Sixteen
A
blazing Texas sun beat down on Jordan’s back. Jordan was stretched out on the wooden platform anchored far out in the blue-green water of the lake. She’d been lulled almost to sleep by the soft lapping of the water against the sides of the platform and the warmth of the sun. From the shoreline, she heard kids laughing and frolicking in the water. An occasional speedboat zipped past, towing a skier. The platform swayed gently as waves from the boat’s wake slapped its sides.
Jordan sighed contentedly. She’d only been at the lake two days, but already her skin had turned a toasty brown. Her new two-piece swimsuit fit her perfectly. Lazily she flipped over on her stomach, giving her back full advantage of the sun’s rays.
She heard the sound of a swimmer approaching. She turned her face aside, hoping to discourage anyone from climbing onto the platform with her. She wanted to be alone. That’s why she swam out in the first place. And since swimming was the only way to get to the platform, it didn’t attract a large crowd. She felt the wooden planks sway as someone climbed onto the platform. A spray of cool droplets showered her. The she heard Ryan’s voice say, “Hi, Jordan.”
Immediately she stiffened, rolled over, and sat up. His hair, slick and wet from his swim, caught the sunlight. “Hi, yourself,” she ventured.
Until now, they hadn’t been alone. They’d both been busy with the tasks of unpacking and settling into the cabin for the spring holiday. Jamey had monopolized most of Ryan’s time and Jordan was grateful. That meant there was less time for them to think about how she’d destroyed their friendship.
“Long swim,” he said.
“Too bad you had to swim all this way, and then find out it was me out here.”
“I knew it was you. I wanted to talk to you.”
“Are you going to toss me overboard and drown me?” she asked meekly.
For the first time, he smiled, showing his dimples. “No, I just want to talk.”
“All right,” she told him, not sure what she would say. Jordan waited for him to speak.
“How have you been?”
“Fine,” Jordan answered cautiously.
“Did you make the trip here to the lake in the car with Jamey’s snake?”
Jordan made a face. “Of course! That snake goes where Jamey goes. Jamey rode the whole way balancing Stallone’s cage on his lap. He was so sure that you couldn’t wait to see his dumb snake again.”
Ryan offered a soft smile. “Yeah. Jamey’s a neat kid.”
“I guess he’s okay,” Jordan remarked.
“How’s school? How’s the paper going?”
“Really well. Mrs. Rose is entering it in some statewide competition for junior-high newspapers. We may win an award. I’m thinking about taking more courses in journalism when I get to high school.” She paused for a breath. “And how’s your new school?”
“For school, it’s okay. I’ve made some good friends. I—uh—met a few cute girls, too.”
“I’m glad. I—I never meant for you to leave Martin on such short notice. Or to mess things up for you and Jennifer, either.”
“I never really liked Jennifer,” Ryan confessed. “She was pretty and it made me feel good to have her flirt with me. But she’s sort of an airhead. No offense,” he added quickly. “I know she’s your friend.”
Jordan grinned. “She was never my friend the way Laurie is.” For a moment, there was silence.
Then Ryan cleared his throat. “I also want to apologize.”
“For what?”
“For the way I acted when I moved out.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry,” Jordan said.
“And you tried to tell me that, but I wouldn’t listen. I acted like a jerk.”
“No. I deserved it. I made such a mess of things.”
He dipped his head and chucked her under the chin. “Once I started thinking about it, I understood how it could have happened.”
She blinked. “You did?”
“We all tell little fibs about things that happen—or don’t happen—to us. I’ve been known to exaggerate my basketball skills to impress people.”
“I exaggerated all right. I made up this whole story about a summer romance with a guy I didn’t know except through pictures in my baby album.”
Ryan squinted against the glare of the sun off the water. “You’re an honors student, Jordan. What do you think the odds are for having the guy you made up such a story about actually move into your house?”
“Pretty big odds,” she admitted.
“That’s right. Just think, if you would have bet money on it, you’d be a millionaire. It’s sort of weird if you think about it.”
“True. But once it happened, I should have told you.”
His expression sobered. “I agree. But you didn’t and we can’t change that.” Jordan hugged her knees to her chest. “But,” Ryan added, “you were my friend and you helped me through some rough times.”
“I did?”
“You jogged with me, talked to me, set me up with all your friends. But mostly, you listened.”
“I couldn’t stand to see you hurting,” she admitted. “How’s it going between you and your father?”
His features turned dark. “I’m spending a few weeks with him this summer. I’ve had some talks with Mom and I know their divorce wasn’t my fault.”
“Why would you think it was?” Jordan asked.
“I don’t know. My head was all messed up. I didn’t know what to think. Or feel. I was so mad at them. Why couldn’t they work it out? They’re supposed to be
adults
.”
Jordan shrugged. “Grown-ups are strange. We’ll just have to remember not to act that way when we grow up.”
Ryan nodded in agreement.
A speedboat passed by, rocking the platform. “So is everything all right now?” Jordan asked after the boat had passed by.
“Things are fine with me.”
“Are we—can we still be friends?” Jordan asked hesitantly.
“I’m counting on it,” Ryan said with a warm smile. “Besides there are at least six guys back on the beach waiting for me to introduce you around.”
Her eyes narrowed skeptically. “What do you mean?”
“I mean there are guys back there who want to know who the gorgeous girl is.”
“Me?” Jordan’s mouth dropped open in disbelief
Gorgeous!
Jordan had never even considered herself pretty. Jennifer was pretty. She was just ordinary. “I don’t believe you.”
Ryan rose and crossed his heart. “Then come back to the beach with me and see for yourself. They’re really impressed that I know you. And that we’re friends.”
Friends
. Jordan liked the sound of the word coming from him. They were friends. After all, she’d known Ryan for almost fifteen years! That was longer than she’d known anybody outside of her family. “Of course, for a small fee I can be persuaded not to tell them that you dump bowls of spaghetti on boys’ heads.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
He poised on the side of the platform. “Only if I get to shore first.”
He dove into the water, and she dove in after. Ever since she’d been born, she’d been tagging after Ryan Elliot. Jordan swam with sure, deft strokes. “I have a few stories of my own, you know,” she called out. “Imagine not sharing your rubber ducky with a sweet, helpless little girl.”
“Helpless!” he yelped, sending a spray of water into her face. She ducked below the surface and slipped around him, emerging a few yards away.
“You’re not so tough, Ryan Elliot.”
He grinned. “It’ll be our special secret. Okay? I don’t want to ruin my image with the women.”
“Our secret,” she agreed, stroking for the shoreline. She beat him by ten yards.
