Page 38 of The Tip-Off
“Lean down here and take a picture with me. Gotta capture the moment.”
She snorts, smiles, and bends down as I angle the camera to fit us into the frame. I’ve never taken a selfie before but turns out it’s easy with my long arms and Gabby’s beautiful face. I snap a couple and then hand the phone back to her.
After she deposits it on top of my clothes, she asks, “Was that your first selfie?”
“That obvious?”
She giggles. “Is that for your adoring fans?”
“Nah, that was for me.”
I pull myself out of the water and she takes a seat back on the dock, facing away from me and giving me privacy without my asking. Once I’m dressed, I join her, phone in hand.
I glance down at the pictures, opening them one by one and then stopping on my favorite. Her smile is biggest in this one and she looks so happy and relaxed. She’d tilted her head toward mine so the left side of her face is hidden. I sort of hate that. I hate that even in a post skinny dipping selfie where she’d just bared herself of clothing and modesty she’d already thought to hide her scars.
“I like this one,” I say and hold it out for her approval.
She nods and plays with the frayed hem of her shorts. “You should post it. It won’t be goat yoga popular, but it’s pretty close.”
“Yeah, alright.” I pull up my social media and upload the picture. “Got any suggestions for hashtags on this one?”
She takes my phone and types the caption, Late night swim at the lake with friends #collegedays #daysonthelake #nightswim #friendshipgoals #skinnydipping #seizetheday
There are about a dozen more hashtags, but my attention focuses on the last one. Seize the day.
17
Gabby
Saturday goes by in a blur.We go out on the boat, take turns on the jet skis, have lunch on the other side of the lake at a little spot that has live music and an outdoor bar, and then come back to the cabin for a nap with plans to go out as a group tonight.
I haven’t seen much of Nathan or Zeke. They both stayed back at the cabin today. Nathan was still sleeping when we left, and Zeke opted out so someone else could go on the boat.
I set the alarm on my phone for thirty minutes before the agreed meetup time and climb into bed fully clothed. I’m about to turn on my sleeping playlist when I remember Zeke said he’d made a new one for me.
I’m humming with anticipation as I scroll through Zeke’s playlists, skimming titles for one that might be new, uncertain what I’m looking for exactly but hoping I’ll know it when I see it. As it turns out, I do. At the very bottom of the list is one I’ve never seen before and his labeling makes it clear this one is for me.For Gabby. Concise and to the point.
When I open my playlist, my gaze snags on the sub-title,You’re beautiful on the outside too. My heart is pounding as I scan the list of songs. Each one has the word beautiful, sexy, hot, gorgeous, and my personal favorite, bootylicious, in the title.
When I press play and Snoop Dogg’s “Beautiful”plays, I laugh and sigh and swoon all at the same time. It’s the nicest and most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. And wait, Zeke thinks I’m beautiful? I don’t play it cool for even a second as I open my texts and send him a message to verify the new information.
Me: You think I’m beautiful?
He doesn’t respond until the fourth song is playing and I’m hanging on every word of “Beautiful” by Bazzi like Zeke is singing it to me himself.
Zeke: Found the playlist, huh?
Zeke: Yes, Gabby, I think you’re beautiful.
I give a little squeal and then remember he’s staying in the same cabin and quite possibly within hearing distance.
Me: What are you doing right now?
Zeke: At the driving range with some of the guys.
Me: Are you going out tonight?
Zeke: Yes. It’s non-negotiable fun according to Joel.
