Текст книги "Outside the Lines"

Автор книги: Emily Goodwin

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But he melts into me, practically squirming. Precum wets his cock and I swirl my thumb over the tip, spreading it down. He repositions himself so his dick rubs my clit. The wet warmth drives me wild and I need him inside me. He holds himself up on his elbows and brushes the hair out of my eyes, then kisses me.

I getting so wound up again. I widen my legs to urge him inside. We’re kissing again, and the passion is like something from a romance novel. This is really happening, right? He reaches down and strokes me for a few seconds before sliding his hand beneath my head, bringing my mouth even closer to his.

“I need you,” I whisper. “Now.”

The tip of his dick is almost inside me. “Left condoms…” he stops to kiss me. “…In wallet in car.”

“Well, fuck,” I pant. “Just pull out again.”

“Are you—” he cuts off with I lift my hips. “Sure?”

No, I’m not, but right now I’m not thinking logically. Again. Twice in a row…come on Felicity. You know better than that.

“I have some,” I say. They’re probably expired, but it’s better than nothing, right? Ben moves off me and I madly dig through the top drawer of my nightstand to find the crushed box shoved in the back. He puts it on with haste and we pick right back up where we left off.

I come three times before we’re through.

*

Once we’ve cleaned up, we settle back into bed together. I rest my head on Ben’s chest and he lazily runs his fingers through my hair. I don’t care what anyone says. Life seems pretty fucking perfect right now.

My phone vibrates on the nightstand next to us.

“Want me to get that for you?” he asks.

“Mhh,” I mumble, feeling sleepy. “It’s a text message. It’s probably my mom, asking if I’ve left yet. She still worries about me driving and needs to know when I leave so she can time shit out. Does it say ‘mom’ on the message?”

He grabs the phone.  “Uh, no. It’s your friend Erin … and she wants to know if you’re still experiencing severe anal itching and if your rash is gone.”

I pull away from him, completely horrified and embarrassed. It’s a joke. I can say it’s a joke. Right? Oh god. Fuck.

“Do you have something?” he asks slowly, face paling. “I think I should know if you do. I mean, I’ve spent quite a bit of time down there.” He grimaces. “Just tell me if you do. I know we never brought it up, and maybe that was my bad, but—”

“I don’t have anything,” I interrupt, burying my face in my hands. “I promise, I’m clean.”

“Then what is your friend talking about?”

I can’t look at Ben. Not now. Not ever. Oh my God I want to die.

“Felicity?”

“I got a wax to surprise you and had a reaction to the lotion they put on me after. I have stupid sensitive skin and scented lotion makes me break out in a rash.” My voice is muffled by my hands. I turn away dramatically and put a pillow over my head. “I didn’t want to tell you because it’s embarrassing!”

A few seconds tick by. Then Ben laughs. “I did notice how smooth you are. And you could have told me. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No,” I say, still hidden under the pillow.

Ben is laughing again. He takes my arm and gently pulls me. “Don’t be embarrassed.”

“Too late! I am.”

“Come on, it’s not that big of a deal. Don’t be a baby.”

“I am a baby,” I lament. He’s still laughing. “It fucking hurt!”

“The waxing or the rash?”

“Both, but I think the rash was worse. It’s gone now. I took Benadryl and it went away.”

“Sorry I’m laughing.”

“Apparently I’m the only one who doesn’t think it’s funny,” I mumble and let him pull me to his lap.

“Well, it’s better than being diseased. I don’t have anything either, in case you were wondering.”

I nod. “That’s good to know.”

He gives me my phone. “You should let your friend know. She just sent some graphic pictures to show her concern.”

I shake my head, but crack a smile. “I need to take that feature off so you can’t read my text on screen like that. Taken out of context, things can go very wrong.”

“At least you were here to clear it all up.”

I reply to Erin, then take a few minutes to snuggle with Ben. I’m a little sore, but it has nothing to do with the wax or the rash and everything to do with how hard he just railed me. So it’s sore in a good way, of course.

We get re-dressed to leave. I grab Ser Pounce and kiss his furry head.

“You have four bowls of water and three bowls of food. Don’t eat them all at once, Fatty.”

“I thought you said you didn’t like that cat,” Ben says and picks up my bag.

“I said I wanted a dog and got him instead. He’s grown on me though, like a fungus. I do love this grump. He’ll be fine though. He’s so lazy and I don’t think he’ll even notice I’m gone.” I set Ser Pounce down and put on my shoes. “Who’s taking care Harumi for you?”

“My mom,” he says. “She spoils that dog. She’ll be ten pounds heavier when we get back. It’s her subtle way of trying to make me feel guilty I haven’t given her any grandkids yet. I told her it’s her fault she didn’t have more kids. That’s a lot of pressure to put on me.”

“Yeah, very true. I have a brother and he’s getting married first, so the pressure is on him, thankfully.” I fish my keys out of my purse.

“I can drive,” Ben says and gets his own keys.

“I can’t make you do that. It’s my family’s party we’re going to.”

“I don’t mind,” he insists. “And you can keep your car in the garage then.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I kind of like driving.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re such a guy. And I kind of like that. Because I hate driving long distances.”

“Perfect.”

We load my stuff, I lock up the house, and then we’re off.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Since we left several hours earlier than planned, there is plenty of daylight left when we pull into my parents’ driveway. It’s filled with cars already, even though the official party doesn’t start until tomorrow.

“My brother is here,” I say. “Be prepared to meet Bridezilla.”

“She’s going to talk nonstop about the wedding, isn’t she?”

“I’m sure. It’s a week away. Like I get it’s stressful, but why freak out?” I shake my head. “Whatever. I’m all about getting drunk, getting tan, and having fun this weekend.”

Ben smiles. “I think we can manage that.”

“You can just park here,” I tell him and point to the spot behind Jake’s car. “We’ll drive to our cottage later after dinner.”

“We have our own cottage?” he asks.

“Yeah. I fake rented it out to make sure it would be reserved. Trust me, you don’t want to be inside that house when my mom and my aunt start drinking. Or maybe you do. It’s pretty entertaining. But my aunt stays in my old room, and my mom was going to set up the sleeper sofa in the basement for us.” My eyes widen and I shake my head. “I’m not doing that. Besides … the privacy is nice.”

Ben leans in and kisses me. “It is nice.” He puts the Audi in park. I grab my purse, jam my feet back into my shoes, and get out, leaving my bag in the car. “So do these cottages have electricity?”

“Yes. They’re pretty much like a little house with everything you could need. Even Wi-Fi, though the connection sucks so bad.” I can hear the waves crashing on the shore behind the house. We’re a ways away from the water, but I’m able to pick up on the rush of water. My gaze goes to the lake, and I feel a piece of my heart warm. I might be a little fond of my childhood home and growing up on the lakefront.

“You can kind of see them over there,” I say and motion to the side of my parents’ house. “There’s a boardwalk in the sand that connects everything: the house, the docks, and the cabins. But since we have bags, we can drive there and then walk in the morning.”

“Sounds good to me.”

We get out and walk up the house. “I should warn you, my mom can be a little, uh, overbearing sometimes.”

“She can’t be any worse than mine,” he says, almost under his breath.

“If she starts talking about what our children will look like, run. Well, not really. Just ignore her. She doesn’t mean to come off that way. She’s just totally oblivious to it.”

“My mom says the same,” he tells me with a smile. “She really thinks I should be married by now.” He rolls his eyes. “She wanted that five years ago too.”

Thinking about the wedding doesn’t bring on the same wave of pathetic sadness like it did before. I’m not going to start a Pinterest board for our future wedding—not yet at least—but having him here with me helps more than I thought it would.

I ascend the porch steps and get hit with nervousness. I told my mom I’m bringing a boyfriend, because explaining that Ben and I are casually dating and seriously fucking isn’t something I can do. But Ben hasn’t said he’s my boyfriend, and the potential embarrassment and disappointment scare me.

I open the front door and hear laughter coming from the kitchen. Ben still holds my hand as we walk in. My mom, dad, brother, and two of my aunts are crowded around the kitchen table, all with drinks in hand.

Great, Aunt Tilly is here. She’s hilariously obnoxious when she’s drunk, with emphasis on the obnoxious part.

“Felicity,” Mom says, looking almost startled. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon. And your hair is back to brown. I like it better this way!” She sets down her wine glass and comes over to hug me.

“I got off work early,” I say and give her a one-armed hug back.

“And this is—”

“Ben,” I interrupt before she can question our relationship. I hate being awkward like this, and I hate that I feel like I’m lying to Ben or something. Like if he doesn’t consider me his girlfriend, then I feel like a real loser for calling him my boyfriend. I’m a fucking adult. I need to get over this. I roll my eyes at myself.

“Nice to meet you,” Ben says and shakes my mother’s hand. She’s looking him up and down like he’s a mirage and might not be real … which is better than the way Aunt Tilly is looking at him. She has one eyebrow raised and runs her finger along the lip of her wine glass, fucking Ben with her eyes.

Ben, please don’t notice. Or notice but don’t care. I go around with introductions and open the fridge. I get a beer for Ben and a wine cooler for myself.

“Did you get a new car?” Jake asks me, looking outside. “You can afford a brand-new Audi?”

“I can,” I say, “if I don’t want to eat or pay my bills. But no, it’s Ben’s car.”

Jake turns to Ben and compliments the car, exchanging a few words about engines or something I know nothing about.

“So, Ben,” my other aunt asks. My mom has two sisters, Matilda—Tilly—and Miranda, and they all look alike. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m an artist,” he says.

“Oh, interesting!” Mom comes around the table and sits next to Dad. “What kind of artist?”

Ben smiles; he’s used to the questions. “I primarily paint, but I’ve gotten into sculpting more lately.”

“He has a gallery in Grand Rapids,” I say. “That’s how we met. I did some computer work for him.”

“If you ever need models,” Aunt Tilly says and dramatically flips her hair. “I can sacrifice my time for you.”

Mom and Aunt Miranda laugh, then watch us, waiting for more details.

“So, what’s the plan?” I ask, jumping right in and breaking up the stunned silence I’m still getting from my family. Way to make me feel good. Act like me bringing home a decent-looking guy with an expensive car is as rare as Loki handing over his scepter.

“The same as always,” Dad says, finally speaking for the first time. “BBQ chicken on the grill tonight, bonfire, and watch the early fireworks over the lake. Then it’s boat and booze time tomorrow with a little fishing thrown in!”

My aunts cheer. What does Ben think of us?

“The water’s a little choppy for water skiing,” Dad goes on. “But it’s perfect for tubing.”

“Tubing,” I inform Ben, “is Dad’s version of whipping you around the lake on an inflatable raft, laughing as you go flying off and declaring himself the winner.”

“Sounds fun,” Ben says with a smile.

“No one can beat me,” Dad boasts proudly.

“Dad,” I say, rolling my eyes yet smiling. “You can’t be beaten when you don’t get on the tube yourself.”

“Exactly,” he shoots back. “Though Felicity does hold the record for staying on the longest. Want to try and break the record this year?”

“You’re on.” Ben and I sit at the island counter. “Where’s Danielle?” I ask Jake.

“She went with her friend to see her sister. I guess she’s going through a divorce and is having a hard time. She’ll be here in the morning.”

“Bummer for Danielle’s sister.”

“It’s her friend’s sister,” Jake corrects. “You met the friend, Zoey, at the shower.”

“Oh, yeah,” I say, not recalling the girl at all. “Well, that’s nice of her to help her out.”

Jake nods, getting that love-struck look in his eyes again. “That’s just how she is. She’s bringing them with her tomorrow to help cheer her friend up.”

Dad stands. “Ben, do you know how to drive a boat?”

“I don’t,” Ben replies.

Dad flicks his eyes to me and I know exactly why he’s asking. He wants to talk to Ben, make sure he’s treating me well. I silently plead with my father to be nice. He gives me a wink then looks back at Ben. “Want to learn?”

“I’d love to.”

“Go on, you two get changed and meet me on the docks. Where are your bags?”

“In the car,” I say and go through the kitchen into the small office that’s crammed full of furniture and filing cabinets. I grab the keys for Cabin 18.

“That’s reserved,” Mom says, eyeing the numbers on the key chain.

“For Lily and James Potter,” I say and shake my head.

“How do you know?” Mom asks, generally surprised.

“And you call yourself my mother.” I let out a dramatic sigh. “Mom, I made the reservation.”

Her lips press together then she laughs before her face gets serious. “You two together … I don’t know, young lady.”

I cock an eyebrow. “Really, Mom.”

“Oh lighten up, Melissa,” Aunt Tilly says. “She’s a grown woman who lives on her own in another city. You think she never has overnight guests at her own place?”

“Fine,” Mom concedes. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“Love you too,” I say and dash around her. “We’ll meet you outside in fifteen, Dad.” I take Ben’s hand and pull him from the house. “Sorry,” I say when we’re in his car. “I told you they’re a bit much.”

“They’re family,” he says back. He starts the car, puts on his seatbelt and kisses me. “It’s perfect.”

*

I wake up wrapped in Ben’s arms. We stayed outside on the sandy shore until two AM, and the flames of the bonfire dwindled to nothing. Tired and tipsy, we stumbled our way to the cabin and had lazy sex in the shower before crashing in bed for the rest of the night. It’s nearing nine o’clock, and I already know we’ve missed whatever breakfast Mom cooked and served.

Oh well. We’ll make up for it with the feast she makes for lunch.

I sneak out of Ben’s arms and tip toe into the bathroom to pee, brush my teeth, and wash my face. My hair is still damp; I quickly brush it then put it in a braid to keep it from becoming a tangled mess from the lakefront breeze or the air whipping through my hair as we zip along the water in the boat.

I’m not even going to bother with makeup. I lift my arms to inspect the hair situation going on under them. Damn you, dark pit hair. I shave them dry, regret it immediately, then sneak back into bed.

Ben opens his eyes and pulls me in. “I woke up and you were gone,” he mumbles. “I didn’t like that.”

I’m smiling as I tangle myself around his naked body.  “Can I make it up to you?”

“I think so.” He pulls me in, squeezing me against him, then gets up to use the bathroom and get a drink. I roll out of bed, knowing we should get up and get moving or else Mom or one of my aunts will come down here to get us.

I put on my bikini. The top has fabric clam shells stitched onto the cups, and the bottoms are sparkly green with printed scales. I pull on the straps of the bikini. Being well endowed is a blessing and a curse. I can forego support and comfort for cleavage or get something with full coverage and hide these puppies.

I went with the mermaid suit with neither in mind. Because, mermaids. It wasn’t a hard choice at all. I pull on a white dress over top and slip my feet into flip-flops, then toss my phone and sunglasses into a beach bag. It’s big and I have room, so I throw in another dress in case this one gets soaked and I need to change. I get cold easily on the lake.

Ben comes out of the bathroom wearing gray swim trunks and a teal T-shirt. He has his sunglasses on his head, and his hair is still a rumpled mess from sleeping. He looks adorable.

“Ready?” I ask.

“If you are.”

“I am. We’ll eat breakfast at the house, and I’ll bring some snacks over with us tonight. I kinda forgot about it last night.”

“Good thinking. I’m starving.” We walk hand in hand down the boardwalk. The beach is already crowded with picnickers, and the water is dotted with boats. The sun is out in full force, with only a few clouds in sight.

It’s going to be perfect.

To my surprise, Danielle and her friends haven’t arrived yet. Ben and I eat warmed-over bacon and eggs—which isn’t as bad as it sounds—and go down to the dock with Jake to wait for his fiancé. The boat is loaded with beach towels, food and drinks. Dad makes sure everyone has a life vest, then goes to help some of the renters with the boat they checked out for the day.

Ben and I sit in the back of the boat. He drapes his arm around me and I do my best to take a few selfies of the two of us. I look like a hot mess: frizzy hair, red spots visible on my cheeks, and puffy tired eyes.

But I look happy.

That’s what matters. I like the picture and stash my phone in a cubby to keep it dry. I stretch out my legs, feeling the heat of the sun.

“Sorry if I blind you with my albino skin,” I say to Ben.

“It is hurting my eyes,” he says and shields his face with his hands. “You’re glowing.”

I elbow him. “Shut up.”

He grabs my arms. “You’re two different colors. Tan arms, tan face, but pale legs.”

We laugh. “I know. I used to be super tan all the time living by the lake. I don’t lay out or go tanning now, so this is the best I can get.”

“Maybe you’ll even out after today.”

“Maybe. But probably not. Is it bad I don’t care?”

“Not at all. I’m glad you don’t care.”

“Really?” Because I do care, just a bit. I want to look good head to toe, even though I know that’s a bunch of bullshit. People don’t really look like that.

“Really.” He seals it with a kiss. “I haven’t been out on the lake much,” he admits. “Even though I’ve lived in Michigan most of my life.”

“That’s kind of sad,” I tell him “I love the lake.”

“I don’t remember it being this big.” He looks out at the water. “And with traveling for the military, it made family vacations hard to plan. We went to Disney World a few times, but that was kind of it.”

“I’m glad you’re here with me now. We can make up for it.”

“This definitely helps,” he says with a smile. “And my childhood wasn’t bad or anything. Just different, I suppose, than most.”

“It makes me feel like I took mine for granted. As many times as I wanted out of this town when I was a teen, it would have been ten times harder to start over multiple times.”

He nods. “You get used to it. Well, I assume most people do.”

Jake stands and waves to Danielle as she comes into view. Ben is still talking about the lake and something that has to do with his childhood, but his words go in one ear and out the other.

Danielle leads the way down the dock. She’s wearing a bright-red bikini with a white scarf tied around her waist. Her sandals are jeweled and sparkle in the sun. Her hair falls in loose waves around her face. She smiles behind oversized sunglasses, looking ridiculously put together for someone in a swimsuit. Her friend Zoey, who I recognize now as the tall girl who scoffed at me during the shower, is next to her. She’s too done-up too, but she’s nothing compared to the tan woman walking next to her.

White wedge heels cover her feet, attached to lean legs, smooth and golden. My gaze travels up to her thin waist, tight and small with just a hint of muscle. Her bikini top is as small as her bottoms, hardly covering large, perfectly round breasts.

Her face is hard to see behind large sunglasses and a floppy hat. But I know who she is right away.

Mindy fucking Abraham.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I blink. I’m still drunk. Got too much sun already. I’m dreaming. No, I’m having a nightmare.

I can’t stop watching Mindy walk toward us. My blood boils and my skin prickles as the devil herself nears. My heart skips a beat. Mindy is Zoey’s sister. Holy fuck, the universe really does hate me, doesn’t it?

My mind immediately goes into stupid compare-mode. Mindy is tall, thin, toned, and tan. Her breasts, though fake, are perky and shaped like beach-balls, holding themselves in place. Her makeup is flawless and not a strand of hair is out of place in the fishtail braid that falls over her shoulder.

Wait a second. Her hair isn’t really that long. Seriously? She put in extensions just for today?

I blink again.

No. No, no, no. And why the fuck is Erin not getting here until after noon?

“Felicity?” Mindy says, literally stopping in her tracks. Our eyes have met. I should turn to stone or something, right? She flicks them to Ben. “And Ben?”

Ben turns, looking confused to see his secretary standing before us.

“You guys know each other?” Jakes asks, helping Danielle into the boat.

“She works for me,” Ben says matter-of-factly and my head shakes, still wishing I would lie and say I have no idea who the fuck this blonde bimbo is.

“What are you doing here?” Mindy asks, and I’m not sure if she’s talking to me or Ben. She looks at her friends, my brother, Ben, and then me, playing the Which One of These Does Not Belong game.

Clearly, it’s me.

“This is my boat,” I say and blink. Jake helps Danielle and Zoey into the boat, unaware of the complete nuclear disaster that’s taking place right now. Mindy takes her sunglasses off and looks at Ben.

“And you’re here…?”

Ben arm is still around me. His fingers press into my waist and he leans a little closer. “I’m here with Felicity.”

Mindy squeezes her sunglasses so hard I think they are going to break. “You two are here together?”

“Generally, that’s what ‘I’m here with’ means,” Ben quips, and I see a side of him I haven’t really seen yet: annoyed. At least I’m not the only one instantly irritated by Mindy.

“Min,” Zoey starts, turning around. “Aren’t you coming?”

Jake is still standing by the dock, hand out, waiting to help Mindy into the boat. She shakes herself, smiles, and climbs aboard.

“I don’t get it,” Mindy says as Jake works on untying us from the dock. “How…” She shakes her head and looks at each of our faces again. “How do you know them?”

“Jake is my brother,” I say slowly so she can follow along. “He’s getting married to Danielle, who’s friends with Zoey, who apparently is your sister. And I invited Ben for the weekend.”

I grab a wine cooler from the insulated bag full of alcohol and ice and twist off the cap, needing booze. A lot of booze. I’m spending the holiday with Mindy fucking Abraham.

Deep breaths. It’ll be fine.

I lean back against Ben and let my head rest on his shoulder. The boat idles out past the no-wake zone and Jake pushes it ahead out to sea. Okay, out to lake.

Water splashes the girls up front and they shriek like the Wicked Witch of the West and dash back behind the windshields … and closer to Ben and me.

“It’s so cool you and Mindy know each other!” Danielle says, much to Mindy’s chagrin. I know she talked shit about me when they were up front. “Crazy how small the world is.”

“Crazy,” I echo.

“And Mindy knows him,” she goes on, eyeing Ben. “It’s like it’s meant to be or something.”

“That’s not the words I’d use to describe this,” I mumble and Ben stifles a chuckle.

“So,” Danielle says carefully. “Do you have a date for the wedding? Jake says no but…” Her eyes go to Ben and Mindy snickers.

“Looks like it’s the singles table for you,” Mindy says softly, but we can still hear her.

“I’m her date,” Ben says and puts his hand on my thigh.

“Oh, great!” Danielle says and turns away. I let out a breath and watch the lake zoom by. I know where we are going. It’s a small, man-made cove off the shore that’s perfect for swimming. Or just floating and drinking, in our case. It’s about half an hour away from the dock. The girls chatter about wedding stuff, all the while Mindy shoots us dirty looks. Is it my imagination or is she glaring at Ben and not so much me? Ben tells me about some upcoming projects he’s working on, and says I’ve been a good muse.

I take that as a huge compliment.

“Nice Ariel suit,” Mindy says when the boat slows down outside the cove.

“Thanks,” I say, incorrectly thinking for a split second she’s actually complimenting me.

“Are those supposed to be sea shells?” She peers over the top of her sunglasses. “And where did you find that, the kids’ section?” She turns to her sister, expecting her to flash me the same nasty look. Zoey looks down and I know she’s torn between laughing and agreeing and not insulting her best friend’s soon-to-be sister-in-law.

“They’re clams,” I say and look down at my breasts. “And if a store put out double-D-sized tops in a kids’ section I’d be concerned.” I’m not quite a double, but I do fill out a D nicely. Mindy doesn’t need to know that, though.

“I like it,” Ben says, leaning forward to look at my boobs. “It looks good on you.”

“Thanks,” I say. “Everyone wants to be a mermaid, whether they admit it or not. At least for a day.”

Mindy just scoffs and turns around. Jake bitches at me to get up and help him anchor the boat, since I know how to do it. A few long minutes later, we’re ready to jump into the chilly water. Ben jumps in, going under. I slowly lower myself down the ladder off the swim deck.

Legs in. No problem.

Getting my pelvis in. That’s a problem. I suck in a breath and go down another step.

“Come in,” Ben says, treading water. “It’s not bad.”

“It’s cold!” I protest and slowly go down another step. I’m on the last one. Crap. Getting my nipples in the cold water is the worst. I mentally count to three then push off the small ladder. I doggie paddle over to Ben, who is holding my lifejacket. I push it under water and use it as a seat. Ben tries to wrap his arms around me and kiss me, but accidentally pushes me off my floaty seat. He catches me and we both go under. Laughing, he pulls me up.

Jake jumps in next, and Danielle sits on the swim deck and dangles her feet in the water.

“Hey, Liss,” Jake says and paddles over. “I just realized … Mindy is the same Mindy who used to bully you in school, right?” I don’t want to agree and let Ben know our history. The past is in the past, but it still embarrasses me. And it shouldn’t. So my embarrassment shames me. Win win for everyone.

Not.

“I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have let her come if I knew.”

“It’s fine.” I brush it off. I can’t look at Ben in the eye right now. I want to sink below the surface and never return. Well, I’ll return in like thirty seconds. I can’t hold my breath very long.

Jake gives me a lopsided smile and I know he genuinely feels bad. Though he’s younger than me, he took his role of brother seriously when we were growing up and stood up for me as much as he annoyed me. He turns and works on coaxing Danielle into the water. I grab Ben’s hand and pull him into the cove. The shore is rocky and covered in weeds, making it undesirable for beach goers. Which is desirable for us boaters, who like the calmness of the water without the hassle of dealing with the boat getting tossed into a swimmer.

“Your tits really do look fucking fantastic in that,” Ben says as we get away from the boat. “They look fucking fantastic on their own too. You can ditch the top anytime.”

“Tonight, baby. They’re all yours.”

“And sorry if saying I was your date imposed,” he says.

“No, not at all.” We try to embrace but end up bumping legs as we both tread water to stay afloat. “I wanted to ask you, but wasn’t sure if you’d even want to go. I know weddings can be kinda lame.”

He nods, agreeing. “Being with you isn’t lame.”

“Thanks,” I say and let my arms fall, giving up on swimming and kissing. I float on my back, spreading my arms and legs out to keep myself up. “I was seriously dreading being stuck at the singles table again since they’re not doing the head table with the whole bridal party. Or be put with my parents like a loser.”

Ben laughs softly. “You’re not a loser now.”

“You don’t mind going?” I ask, unable to hide my insecurities. “I know you have a lot going on.”

“Do you want me to go?”

“Yes. I really do.”

“Then no, I don’t mind at all. I want to make you happy,” he tells me. “And I don’t want you to feel like a loser.”

I laugh. “That’s very considerate of you. And now I’m actually looking forward to the wedding.” A weight I didn’t know was on my shoulders lifts. Not only do I have a date to my brother’s wedding, but it’s the best possible date ever.

Ben stacks our lifejackets together and sits on them, then pulls me into his lap. With a little paddling, we are able to keep our bodies locked and stay above the surface.

“It’s nice here,” Ben says, moving his head down to kiss me. “Did you come out here a lot when you lived here?”

“We did. I feel like this is our little spot of the lake. I get pissed when I see other people here, like those guys over there.” I narrow my eyes at the other boats, who no doubt feel the same about us. “The seaweed is pretty bad so a lot of boaters don’t bother. That’s why the boat’s way out there and we have to swim here. And the shore isn’t good for laying out or playing or anything. The water is calm and it’s quiet. I like it.”

“I do too. I imagine the lake isn’t always this crowded either.”

“Not at all. Weekends are pretty full, but not as bad as a holiday. I like coming out during the week at the beginning and end of summer, when the kids are still in school.”

“More privacy,” Ben says and kisses my neck.

“What about you?” I ask. “What did you spend your summers doing?”

“Typical, boring stuff,” he laughs. “I played sports and hung out with friends. I did camps when I was younger. And by younger, I mean I went until I was fifteen.”

“They still let fifteen year olds in camps?” I tease.

“They let you go even longer. We lived in the same place for all of my high school years, so I had friends to hang out with then. Summers were boring, but winters were more fun. I like to snowboard.”