Tread Softly

the first shock, though, it didn't feel so bad. She pushed against the rocky bottom and sat up.

'Are you okay?' Nick asked. He sounded worried.

She wiped her eyes clear, and blinked up at him. 'Was it a graceful entry?''

Rose and Heather were giggling.

'Beautiful,' Nick told her.

'I'm so glad.' Her bikini top felt slightly awry. She made sure her breasts were still in it, gave the front a small adjustment, and stood up. Nick stared as the water streamed off her.

'How's the water?' Dad called from behind him.

'Cold,' she answered.

Karen was walking along close beside Dad, holding his hand. Her one-piece black suit clung to her like shiny skin. It was open in front with a wide, deep V that extended down to her belly. The lower part of the suit seemed even more revealing, cut so high at the sides that it left her hipbones bare and formed a long, lean triangle down to her groin.

Benny, off to one side and slightly behind Karen, was agape as he stared at her.

Someone whistled. Julie spotted Flash near one of the tents, his arms loaded with firewood. The whistle caught Nick's attention. He looked over his shoulder at the same time that Karen turned around to say something to Flash. Julie sighed. The suit was backless and almost bottomless, so narrow down the buttocks that it left the sides of her cheeks bare. They were lean, and smooth.

'Come on, Nick.'

He kept staring.

'Forget it. She's already taken.'

He faced Julie, innocently raising his eyebrows as if he'd been caught daydreaming by a teacher.

'Besides,' Julie said, 'isn't she a little old for you?'

His eyebrows dropped to their normal level, and the corners of his mouth turned up. 'Yeah,' he said. 'She's sure something to look at, though.'

'Tell me about it,' Julie muttered, feeling a little sick.

'She's gorgeous, in fact.'

'Not to mention irresistibly charming.'

Nick opened his mouth to speak, but Julie whirled away and dived, hitting the water flat out and swimming hard. Bastard, she thought. Damn it all to hell. The bitch is irresistible. Has Dad head over heels, and Benny damn near swooning. Even Nick's got the hots for her. Parading around damn near naked. Flash whistling at her. He didn't whistle at me. What am I, dog food? Damn her! Wants to be my friend. Sure, sure.

Julie realized she was crying, sobbing into the water. She choked and came up for air.

Wonderful. Drown yourself.

She kept her head above the surface, but continued to swim as hard as she could. She didn't look back. She was near the center of the lake, so she turned to the right and swam parallel to the shore.

She saw a small inlet where a slab of granite slanted out of the water. She sidestroked toward it. When she reached the rock, she crawled up it and lay down flat. She crossed her arms under her face. The surface was hot and gritty against her skin. The sun on her back felt good. She panted for air, and tried to stop sobbing.

Then she heard splashes. Someone swimming not far away. Coming closer.

Go away, she thought. Whoever you are, go away and leave me alone.

Down near her feet, the splashing stopped. She didn't bother looking around.

'You're pretty fast.' Nick.

'A regular speed demon,' she muttered.

'Mind if I come up and join you?'

'I don't care.'

She heard a swoosh of water, then dribbling sounds as he crawled up the rock. He sat down close beside her and leaned back, bracing himself up with stiff arms. His slim belly, streaming with water, heaved as he gasped for breath. 'You mad at me?' he asked.

'Why should I be mad?' Julie muttered, and turned her head aside so she wouldn't have to look at him.

'I don't know. Because I made you fall?'

'It wasn't that.'

'Then you are mad at me. What'd I do?'

'Nothing,' she mumbled.

'I don't get it.'

'That's okay. You don't have to get it.'

'Is it because I was staring at you? Like the other night when you yelled at me?'

'I didn't yell,' she protested.

'You said, 'Take a picture. It lasts longer.' If that's it, I'm sorry. Really. It's hard not to stare, though. You're so. 'He hesitated.

'What?'

'Well, you know — beautiful. I keep trying not to stare, but then you come along in something like. like what you're wearing, and…'

She raised her head and looked at Nick. He was frowning out at the lake. 'You think I was angry because you were staring at me?'

'Well, yeah.'

'I didn't mind that.'

'Are you sure?'

'I'm sure.' Julie rolled over. She folded her hands under her head to cushion it. Her heart was racing, and her mouth was very dry. She licked her lips. Nick continued to gaze forward. 'I got upset, if you really want to know, because you were staring at Karen instead of me.'

He shook his head as if rejecting the idea, then turned and met her eyes. He seemed to be frowning and grinning at the same time. He looked very confused. 'Are you serious?''

'I know I shouldn't blame you. I mean, you're a guy and. like you said, she's gorgeous. And that bathing suit of hers. '

'You won't. ' Nick paused, shaking his head some more.

'I won't what?'

'Never mind,' he muttered, and looked away.

'Come on, tell me.'

'It's too embarrassing.'

Julie smiled. 'Embarrassing for who?'

'Me, I guess. Maybe you, too.'

She braced herself up on her elbows. 'Go on.'

'Well. about Karen's suit. When I was looking at her? You won't believe this but I was imagining how it would look on you.'

'You're kidding,' Julie said. Her voice came out in a whisper. Her heart was thundering, and she was short of breath. She sat up straight to breathe better.

'I'm not kidding,' Nick said. 'I mean, it's nothing against your bikini. I just, uh, tried to picture how you'd look in… I told you it'd be embarrassing.'

'A little bit,' she admitted.

He leaned forward, put his hands on his knees, and hung his head. 'I guess I'm kind of a lech.'

'I guess you are,' Julie said. For the first time, she noticed the sounds of distant laughter and splashing. An outcropping of rock, however, blocked her view of those in the lake. She put a hand on Nick's back. He flinched slightly, startled by her touch, and looked into her eyes. For a long time, while her hand moved slowly up and down, they gazed at each other. His eyes lingered on hers, studied every part of her face, followed the curve of her neck, glanced at her breasts, and returned quickly to her eyes as if asking permission. A slight smile trembled on Julie's lips. Twisting herself sideways, she reached out and took hold of his far shoulder. She leaned toward Nick as she turned him. She held him motionless, and he stared down, his gaze roaming from one breast to the other. He looked