Weeping Willows

Chapter 16

Things left Undone, Words not Said

                An arm wrapped around Elizabeth’s waist right before she was propelled upwards.  Breaking the surface, she took in large gulps of air.  Hot breath tickled her from behind as Ryan rested his forehead against her.

                “Are you okay?  When you didn’t come right back up, I thought you got hurt.”  Elizabeth didn’t answer right away as she scanned the depths of the water but saw no one.  Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him.

                “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.  I was just so amazed at everything I wasn’t really paying attention.”

                “Jesus, I’m going to have to keep a better eye on you.” 

                “Ha, ha.”

                “Who’s joking?  I’m being serious here.”  Elizabeth rolled her eyes and swam away from him.  She swam to the rocks fully intending to climb up and lay out on them.  Ryan had other plans as he followed closely behind splashing water at her once she stopped.  Elizabeth turned around looking at him incredulously.  Oh, it is on now.  Cupping her hands, she threw water back at him.  As they stared at each other in challenge they broke flinging water in an all-out war.  They played and splashed until muscles burned with exertion.  Ryan threw his hand up calling out for peace.  With her fingers crossed under the water she agreed whole heartily.  He swam over to her and just as he got an arm’s length away, she struck dunking him below the surface.  Quickly letting go she went to swim off, but he was on her before she had even fully turned away.  She squealed and squirmed but it was no use he had her completely secured in his arms.

                “I give up!”  She shouted making him laugh and he loosened his hold but didn’t let go.

                “Are you going to behave now?”

                “Yes, yes I’ll behave.”

                “I’m not sure I believe you.”

                “I swear no more attacks.”  Elizabeth held up her hands in surrender.  He smiled down at her while slicking back his hair out of his face.  Reaching out he tucked a few errant stands of hair behind her ear.  Instead of moving his hand away his fingers danced down her jaw as his thumb lightly caressed her cheek.  Looking up into his eyes Elizabeth found he no longer had the boyish smile lighting his face.  Now he was somber and serious as something a bit darker filled his gaze.  Her breath hitched in her lungs and she curled her arms to her chest no longer sure what to do with them.  With an arm still around her waist and a hand cupping her face Ryan slowly drew her to him.  As his face began to slowly move down her heart beat a race behind her ribs.  She wasn’t sure she was ready for this but not sure she wasn’t either.  She tread the water in indecision as the distance closed between them.  Just as his lips whispered a touch onto hers, she jerked back breaking the kiss before it even started.  Glancing at the water and screeching out she frantically swatted at the back of her shorts.  Momentarily disappointed he didn’t notice her distress at first.

                “Lizzy what’s the matter?”  She turned petrified eyes to him as she compulsively rubbed her hands over the back of her shorts.

                “Are there fish in this pond?”

                “Not that I’m aware of but perhaps.  Why?”

                “I felt something skim up the back of my thigh.”  A sigh broke from his lips as he realized why she had pulled away from him.

                “Do you want to get out now?”

                “Yes please.  I’d rather not have anything swimming into areas it shouldn’t be.”  Nodding his head, he accompanied her to shore helping her out of the water.  Elizabeth flipped the back leg of her shorts up as far as it would go searing the fabric.  Ryan stood stock still riveted by the sight of her toned, smooth, and now fully exposed thigh.  He licked his parched lips as he watched her straining to pull his mind out of the gutter.  Elizabeth kept mindlessly searching completely unaware of the moral struggle she was creating. 

                Ryan reached out removing her hand and brushing her shorts back into place.  Elizabeth gave him a confused look as he set her to rights then walked away to retrieve their shoes from where he had tossed them down.  She watched him check each one for hidden critters before coming over and sitting her down on a warm rock.  He put each of her shoes on before sitting in silence beside her doing the same.  She couldn’t help to try and check one more time, but he grabbed her hands to stop her.  Looking her dead in the eye his gaze never wavered.

                “Trust me Lizzy nothing is there that isn’t supposed to be.”  It took her a moment to catch on to his words but when she did her hands flew to her face in mortification.  Chuckling Ryan pulled her hands away holding them in his.

                “Believe me Lizzy, you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.  Those teenage boys were idiots.”  His words only incited her blush to darken as she wished for a hole to come and swallow her up.

                “You’re turning red hon.”

                “I know I’m blushing no need to point it out.”

                “Not your face although that is too but your arms.”  Looking down Elizabeth groaned seeing he was right and she was starting to burn.

                “Let’s get back to the others so you can get out of the sun.”  He pulled her up off the rock and began leading her back down the hill.  By the time they had made it back she was beginning to turn a nice shade of scarlet.  Everyone turned to look at the pair as Elizabeth rushed past making a bee line for her bag.  Taking out the sunscreen she started slathering it all over as quickly as possible.  Jan wondered over watching her.

                “Ouch, are you going to be okay?” 

                “Yeah I’ll be fine as long as it doesn’t get any worse.”  Ryan came over taking the bottle once her legs, arms, and front was done.

                “Turn around.”  He ordered her lifting the back of her shirt up to access her skin.  Once she was done, he gave her back the bottle and opened the large umbrella attached to her chair.  Jan handed her a bottle of water from the cooler as Elizabeth leaned back out of the heat.  Ryan smiled at her as he left to go over to the grill with the rest of the guys and Addison.  Jenny came over with a bag of ice handing it to Elizabeth.

                “This will help take a bit of the heat out.”

                “Thanks.”  She gratefully took the bag wrapping it in a towel and putting it on one of her arms.  After that one cooled down, she switched arms.  She repeated this process as Jan sat at the end of her chair looking at her knowingly.  Jenny had wandered over to the group standing next to Clayton who reached up scrubbing the top of her head making a mess out of her ponytail.  She yelled at him swatting his hand away while re-fixing her hair.  Elizabeth watched as Dan kept glancing at the two of them scowling briefly before going back to the grill.  She swung her gaze back to Jenny and Clayton watching them interact.  She thought Jenny might have a small crush on Clayton but everything he did to her was clearly more like an older brother then someone who shared her romantic interest.  Then there was Dan who clearly would return her romantic interest if she would look in his direction, but she didn’t even see him.  Elizabeth was so wrapped up in watching the three of them that she didn’t even notice Jan staring at her.

                “You know trying to help those three out, isn’t going to straighten out your own love life, right?”  Elizabeth groaned out and faced Jan.

                “Why can’t I be in denial for a while?”

                “Because the longer you’re refusing to address it the easier it’ll be to put off.”

                “Can’t I hide from it for a little while, say like the rest of the afternoon?”  Jan looked her over then discreetly looked Ryan over before turning back to her.

                “I’m going to be brutally honest here hon.  That guy is clearly more than just a little smitten with you.  I don’t know what happened while you two were gone and I’m not judging, but if you’re not looking for more than a hook up then make that clear to him before he gets hurt.”

                “What if the problem isn’t that but more like not knowing if I’m prepared to care that much for another person that I could lose.”

                “Oh honey.”  By this point Elizabeth was looking at her lap trying to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall.  Jan wrapped her up in a tender hug rocking her a little trying to offer what comfort she could.  Pulling away slightly she wiped her thumbs across Elizabeth’s damp cheeks lifting her head to look at her.

                “My advice?  Talk to him and let him know how you’re feeling.  If he’s starting to care for you as much as I think he does, he’ll back off until you’ve worked through your issues.  In fact, speaking from experience, next to Mason, Ryan’s a good rock to lean on while weathering a storm.  But Lizzy?  What you need to determine isn’t if you want to care that much or not that tends to happen all on its own.  You need to decide if to you, Ryan is worth the risk regardless.”

                “You know you make a pretty darn good rock too.”

                “I try my best.”  Jan flipped her hair over her shoulder in a careless manner making Elizabeth laugh.  “But seriously don’t think this means you don’t have to give me some details.”

                “You’re incorrigible.”

                “Absolutely.  It’s my superpower.”  Both women burst out in laughter right as Ryan walked up to check on Elizabeth.

                “What are you two cackling over here about?”

                “We’re not cackling, only witches cackle.”

                “That we do my dear, that we do.”  Jan retorted causing Elizabeth to snort at her.  “Nothing to worry your pretty little head about.  When do we get food though Ry?  I mean seriously we’re wasting away here.”  Ryan laughed holding his hands up to keep Jan at bay while walking off to check on the grub.  Jan turned back to Elizabeth looking at her patiently.

                “I’ll talk to him after this weekend I promise and give serious thought to what you said.”

                “That’s all I ask.”  Jan turned around to argue with Dan demanding to be fed.  Elizabeth looked over at the group her gaze going to Ryan.  Could she let someone else that close to her heart?  She wondered while Ryan’s blue eyes met her’s.  Was he worth risking it for anyway?