Page 55 of Meet the Teacher

“Let’s do it!” Ryker says.

We all make our way over to the tent with the jet ski rentals. The woman running the tent is smoking a cigarette and reading a book. When we approach the stand, she pauses from her book to look up at us. “Can I help y’all?” she asks.

“Yes ma’am,” Zayn says. “We got three Sea-Doo rentals.”

“Three?” Mason interrupts, looking around the group. “There’s six of us.”

“Well, we can couple up on them, duh.” Natalie wraps her arms around Mason’s neck. “Share a jet ski with me, please babe? Hope that new boyfriend of yours won’t mind,” she teases.

“Alright, if I have to,” Mason replies, dragging out the last word. “But, if Adam shows up, I’m tossing you in the water, bitch.”

Zayn and I exchange a glance instantly. “Your new guy’s name is . . . Adam?” I ask.

“Oh, yikes,” Mason says before taking his hand to cover a dramatic gasp. “Yes, sorry. Completely different Adam. One hundred percent. I can’t even believe I didn’t make that connection.” Mason places his hand on his hip.

“Anyway,” the woman at the counter says, putting out her cigarette in an empty beer can. “Everyone, come over here and grab a life jacket. It’s mandatory you keep them on. Next to those, you’ll find a safety card. Read it over before driving. Last thing I need is signatures on this page from everyone for our liability waivers. Any questions?”

None of us say a word as we follow her directions. “Alright kids, here’s the keys for three of our Sea-Doos. Take care of those babies and have a good time. I’ll be over here if you have any questions. “

“Thank you very much,” I say. I turn around to everyone and say, “Life jackets—check. Safety cards—check. Signatures—almost check.” I grin at Natalie and Taylor who are the last two to sign.

“We’re almost done,” Taylor announces.

“Okay, I’ll say signatures—check.” I watch as Zayn hands a set of keys to Ryker and Mason. Mason shakes his head and points to Natalie, so he hands the set to her instead.

I hold one hand out to Zayn. “Keys, please?”

“Wait, what? You’re driving us?” he asks.

I fold my arms across my chest and scoff. “Yeah, it’s on my WOLO list. I feel like driving it needs to happen.”

“Oooh, she’s got ya there, dude,” Ryker says like we’re in high school again.

Zayn hesitates and blows out a breath. “Okay, fine. Here’s the keys. Don’t get us killed.”

“No promises,” I say with a wink. He places them in my hand, and I take off into to the water. I reach the jet ski, push it out further into the water, and hop on. Zayn runs to catch up and yells, “Hey don’t take off on that thing without me.”

He hops on the back of it and wraps his arms around my waist. My skin prickles at his touch and a shiver shoots down my spine. He hardens against my back. I glance down at what looks like millions of goosebumps forming on my legs. They don’t last long as the heat from his skin radiates through me. I might need to hop into the water after this just to cool down.

“You ready?” I ask, tilting my head back toward him. My body pressed against his chest sets a fire in my heart.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” he says. I pop the key attached to the keychain bracelet into the designated area before pressing the red start button. We jolt forward.

“Um, how do I get this thing to go?” I yell to Zayn, my hands in the air.

I watch as Zayn takes his hand and guides it to the right handle, showing me the accelerator. “Don’t!” he warns, but too late. I squeeze down on it too tight and we bunny hop forward.

The warmth from his hands disappears, and he goes flying off the back of the jet ski. My peripherals show me a flailing Zayn, suspended in midair. By the time I slow down and turn my head to look, I see nothing but choppy water. No sign of Zayn.

Ryker yells out to me, “He’s somewhere there. You’ve got to turn around.”

I give a thumbs up before circling back to the location Ryker pointed out.

A few seconds later, I see his head teetering above the water. Natalie shouts, “Zayn, stay where you are! Autumn is coming to you!”

His arms flail above his head.

“I’m coming! I call out to him, getting closer.

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