She turned to bolt, water sloshing around her legs, but she didn't get far. His arms caught her around the waist and hauled her gently backwards into the sea, laughter spilling from both of them.
She shrieked as the cold hit her, kicking wildly. "Nicholas! I hate you!"
"You love me," he said into her ear, breathless with laughter, water dripping from his jaw onto her shoulder.
"I'll love you when I'm dry!"
But her arms had already wrapped around his neck, legs half-floating, half-kicking under the surface. He held her up easily, steady even as she wiggled in his arms like a very splashy protest.
"Okay, okay," he said, laughing. "Call a truce or I'm flipping us both."
Ella narrowed her eyes, lips twitching. "Truce. For now."
He let go of her slowly, and she floated away on her back, arms spread, hair swirling in the water around her. The sun hit her face, and she sighed like her whole body was unwinding.
