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Show All the Variables & Other Love Stories 74 She lowered herself into the water and swam to him. He held her in his arms, stroking her hair and kissing her face. A thought occurred to Zach and he held her at arms length, "I used to look at you through the window," he said. "The curtain was open and the light was on and I would watch you get out of the shower and dry off. Did you know I could see you?" Cara blushed and nodded, yes, she knew. Zach laughed, held her to him, and kissed her brow. She removed her bikini top, bade him kiss her breasts like small babes. It seemed ridiculous they'd met at the pool for now it was obvious what both meant to do. They dressed quickly and returned to his room. They left the lights out, the only sound the condemning tick of a wind up clock. Their mouths had trouble finding one another in the dark. Zach tried to enter her too soon and she shrank beneath him, shifted, stroked herself. Their eyes adjusted as they bled together, and for a time Zach feared he couldn't come but then came too soon. Cara sighed, caressed him lightly. Zach slept fitfully and woke in the grip of a razed knee. He watched daylight rove the sodden hotel room floor confused and deeply disgusted, knew what he must do and was revolted. He considered keeping quiet, going back to bed as if normal, living a lie to protect Cara's feelings, but knew eventually it would be worse that way. Cara touched his back and he flinched. He felt nauseous, warned her away with his eyes. A vagueness came over her, glazed her face featureless as glass and she reached for her jacket to hide from his weeping eyes. He limped to dress too conscious of Cara's watching. He convulsed mutely at something frightening about himself though not so horrible as first he thought. He heard the clock drone and he heard Cara crash the fifty dollar bill to her open breast. Standing |