Page 37 of Losing Forever
“Why?”
I inch farther toward the shallow end, stopping where the water still covers my boobs, and hold out my arm. “My scars burn easily and become more prominent.”
“Oh.” He frowns then glances toward the Gulf as if considering something. “What about sunblock or a cover-up? Do those help protect you?”
“I have on sunblock, and I can't swim in a cover-up.”
“You can swim in anything, actually.” He smirks. “I could swim in these clothes right now.”
I swallow. “Please don’t.”
“I won't, but I'm curious about something.”
My stomach tightens. I don't know what he's curious about, but I can't imagine it's good or not embarrassing to me. “I’m afraid to ask.”
His shoulders drop. “The last thing I want is for you to be afraid of me. Bray, Idowant to be friends. And I want to make up for how I've been acting by taking you out on the boat.” He glances toward the everglades and the dock. “There's a private island I'd love to show you. Noah and I used to go there when we were teens. We'd sneak the boat out at night and party there. It's cool, with lots of shade.” His gaze finds mine. “Is that something you think you could do in a cover-up and with lots of sunblock?”
A day on a boat and a private island sounds amazing. I haven't been on a boat since my dad took the family out on his catamaran. It had been chilly and nothing like a boat ride here would be like.
“Your silence is making me sweat,” Grayson teases.
“That's the humidity, not me. But, yes, I'd like to go on the boat with you.”
His face lights up with a beautiful smile.
It makes me happy to know I put it there. “Should I pack a cooler with some sandwiches and drinks?”
His smile gets even bigger. “Hell yeah. Pack whatever you need and leave it for me to carry. I'll go get changed and then we'll head to the boat.”
His excitement hits me with a rush of my own. “Okay.” My cheeks burn from the big grin on my face. Have I ever smiled this widely?
He grabs my towel and holds it near the edge of the pool.
I point toward the steps. “Just set it on the patio over there, please. I'll get it in a minute.”
His brows tighten with suspicion. To my relief, he does as I ask and lays it on the pavers bordering the pool.
“Thank you,” I say.
He gives me another questioning look.
I duck under the water and swim to the deep end, hoping he'll leave before I come up for air.
When I break through the surface, he's at the top of the stairs, headed into the house.
Phew. My tension eases and is replaced with excitement. I hurry to the steps where my towel awaits.
I can do this.I have a long-sleeve cover-up. It's super short, so I shouldn't be too hot. I'll grab my hat for the scar at my hairline and constantly load myself up with sunblock. It'll be fine. Besides, the boat has a shade awning and he said the island has shade, too.
Not sure what he plans to do once we’re there. A brief image of us on a towel, making out, flashes in my mind.
I shove it way down and dry off, so I can get to work on making those sandwiches.
14
Grayson
Braylee anchors herself to the seat beside mine as I drive the boat. Salty air blasts my face and blows my hair back. The water is only a little choppy. Fluffy clouds break up the blue sky and cross over the sun, blocking the direct rays and making the temperature bearable. In short, it's a perfect day, made even more perfect because of the beautiful girl beside me.
