Learning Together

Day 4 - Tuesday

Stephanie lay sprawled across her bed, with one foot hooked over the edge, and the covers twisted down to her knees. For a while, she just listened to the distant sound of her dad moving around in the kitchen, and her mom's voice drifting down the hall. It was already warm in her room, pushing the heavy lake scent through her open window.

She could see her reflection in the tall mirror across the room. Her bare stomach was exposed between her old, bunched sleep shirt, and the shorts she'd put on before bed. Sitting up, she bundled up her hair with a claw clip, looking at the smudged mascara from the day before. Running a thumb beneath one eye, she wiped it away, then the other, before she checked her phone. There was nothing from Jeff yet, but she caught herself smiling at the lock screen anyway. She'd changed it again to a stupid picture he'd taken of her eating pizza one night, shortly after their "date." Every time she saw it, it made her stomach flip, though she'd never tell him that.

She felt different this morning, energized, like she was waiting for something to happen for some reason. Her mom's laughter drifted in from the kitchen, joined by the clink of dishes and her dad's measured voice. Stephanie stretched, stripping off her shirt and tossed it into the laundry basket, and then tugged on a bikini, thinking she might go for a swim after grabbing a quick snack. Next, she covered it with a thin cropped tank and some old gym shorts.

Stepping out to the bathroom, she went through her routine of splashing cold water on her cheeks, a dab of tinted moisturizer, followed by a quick swipe of eyeliner, and then finally some mascara. Satisfied with the results for being around just her family, she checked her phone again. Still nothing from Jeff, but it was still early, so she figured he hadn't even gotten up yet, if their parents hadn't woken him.

In the kitchen, her mom was in full summer-mom mode with her sunglasses perched on her head, a robe over her own suit, and already fussing with a bowl of fresh fruit at the kitchen island. Her dad sat at the table, spreading cream cheese on a bagel, with a boating guide open beside him.

"Morning, hun," her mom called, glancing up with a soft smile. "Sleep okay?"

Stephanie shrugged, snatching a strawberry from a bowl of fruit on the table. "Yeah. Woke up too early, though."

Her dad nodded. "It's supposed to be a nice day out there. I'm thinking about taking the boat out, if you two want to join."

Stephanie slid onto a stool, looking to the window where the sun was already lighting up the deck. She tried to sound casual. "I could go out for a bit. Is Jeff even up yet?"

Dad shook his head. "Not that I've seen. Probably sleeping in."

Mom rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "I swear, that boy..." she said, shaking her head. "I bet he'll move if there's food."

Stephanie let the conversation continue on without her, sinking into the ordinary flow of the morning with her mom pestering her dad about sunscreen, and him trying to act like he didn't hear her. From outside, she heard the faint sound of a boat engine somewhere across the water.

When Jeff finally showed, sporting a mess of hair and a wrinkled T-shirt, Stephanie caught his eye, holding it as she looked him over. She dropped her gaze, hiding a smile, and pushed the fruit bowl his way.

"Morning," he muttered, but she could see the hint of color in his cheeks too.

Dad perked up immediately. "Steph's already said she'd go out in the boat this morning. How 'bout you? Or is that too much to hope for from you before noon?"

Stephanie nudged Jeff's knee under the table. "C'mon, we can all do some fishing."

He gave a little shrug, like it didn't matter, but his foot found hers under the table. Their mom was only half-listening to them, more invested in her phone and her friend that was texting updates about the neighbor's dog. It had something to do with a lost collar and an animal rescue. Stephanie let her mind wander, already picturing the cool water, the coves they'd scouted on other trips, and the way the water grew dark and secret under the trees.

She caught herself remembering how Jeff tasted salty when he'd been in the sun, sweating, and shook the thought away, heading to her room to scoop up her sunglasses and flip-flops. Finding her bottle of sunscreen, she threw everything into a tote and headed back out.

"I really ought to head into town to grab a few items I didn't think about yesterday, if we want anything decent for dinner," their mom was saying. "And I promised Annie I'd call her about the fundraiser. Besides, I don't feel like baking in the sun all morning."

Dad gave a skeptical grunt. "You sure? It looks like you already put on her swimsuit, and I figured we'd all get out there for a bit. It's supposed to be perfect weather today. We don't have to be out there to long with how late it already is considering we've missed the best time for fishing already."

Scrolling through her phone, waiting for their parents to decide what they were doing, Stephanie heard the faint rattle of her mom's morning vitamins, and then her short answer. "I'm positive. The sun's already getting brutal to me, and my head's feeling a little off. I could use your help in town, but let the kids go. They'll be fine."

Stephanie's heart picked up, and she walked over to the kitchen to grab a water, just as their dad was grabbing his hat, clearly still torn. He looked at her, then at Carla, and tried one last time.

"I don't know that I'm comfortable with them out there alone, with the boat. We could all go, at least for a little bit-"

Carla cut him off, not catching that he was using the boat as an excuse to not leave them alone together.

"Frank, they're not babies. Besides, if you go, you'll end up complaining that they got up too late and that's why you're not catching anything. Let them have some fun, would you?"

Stephanie pretended to check the cooler, making sure it was loaded with ice packs, water and snacks, but she didn't miss the look their dad shot their mom. She felt a flicker of nervous excitement, knowing just how easily the morning could have gone differently.

Jeff came down from changing and joined her at the counter, tossing in a few sodas. "So what's goin' on now?" he asked calmly, even though he'd heard the full conversation as he got ready up in the loft.

Stephanie shrugged her shoulders, unsure what her dad was going to say. "So ya coming or not Dad?" she asked looking at him once more.

He finally backed off, grumbling, "Just stay in sight of the house, would you? And take it easy out there. I don't want you drifting all the way to the far shore."

Their mom waved her hand, already returning to her phone and the half-finished grocery list. "They'll be fine. Text me if you guys need anything, Steph. And put on sunscreen, please. I mean it."

"Promise," Stephanie called, already heading toward the door with Jeff hauling the cooler behind her.

Out on the dock, the sun was blinding, and the water below was crystal clear. Their mom watched from the back patio, lifting her coffee high to gesture a lazy bye, and Stephanie waved back at her. At the boat, they tossed their bags, rods and towels onto the closest seat, and Jeff heaved the cooler into the narrow stern, feeling just how unsteady his hands were.

Stephanie stepped in next, bracing one foot on the side, and balancing with more grace than she probably felt in the moment. Jeff crouched to free the rope from its cleat, and then glanced up, shielding his eyes. "Alright, captain. Don't crash us into anything this time."

Stephanie let out an indignant laugh. "What the hell? I never beached it! Shut up! You guys all keep saying that."

He grinned, and gave her a look of uncertainty. "Of course you didn't. And that doesn't sound like the ravings of a liar at all."

She stuck out her tongue, but her hands showed just how much she did know what she was doing. With a confident flick, she went through the steps, and started the engine. It coughed, sputtered, then settled into a gentle putter, sending shimmers across the glassy water.

"Just try not to hit anything," Jeff teased once more, but the undertone was obvious he wasn't actually concerned. "I don't want your dad having a reason to say I told you so."

Stephanie steered them off, careful and steady, with one hand on the wheel and the other shading her eyes. "You just worry about untangling your mess of fishing lines," she shot back, with indignation in her voice.

Jeff laughed, dropping into one of the seats, and grabbed the small plastic tackle box from under the middle bench. He set to checking the lines, unwinding them, checking for any knots, and making sure each lure was hooked tight. "I'm pretty sure you're the one who put these away last time. Yours prolly doesn't have any line left, after the bird's nest you'd made of it."

"Yeah, whatever." Stephanie turned them away from the dock, heading into the open water. It was like the further they got, the more her shoulders relaxed, and the wind picked up. The sun shimmered off her lotioned skin, and the air felt full of promise.

Jeff glanced over at her, taking in the way she looked as she guided them along the shoreline. "You got a plan for where we're going?" he asked, twisting a reel to check it.

She just grinned out at the water ass the wind whipped her hair around her shoulders. "Yeah. I know exactly where I want to go."

Stephanie headed the boat along the shore, steering them away from the main channel and toward a cove hidden by a stand of willow and cypress. The hum of the engine and the slap of water against the hull made a steady backdrop for their conversation.

Jeff squinted back at the house, now shrinking in the distance. "You remember Dad said to stay where he can see us, right?"

She just rolled her eyes. "I'll text him when we stop. 'Hey, we're around the bend, not capsized. Still alive.'" She tossed him a sidelong smile, squint through her lashes from the sun in her face. "He'll survive."

Jeff huffed, only half-serious. "You're such a bad influence."

"You want some time alone, or not?" she shot back with a grin, then slowed the boat as they curved around a bend. For a second Stephanie's looked pleased with herself, and then she caught sight of a battered aluminum boat anchored near the far bank. An older man and a teenage boy were both hunched over their lines, and they looked up at the sound of their approach.

Stephanie's shoulders dropped just a little. "Great. There's the whole lake on a weekday and we've got neighbors."

Jeff shrugged, already baiting a hook. "It's not like they're close enough to hear us as long as we keep it down." He cast a look her way, trying to offer a comforting smile. "Unless you were planning to be particularly loud for some reason."

"Pfft, you wish," she scoffed. Throttling down the engine the rest of the way, and let them drift toward the shade. Getting themselves settled, she reached for a pole, casting into the deeper water, then propped her feet on the edge and leaned back. "Let's see if you can actually catch something this time. Or are you just going to feed the fish all day?"

Jeff played along, adopting a wounded expression. "You act like you didn't see that monster bass I pulled up last year."

"Oh, I saw it," she said, looking at him sarcastically. "I just remember it flopping off the line before you ever got to lay a finger on it."

He grinned, flicked his wrist, and sent his own lure flying above the surface. "Whatever. I was gonna let it go anyway, so I say it still counts as far as I'm concerned."

Stephanie rolled her eyes, biting back a smile. "Uh-huh, whatever you say, Kevin VanDam."

"That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it."

They settled in, letting the sun warm them as it rose higher. The two of them passedinsults and inside jokes in hushed voices, so they didn't disturb the other boat. Every so often, Stephanie's hand would brush his thigh, or Jeff's foot would nudge hers. It was nothing overt, but enough to keep the undercurrent of their flirtations alive.

After a while, the other boat's engine came to life and moved toward the open area, leaving the cove to them alone. The hush grew thicker, punctuated only by the soft plunk of their lures and the gentle lap of water on the hull.

Stephanie reeled in her line, glancing at Jeff with that sly, secretive look he was coming to recognize. "You want to try somewhere else? Or maybe we forgo the fishing, and just enjoy the company."

Jeff set his rod down, eyes on her. "Depends. Are you still planning on being a bad influence?"

Stephanie smirked, and let her fingers trail over his knee. "I don't know how I'm the bad influence. You're the one that does dirty things with my panties you stole."

Jeff barked out a laugh, loud enough that it echoed off the water. "Steal them? I didn't steal anything. I just... pocketed them so mom wouldn't see. It was a totally heroic move, if you ask me," he grinned at her. "And then I forgot to give them back. That's called absent-minded, not criminal."

Stephanie narrowed her eyes, but she was smiling, and nudging her toes at his shin. "Seems to me, that if you're still holding them hostage, that makes you a panty thief. Those are the rules."

He rolled his eyes, but he was blushing all the way to his ears. "I think you just want an excuse to accuse me of being a perv."

She shrugged, teasing him, "Maybe I just like knowing you have them. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook. Once a thief, always a thief."

He cocked his head. "So does this alleged crime come with a punishment then?"

Stephanie opened her mouth, ready with a snappy comeback, but Jeff was already standing up, peeling off his T-shirt and tossing it onto the seat. "How about this- catch me if you can," he said, and with a sudden dive, he splashed into the water with barely a warning.

Stephanie yelped as the spray hit her legs, nearly toppling the tackle box. "What are you, twelve?" she called, but there was laughter threaded all through it.

Jeff popped up, shaking water from his hair. "C'mon, Steph. It's perfect!" he declared, then backstroked away from the boat. "Or are you afraid I'll steal your bikini too?"

She scoffed, but her cheeks were pink now, and her hands were fussing with the hem of her tank. "You wish."

"Come on. Nobody can see us, but I'll be good. Promise," he called out.

She hesitated only a second before tugging off her top and shorts, then slid off the boat, so the cool water wrapped around her as she ducked under. She surfaced a couple feet away from him, splashing him in the face. "What if I don't want you to be good?" she questioned.

He sputtered, grinning. "See, bad influence. Not that I'm complaining."

They tread water side by side, as the world shrunk down to sun, water, and the orbit of their bodies around the other. Stephanie swam a little closer, bumping his shoulder with hers, their laughter getting swallowed in the green hush of the cove.

Jeff glanced at her, suddenly feeling a little breathless. "For the record, I'll give them back. Eventually."

Stephanie splashed him again, giving him a disbelieving look. "Yeah well, we'll see," she teased with a wink.

Jeff wiped the water from his face, smiling at her. "And I'll also have you know; I'm the picture of innocence. You could practically call me a role model."

Stephanie snorted and circled closer, barely able to suppress her grin. "Yeah, right. The only thing you've ever modeled is how to get away with murder. Or, you know, how to finger your sister in the back seat of the car while your parents are carrying on a conversation."

Jeff's ears went red, but the smile took over his whole face. "Okay, maybe I got a little carried away, but come on, you've gotta admit, that drive flew by."

She grinned, drifting up to him until her knees bumped his thigh under the water. "Carried away? I don't think that even begins to cover it. So if anything,you'rethe deviant in this relationship, between that and how you 'accidentally' pocketed my panties and forgot to give them back?"

"Get out of here with your little 'air commas,'" he teased, mocking her gesturing the air quotes when she said accidentally. "You know that was a public service," he protested, moving even closer until it was more than just her knees brushing his thighs. "If I hadn't done it, Mom would've found them when she walked in. I was protecting your reputation."

Stephanie's hand found his shoulder, holding onto him in the water. "So I'm just supposed to accept that you're a selfless panty thief, then. That sounds like a legit thing."

He snorted. "Hey, I'm the good guy here."

"You're the guy who sent me a picture of my panties draped over his erection. I'd say that makes you exactly as innocent as you looked." She tugged him closer by the neck, winding her legs around his waist.

He let his hands slide to her hips, feeling how smooth her skin was. "If being a panty thief means I get to do this..." His fingers traced slow, teasing circles along the bare skin just under her bikini.

Stephanie rolled her eyes, but she was already leaning in close enough that her breath was mingling with his. "You're still a perv."

"Well I'm definitely guilty of that," he whispered, and closed the last couple of inches to press his lips to hers.

She smiled into the kiss, tightening her arms around his shoulders, and trying to fit her body to his as they drifted in the hush of the cove. It seemed like ages since they'd had time alone that didn't feel hurried, and nothing beyond their little shaded cove mattered, and the shivery thrill of being together without a single pair of eyes on them brought a rush coursing through them both.

As the kiss took over, her smile finally faded, and her lips softened. Jeff's hands tightened, gripping her firmly as she kissed him, enjoying not feeling like they had to rush, unlike all the days of worrying about being caught.

As the kiss deepened, he felt his heart knocking at his ribs, letting everything fall away until all that mattered was Stephanie. Her skin was slick from the sunscreen and it felt cool beneath his palms. The feeling of her pressing against him was as close to heaven as he could imagine.

Her legs tightened around his waist, and Jeff began to stroke her with one of his hands, spreading his palm over the backs of her thigh, then back up to her butt. Their bodies bobbed together, giggling for no reason other than being alone together.

"And I'd argue that if I'm a perv," he whispered, nuzzling the edge of her jaw, "it's because you and this amazing fucking body have driven me to be one. And you don't exactly put up much of a fight about it."

She let her head tilt to the side, opening her neck to him. "So, then make the most of it."

Jeff didn't let the invitation go unanswered. Nuzzling into her neck, his hand slid up along her spine, pressing along each vertebra as he went. He found the clasp of her bikini top beneath the water and after fumbling to figure out how it worked, he flicked it open causing the straps to go slack over her shoulders.

Stephanie laughed softly, running her fingers through his damp hair. "Took you long enough."

"It's not like I exactly have a lot of practice at it," he murmured, as his hand circled to the front, cupping her breast. His thumb swept over her nipple, and she eagerly arched into him, as her body went taut, forcing the laughter to fade to soft hums of pleasure.

Gripping at him with her legs, she hunched her hips against him, causing his rapidly inflating erection to twitch against her under the water. Stephanie ground herself against him, as her breathing started to pick up, and tightened her arms around his neck.