Page 18 of Anchored to the Storm

Wait. Am I imagining this?

Would Ethan see what I did if he entered the bathroom?

I had to know. Calling his name, I practically screamed it in excitement. It didn’t occur to me how I might sound until I heard the door swing open and crash against the wall.

The curtain flung open, and Ethan stood there with a panicked expression. “Sarah? Are you okay?” For maybe one or two heartbeats, his stare swept over me from head to toe. He then tore his gaze away and spun around. “Shit. Sorry.”

“Do you see it?” I asked.

“Oh, I saw it,” he promised.

What? “Not that!” I smacked the back of his head, bulldozing past the part where Ethan just saw me naked, and right to the life-changing point of glittering water. “Turn around. Please.”

Refusing, Ethan blindly snagged a towel from the nearby rack and tossed it over his shoulder.

“No!” I threw it back out. “You will dry it!”

His shoulders seized. “That’s the point, Sarah. Dry it and cover it.”

I put my hands on my hips. Wow, boys truly are one-track-minded. “I need you to look at my body.”

“Already did. Can we please move on?”

Rolling my eyes, I said, “Fine. Hold the towel up for my ‘virtue’ but don’t touch me with it.”

When he didn’t move, and more like resembled a deer in headlights, I yelled, “Do it!”

He jumped. “This has got to be the most awkward moment.” He picked up the towel, continuing, “I’ve ever had.” Then he angled his body so that he could still give me privacy, stretching out his arms to shield my nakedness before fully turning around. “Sarah, what is going on?” he began, and paused.

His eyes widened as he searched my arms, the tub, the shower walls, and the water shooting from the spout. He was as entranced as I had been.

Johnny and I aren’t nuts! I started jumping up and down! “You see it!”

Ethan’s eyes snapped to my bouncing boobs. Then he slammed them shut. “I’m so sorry!”

I laughed, then snatched the towel. “It’s just me, Ethan.” Wrapping the towel tightly around my body, I stepped away from the spray, wondering why Ethan was being so bashful. “All covered up.”

One eye peeked open… then he sighed, his whole body relaxing.

I wanted to ask if my body was that awful to look at, but got completely distracted when Ethan shoved his hair back to get a better look at the water. I smiled because seeing him willing to expose the scarred parts of his skin, and not trying to hide them away, was such a big deal, even if the reason was magically sparkly water. “Wow.”

“Isn’t it amazing?” I felt gleeful.

“Yeah. The water, too.” He reached out to touch it. “How is this possible?”

“Don’t know.” And I was too elated to care.

He stuck his bandaged hand inside the shower, watching the glittering water splash across his fingers and skin. “Funny.” Ethan lifted his other hand, the one with the scars, and stared at it like he was comparing one to the other. “The water looks the same on them both.”

He was right. The sparkles and their eerie but beautiful glitter didn’t discriminate. They reacted the same on both hands, playful, excited, and joyful.

Suddenly, I thought again about Johnny’s story.

Now, the wonder and magic of this moment dimmed somewhat as uncertainty and a little bit of fear kicked in. Why could Johnny see the water sparkling at all? He told us about it, but he didn’t elaborate. And the bigger question… why could we now see the same thing?

Oh my God. “The blood oath.”

Ethan jolted, then looked at his bandaged hand. “Holy shit… You’re right. But why? And… Do you think Johnny knew this would happen?”