What if I Fly? by Jayne Conway Read Free Book Online Page B

stepped off a yacht…or the pages of an LL Bean catalogue. Stifling a laugh, she laid back on the dock, her hands behind her head, feet still submerged. What an odd pair we make , she thought, the hippie and the preppie.
    It dawned on her they hadn’t said a word to each other since they sat down on the boat launch. How long has that been? Five? Ten minutes? Strangely, she didn’t feel awkward at all. They’re just two people hanging out, looking at the water and the stars. Will finished his cone and laid down beside her, another few minutes elapsing in silence.
    “See there?” he pointed up toward the sky. “That’s Perseus.”
    Her eyes followed the direction of his finger. Julia saw a whole lot of stars, but no distinct pattern.
    “Where?”
    He scooted over so his body was close to hers.
    “I’ll show you,” Will tilted his head toward her. “Give me your hand. See that cluster of stars?”
    He held her hand to the sky, pointing out the outline of the constellation, his touch sending shivers down her spine.
    “No,” she shook her head.
    “See?” He traced her finger along its path a second time.
    “Oh, wow! I see it!” she nodded, her eyes lit up. “Out of chaos, there is order!”
    Will smiled and placed her hand back down by her side, but kept his hand over hers.
    “Perseus was one of the original Twelve Olympians in Greek mythology,” his voice was just above a whisper. “He saved Andromeda from the sea monster and they married. See her next to him, right over there?”
    Again, Will held her hand and traced the path of the constellation. The light dusting of freckles and blond hair on his hand mesmerized her.
    “Yes,” she said, softly. “I see it,” she turned toward him. “How is it you know so much about astronomy?”
    “My father taught us to navigate by the stars, me, my brother and sister. He has a sailboat and we spend a lot of time on it during the summer. It’s moored right over there.”
    Will pointed across the harbor to the yacht club on Poppasquash. Julia placed her free hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle. Our families are so different.
    “My grandfather had a boat too,” she paused. “He used to dock it over there,” she pointed to the fishing trawlers parked along the seawall near Thames Street Landing. Will slowly turned his face toward her, the corner of his mouth twitching.
    “It smelled so bad on that boat. No one ever wanted to go near it.” She scrunched her nose at the memory and they looked at one another, bursting into laughter.
    A little while later, Julia glanced at her watch and was surprised to find it was already after midnight. They’d been walking and talking for almost three hours and the time had flown by. She’d never felt such a strong attraction to anyone before, and found these feelings unsettling and confusing.
    The setting was perfect for seduction and the night could have easily gone in that direction, but something stopped her. It took her a moment to pinpoint what was different about their interaction.
    Energy.
    She could feel it running between them, and in that moment she knew she could fall for him. Her throat constricted at the thought and abruptly, she sat up, clearing her throat.
    “I’d better get going, it’s getting late,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
    Will rose and pulled Julia to her feet, then touched her arm.
    “You okay?” he asked, his eyes narrowing while she straightened her dress and slid her feet into her sandals. She looked away, stretching her arms toward the sky.
    “Race you!” she shouted and ran down the dock toward the street, an animal fleeing from danger.
     
    From that first night, Julia was drawn to Will, and she knew the feeling was mutual. They quickly became friends, and she thought that’s what they would remain, should remain . However, the more time they spent together, the closer they got, and Will made it clear he wanted Julia, the whole package , not just sex.
    But she doesn’t do