"You don't have to say it," Caden assures her, but he's smiling. "But you're welcome anyway."

He puts his fingers under her chin and kisses her again, pulling her into a hug for a long moment before letting go. His fingers curl around her shoulders and he looks at her fondly, jerking his chin out towards deeper water. "Go swim if you need to, but come back to me when you're done, alright? I'll be here."