Slipping Past- Part 3

She goes home to shower and get ready for work. She goes through the motions but her mind is miles away. Remembering how she felt in his arms, so warm and safe and how she was able to forget about the rest of the world when she was with him. His smile is genuine and his personality is assertive, whihc attracts her to him even more. Her heart races at the thought of him.
Chiara wonders when she will see him again. Does he like her? Is he going to call her? He said he would when he left. She rushes off to work as questions race through her mind. She arrives at work and loses herself in her work for over ten hours. Throughout the day though, thoughts of the night before creep in and she smiles. Her stomach flutters. She is not sure when she will see him again but she hopes it is sooner than later. She leaves work exhausted that night, yet smiling as she remembers Gabe's charm and smile.
That weekend she heads off to Narragansett to see some of her friends. They go to the beach, have drinks, watch movies late at night and laugh until beer comes out someone's nose. She has a great time at the condo away but during that whole time he is there, constantly, in the back of her mind. Why is he there? Why is he having this affect on her? She drives back home, enjoying the sun beating down on her, as she giggles at memories. The Fourth of July is only days away and she has plans to see some friends and family.
The next day she goes to a picnic with her best friend and enjoys a great day of catching up with old friends, meeting new ones and relaxing. The long day concludes with a hour long firework display over the town's marina. As she sits and watches the fireworks she wishes she was sharing the moment with Gabe.
On the Fourth Chiara gets a surprising yet long-awaited phone call from Gabe. He asks her if she wants to go to the beach or swimming. She happily accepts, throwns on her bikini and she meets at his place. Her heart skips a beat as she sees him standing there, waiting for her. They jump into his vehicle and takes them to a lake. She has never been to this lake, it is nice and peaceful with only a few people around. They lay down a blanket and relax in the now partly cloudy weather. They chit chat here and there in between reading a book. She feels safe next to him and admires his long, athletic body. As they lay there and enjoy each others company they play feetsies. She enoys the light flirting.
While they are there at the lake more people come and ruin the quiet, relaxing atmosphere. He mentions to her that he is going to go for a swim and would she like to join him? She looks at him in bewilderment. Chiara is not one to swim in lakes, actually she is damn near afraid of it and has been for years. She looks around at the people who arrived at the lake; loud, abnoxious and drinking. She decides to go for it and go swim with him. She adjusts her bikini as she gets up and walks to the water with Gabe. He laughs at her reluctance to jump in the water with him as she explains her fear of water to him. As they swim out to a small island about 10 minutes out she warns him that if anything touches her she will die of a heart attack. He laughs. Chiara changes strokes and as she is doing the side stroke Gabe disappears under the water, unknow to her, and grabs her leg. Chiara screams! She gets a mouth full of water and watches Gabe as he comes out of the water laughing. She finally collects herself after having the uncontrollable urge to drown him, continues on swimming laughing and cursing him.
Chiara and Gabe arrive at the small island and rest for a bit. A fish nips her thigh and she yelps out. Another reason why she stays out of lakes. They sit there and talk about his swimming experiences here with his friends and she shares some of her stories. They laugh together as they enjoy the stories. He asks her if she is ready to swim back. She answers him "as ready as I will ever be" he laughs and tells her he said that before the last time he swam here. They head back to shore and to the blanket and dry off. They agree they both would like to leave and head back home. A storm is starting to brew outside and he invites her in to his condo, she joins him.