still got her eyes closed, and she keeps them shut as she whispers, "Kiss me again."

So I do.

I don't know what comes next. I don't know what we can promise each other. I don't know how any of this works or what we'll feel when we have to climb out of this river and walk on land again, but for now, we can stay here.

And I can kiss her, again and again and again.