I slither out of my dress, tear the tie out of my hair, and leap into the blue, taking relief from the blazing high noon sun. I perch myself at the end of the dock, my toes coiling over the edge. Once he assists me to my feet, he dives into the lake. Offering me a hand, I admire his bare Abercrombie & Fitch chest and the gym-grown muscles of his extended arm. “I think it’s time for that swim,” he suggests softly. “You’re an adorable mess.” He lifts a fresh one to the corner of my mouth and cleans the rest away. “I’m a mess,” I giggle out, trying to wipe the grease off with an obliterated napkin, falling apart from overuse. Today, we enjoy fried chicken and each other’s camaraderie. We both know there are things that need to be said, that need to be known. “I’m happy we have this chance to make up for lost time.” He takes my hand, tenderly rubbing the soft skin on the back. “This is great, Aid.” I sit next to him on the dock, cross-legged. “Are you hungry?” He prepares a plate for me with all the fixings. I’m not used to this outright attention from him. “Every time I see you, you’re always more beautiful than the time before.” His shoulders shake with a spurt of laughter.

“You saved it with fatty, deep-fried chicken.” “This isn’t unoriginal, is it?” He’s adorably nervous about what I’ll think. He notices me when the dock moves under the change in weight. I spot Aidan at the very end of the dock, finishing up the final touches. Coming out of my daydreams, I fix the stray hairs that escaped from my ponytail, exit out the double French doors, and cross the big lawn.

Secondary Colors by Aubrey Brenner