Page 79 of Sweet Heat at Bayside
He started the engine on the boat and sped toward the overpass on Seaport Boulevard.
“There she is!” Rick pointed toward the road.
Serena was walking toward the overpass, looking hot in a sexy red dress, high heels, and the sunglasses they’d bought together. She had on the bracelet he’d given her. Her hair was pinned up, and she wore a happy expression. Drake imagined she could still taste that doughnut.Theirdoughnut.
He turned on the boat’s PA system and spoke into the mic. “Attention, Supergirl! SerenaSupergirlMallery!”
Serena’s head whipped in their direction, and she ran toward the overpass, grinning and waving. Her hair tumbled out of its tethers and over her shoulders.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please clear the way,” he announced. “My girl’s coming through.”
The people on the overpass cheered and clapped as Serena ran to the railing. She grabbed it with both hands and hung over, yelling, “You’re here!”
Desiree, Emery, Rick, Dean, Matt, Mira, and Hagen waved from the deck.
Serena squealed as a crowd formed around her. “You’reallhere!”
“Hey there, beautiful,” Drake said into the mic. “We missed you. Head on down to the boardwalk. We’ll pick you up there.”
She took off running in her heels like they were sneakers. Their friends, and people on the overpass,whooped, cheering her on and waving. Drake’s heart was so full of her, his chest ached.
Hagen jumped up and down. “I can’t see her!”
Matt lifted him up so he could see better.
Drake put the mic in front of Hagen, and the little cutie said, “Go, Auntie Serena. Go!”
A few minutes later Drake climbed over the railing by the boardwalk, and she leapt into his arms, pressing her smiling lips to his. Mira captured the whole thing on video.
“You’re crazy! I love you!” Serena said between kisses, her happy, salty tears slipping between their lips.
“Crazy in love with you, baby. Did you think I could go tubing without my girl? My sun goddess? Not a chance.”
“Hurry up!” Mira urged. “Before we get in trouble for stopping here.”
“Come on.” Drake knelt and removed Serena’s heels and handed them and her bag over the railing to Emery. With Dean and Rick’s help, they lifted Serena over the railing and onto the boat, where all the girls hugged her at once.
Hagen wiggled from Matt’s arms and hugged Serena’s legs. His bright-blue life preserver made it difficult for him to get close. “We brought you cake!”
“Cake! I love cake!” Serena said, hugging him back.
Desiree pointed to a box with several pieces of cake in it. “We brought the tasting to you!”
“You’re the best friends ever!” Serena said, hugging everyone again. “Thebest! I can’t believe you’re all here!”
When she finally landed in Drake’s arms again, she wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to speak, then crushed herself to him, hugging him so tightly, he didn’t know how she could breathe.
“Thank you,” she said against his chest. “I might have to strip down to my bra and undies, though. I have no bathing suit.”
“I brought one. Shorts, sandals, even your hair stuff to pin it up, just in case.”
She gazed up at him, her hazel eyes brimming with love. “Just when I don’t think I can stand another minute away from you, you make everything feel possible. If I’m your Supergirl, you’re definitely my Superman.”
“I like Superman!” Hagen piped in. “Can I call you Superman, Uncle Drake?”
Everyone laughed.
Gazing into Serena’s eyes, Drake said, “You can call me anything you want, buddy.” He leaned closer to Serena and whispered, “As long as you call meyours.”
