Page 60 of I Could Be Yours

“Same,” Lexi agrees.

“I only venture into freshwater bodies and pools,” Lavender notes without apology.

Dred holds up her book. “I’m ninety percent of the way through and sort of desperate to finish.”

The rest of us pull ourselves out of the pool, tuck our feet into slides, and follow the guys to the rental station. There are three couples and five singles, but only seven personal watercrafts available.

“I’ll hang back with the girls,” I offer.

Flip raises his hand, but Nate smacks it down. “You can ride with me.”

Rix, Hemi, and Hammer are too busy letting their significant others adjust their life jackets to notice the way Flip snickers and Nate glares at him. And Roman is too focused on his best friend adjusting his daughter’s bathing suit bottom to catch it.

I shrug. “Uh, sure, that works.”

I put on my life jacket and follow Nate to our watercraft.

He flips the key around his finger. “Do you want to drive?”

“Uh, you can take the wheel for now.” The water is choppy, and it’s been a few years since I’ve been on one of these.

He grabs the handlebar to steady the machine and holds out a hand. Heat travels through my fingers and tightens my nipples as I slip my palm into his. It was tough not to invite him over a couple of nights ago, but waiting until we were in Aruba seemed like the smarter plan.

I straddle the seat and shimmy back, making room for him. He’s still wearing his sunglasses, so I can’t see his eyes, but his lip twitches and that space between his brow creases as hemoves to sit in front of me. I slide forward until my legs bracket his. He pushes away from the dock and turns the engine over.

“Hold on!” he calls over the rev of the motor.

I grip the sides of his life jacket as he hits the gas, and we bump across the clear blue water. At first, it’s super fun. How could it not be? The sun is shining, the wind is in my hair, I’m surrounded by the ocean, and I’m wrapped around the hot guy who will eventually end up in my bed later tonight, when everyone else has gone to sleep.

But Nate is Nate. And when the guys start doing donuts and jumping each other’s wakes, I’m forced to hold on for dear life because Nate joins in. He launches us over a wake, making us airborne for several seconds before we hit the water again, and I nearly lose my hold.

“What the hell, Nate!” I shriek, clinging to him as he spins us around and heads for another wake.

“Hold on tight,” he calls over his shoulder.

I adjust my grip, but I can’t secure myself in time. He launches us over another wave, and I’m tossed into the air. A second later I hit the water, and a huge wave smacks me in the face. I splutter and cough as ocean water goes up my nose and into my mouth. Panic follows swiftly on its heels. Like most of the people in our group, I grew up swimming in fresh lake water, where there are no sharks who might think my feet are a tasty snack. It’s fine near the shore, but out here…who knows what’s lurking under the surface?

“Nate! Get me out of the water!” I’m annoyed at how shrill my voice is and how quickly the irrational thoughts take hold.

Nate circles me, just as I imagine a shark would.

“Now! Get me out now!” I shout.

He gets in close and cuts the engine. “Calm down, Ess. What are you afraid of?”

“Calm down?! Don’t tell me to calm down! What if a shark bites my foot off? How will I walk down the aisle for my best friend if I don’t have a foot?”

“You’re more likely to get stung by a jellyfish than bitten by a shark.”

“Not fucking helpful, Nathan!” I’m thrashing like a freaking walrus.

“Stop flailing so I can help.” Nate holds out his hand, and I curl my fingers around his. He pulls me closer, and I wrap my free hand around his ankle. He moves it to his shoulder. “Now link your hands behind my neck so I can pull you up.”

I do as he says, and the watercraft rocks toward me.

“It’s going to tip! Don’t let it tip or we’ll both be in the water!” I’m back to freaking out.

“It won’t tip if you don’t thrash.”

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