The-Lucky-List-Rachael-Lippincott

16
Front gate in 5.
I peer down at the text from Blake, then look up to watch the last few sets of headlights pull out of
the Huckabee Pool parking lot, driving off down the road. When I hear the creak of her truck door and
see her climbing back out of the driver’s seat, I creep out of the bushes by the bike rack and make a
beeline for the front gate.
“You ready?” she asks as she pulls the lanyard keys out of her pocket, using one to reopen the gold
lock keeping the gate closed.
“Maybe? I don’t know.” I groan, resting my forehead against her warm shoulder. “Are you sure
everyone’s gone?”
She pulls the chain out from between the links it’s wrapped around. “Positive,” she says, using her
foot to tap open the gate. It squeaks noisily open to reveal a dark and empty pool deck, not a soul in
sight.
We walk inside, stopping at the edge of the water.
I’ve never seen the pool like this. Completely quiet, the moonlight reflecting o the ripples in the
water. If I didn’t know just how gross it was during the daylight hours, hair balls rolling around on the
bottom, dead bugs floating on the top, I’d actually think it looked kind of beautiful.
“Why would she want to skinny-dip in this? I definitely don’t understand this one. I bet the water
hasn’t been cleaned since my mom swam in it,” I say, and Blake laughs.
“Not very well, I can tell you that.” She shrugs. “Maybe you just have to do it. Maybe there is no
why.”
I stare at the water for a few more moments, my pulse quickening as I think about what comes next.
“Count of three we take off our clothes, okay?”
I look over at Blake, and she nods in agreement. “Deal.”
“One.”
“Two,” she says back.
“Three.”
I start to pull o my sundress, stopping suddenly when I see Blake glance over at me. My face burns
underneath her gaze, my body suddenly ablaze.