‘Are you okay now?’ Carmen asked. Shane nodded. ‘Yeah,’ she said softly, ‘I’m fine. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.’ ‘Don’t be sorry. I’m the one who should apologize. I must have leave you worried with me acting so weird,’ Carmen answered. Shane sighed and clasped Carmen’s hand with both of her own, noticing how pale her own hands looked next to Carmen’s bronzed skin. ‘You’re not weird,’ Shane said and she dropped another kiss to Carmen’s hand. They sat like that for a few minutes, Shane’s back comfortably resting against Carmen’s front body. She could feel herself being calmed down by Carmen’s gentle touches, her fingers stroking over her hips, her stomach, her arms.

‘Jenny told me.. you were a little quiet tonight,’ Carmen said, not really knowing herself why she said it. It just came into her head. ‘She said that?’ Shane asked a little surprised. ‘Yeah, she did,’ Carmen answered, stroking up and down the length of Shane’s arms. She lifted up Shane’s right arm from the water, the fingers of her other hand following the visible veins there. ‘Was there a reason for it?’ Carmen asked softly. Shane shrugged. ‘I was just a little cranky I guess,’ she said. ‘Why?,’ Carmen whispered into her ear, Carmen’s breath so soft against Shane’s ear that it settled goosebumps on her arms. Carmen noticed and chuckled. ‘You like it when I whisper in your ear, don’t you,’ she said teasingly. Shane chuckled softly but her smile soon faded away and left a serious expression for it in turn. ‘I’m not gonna tell you, it’s stupid,’ Shane said. ‘Please tell me,’ Carmen insisted sweetly. Shane took a deep breath. ‘I didn’t mean to be quiet to Jenny,’ she said. ‘I know,’ Carmen nodded, ‘she just wondered if we were okay. I told her we were fine.’

Shane swallowed and nodded, still looking down at Carmen’s hand she was holding again. ‘I was so happy you came tonight, did I tell you that? I don’t think I did. But I am.. very happy,’ Shane said, her voice more husky than before. ‘I’m glad,’ Carmen whispered. She was surprised that Shane let her know that all of sudden. Unlike Carmen Shane wasn’t someone who told about her feelings freely. Most of the time Carmen had to gently encourage her before she would open up. She thought back at Jenny’s words.  ‘You made her even better.’ ‘Shane?’ Carmen asked. Shane didn’t answer but turned her head to look at Carmen’s face. ‘I love you,’ Carmen said and she smiled brightly. ‘You already told me that,’ Shane said with a low chuckle but the look in her eyes wasn’t teasing, it was gratefully. ‘I just wanted to say it again. Actually I want to say it every time, anywhere, but I think I would totally drive you crazy if I did,’ Carmen said and she chuckled. ‘I like you telling me that. It won’t drive me crazy,’ Shane answered as she followed Carmen’s well-defined jawline with her indexfinger. Carmen smiled bashfully as her finger slid down to Carmen’s throat, to the little dimple between her collarbones. She could feel Carmen’s heartbeat there. Slowly and steady. ‘I love you,’ she said and she rested her cheek against Carmen’s shoulder again, her hand placed over Carmen’s heart. Carmen smiled and closed her eyes, her hands making lazy circles on Shane’s back.