Page 119 of Too Safe

We had to take off our shoes, which, again, didn’t surprise Hunter. She humored me and tagged along as I explored every inch of the boat, though she was less impressed.

Security is tight. And I understand now why Decker was so concerned about people coming and going. There’s a limit of forty people on each boat to start, operating under the assumption that several people will ship hop each hour.

Rumor has it there’s a standby line curving around the marina.

Being out on the water is incredible. Hunter and I ate our fill from the buffet, then we watched the sun set. Each yacht really came to life when the individual DJs synced up the sound systems and the lights contrasted against the sky.

Hunter is caught up chatting with another prelaw major by the bar, so I’ve spent the last ten minutes wandering around and people watching.

One of the downsides to being on a seventy-foot yacht? It’s only seventy feet long. Meaning it’s hard to completely avoid the attention of a certain someone who despises me.

I’ve felt Kendrick’s eyes on me more than once tonight. He hasn’t said a single word to me since he raged against me on the sidelines of the football game last weekend.

Haughtily, I look up and watch him without shame. He stares back, challenging me to look away. I don’t. I’m tired of being intimidated by him. I’m tired of accepting his bad behavior. So I lift my water bottle his way in a mock toast, offering him a saccharine smile. His expression darkens, and I swear if I didn’t know how he really felt about me, I would think there’s more than vitriol behind the intensity of his emotions.

Eventually, someone calls his name, and he’s forced to look their way.

I smile and silently congratulate myself on my victory, no matter how minor.

My phone vibrates in my pocket.

Kylian: You should come find me on the sapphire boat.

Jo: Should I now?

Kylian: Are you being cheeky? Or do you want a list of reasons?

I grin at his candor. Of course he’d offer to list out all the reasons I should seek him out. But it’s unnecessary. I’m more than willing to come when he calls.

Jo: Give me half an hour. Locke and Hunter are on this boat with me. I want to see what they want to do.

I stash my phone, intent on finding Locke, but I don’t have to look far.

“Hot Girl,” he croons, wrapping his big arms around me from behind before I’ve taken a single step. “Come dance with me,” he whispers in my ear.

I nod, barely holding back the excited squeal threatening to spill out as he leads me to the dance floor.

We dance. And we laugh. We make the most of the crowd, boldly touching and even kissing as we get lost in the music and work up a sweat.

Eventually and reluctantly, I duck out of Locke’s hold. He cocks his head in question, and I motion to him that I need water.

He nods in understanding but grabs me before I can leave the dance floor and pulls me close, pressing his very hard erection into my hip.

“I want another dance later, Joey. On this boat or in my bed tonight. Your pick.”

I swoon on the inside and give him a coquettish smile in return.

“I’m going to look for Hunter. I’ll find you later,” I yell over the pulse of the music.

I stop by the bathroom first. After taking care of business, I crack open a bottle of cold water and find a quiet spot to look out at the other boats, enjoying the breeze off the lake. I want to hop over and find Kylian sooner rather than later. I also wouldn’t mind bumping into Decker. If I’m lucky, maybe they’re on the same boat. Kylian is on the blue yacht, but something in my gut tells me Decker is on the red one.

“Excuse me, are you Joey?”

The crew member on one of the tenders smiles when I look his way. We’re on the opposite side of where guests are loading and unloading, but there’s a hatch near where I’m standing, too.

“Oh, yeah, I am. Hi.”

Awkward. But the guy gives me a reassuring smile.

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