AllFreeNovel
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“Well, here’s her text.” I read the text out loud in my best Gracelyn voice.
Bestie: Sloane—please, please, please come out on the boat with me. You and Cam both. I cannot go out there alone
Bestie: PLEASE!
“That’s in all caps by the way,” I say, waving the screen close to his face so he can see.
“A shouty text. She must be desperate,” Cam teases, chuckling.
Bestie: If Jamie’s there, she may throw me overboard and leave me to the gators
“Gracelyn’s so dramatic.” I roll my eyes at the phone. “Well, what do you think? Want to go? I know tomorrow’s your rest day.”
I’m not too thrilled about having to share Cam with the world on one of our last full days together before the summer schedule starts. But Gracelyn’s having a mini-crisis, so I figure I need to show up for her. I would’ve been lost without her this spring, so a boat day with the gang’s the least I can do.
“Do you want to go, Trouble?” He squints at me over his shoulder, the TV screen casting shadows on his face in the dim light of the living room.
“We can. I mean, I feel like I need to go. For Gracelyn.”
“Okay. Tell her to count us in.”
I tap out the message before settling back onto the sofa, scooting as close to Cam as I dare with my dad home in the other room.
Cam drives us out to the lake for the boat day, giving me ample time to field Gracelyn’s litany of texts.
Bestie: You excited about boat day? Cam in a bathing suit, am I right?
I can’t help but giggle at my friend.
Sloane: Yes, should be fun
Bestie: Sexy fun, yessss!
Bestie: You guys almost here? Lots of people already
Bestie: Where ARE you?
Bestie: SLOANE! Are you almost here?
Sloane: Relax. We’re parking
“Sloane! Cam! So glad you two could finally make it!” Nick taps the face of his watch as we walk over to the boat launch, a white captain’s hat slightly askew on his shaggy hair. “Okay, guys—everyone’s here now so we’re good to go! Hop aboard.”
At his command, a crush of people scrambles onto the boat.
“Hey, beautiful.” Nick extends his hand out to me, helping me up, and I smile at him.
“Hey, yourself. Thanks for inviting us.”
“You’re welcome, anytime. Drinks are in the cooler, along with some snacky-snacks.”
Cam follows right behind me and Nick shouts toward the back of the boat. “Crank up the tunes, boys—let’s get ready to party!”
Nick takes his place at the helm, easing the boat away from the dock as the music ratchets up. The fiberglass deck thrums with the beat of the bass and the vibration of the motor. Cam and I take a seat, wedging in between Gracelyn and Frisco.
The boat idles slowly through the no-wake zone, then we pick up speed as we move into deeper water. The wind whips my ponytail around behind me and I’m acutely aware of Cam next to me. Our thighs touching, warmth radiates from his skin, his clean scent winding around me and mixing with the humid marine air. I sneak a quick glance over at him and a hot blush creeps into my cheeks when we lock eyes. His pinky brushes mine and I fight the urge to wrap my finger around his, instead clasping my hands together.
The music’s loud, and coupled with the wind, it’s impossible to hold a conversation, so I don’t even try. Instead, I relax back into the seat and enjoy the ride out to the sandbar. It’s a trip I’ve made hundreds, if not thousands, of times, but today feels different, more charged—and I have a sneaking suspicion I know why. He’s tall, dark, and impossibly gorgeous. Also so far out of my league I’m not sure we’re even in the same galaxy, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting him.
