Page 52 of A Second Chance At Forever

“Joey, I’m going out on the boat with Trent. Do you think you can hold down the fort?”

“That’s fine, sweetie.”

“Thanks, Joe.”

Walking out the door, Nicole approached me. “Hey babe, where are you going?”

Fuck.

I felt my shoulders slump knowing what I was in for. “I’m going out on the boat with Trent and Sarah.” I hoped like hell she didn’t notice Lennox and Alissa.

She peeked her head around and noticed them as soon as I closed my mouth.

“And Lennox and her little friend, it looks like.”

“Sarah invited them. I didn’t know she was going when I accepted.” Great, now I’m lying.

“Do you mind if I come?” She looked up at me with a big smile.

“Yeah, if you want.” I didn’t know what else to say. I couldn’t tell her no, then she would wonder why I wanted to be alone with Lennox.

“Great, let’s go.” She took my hand, leading me down toward the dock.

“Mase,” I heard Dane shout from behind me.

I turned to see him jogging toward me with a small cooler. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going with.”

“You know Alissa is going, right?”

“Yep.” He had a big smile.

Great, this is going to be a fantastic fucking day. Alissa has already run away from Dane once before. Then you have Lennox, Nicole, and myself. What kind of shit am I getting into?

I let out a sigh and headed toward the boat. When we approached, I heard Lennox and Alissa whispering quietly to one another, probably trying to figure out how to get off the boat without anyone noticing.

“Dane? You’re going?” Trent questioned.

“That’s right, fucker. Now get us out of here quick before anyone can get off.” Dane lightly punched Trent’s shoulder. I helped Nicole on the boat and Trent and I untied it. Once we were all on board, Trent started up the engine and steered away from the dock.

There we were, Lennox, Sarah, and Alissa sitting around a table trying not to make eye contact. Nicole sat across from them, smiling like she didn’t have a fucking clue as to what was going on. Dane and I, hovered around Trent, trying to keep our distance from the girls. We were still close enough to shore that they could jump overboard and swim back. And I was sure they would, just to get away from us.

“Who wants a beer?” Sarah asked standing.

“I do,” Lennox and Alissa said in unison.

“Nicole?” Sarah questioned.

“Oh, no thanks,” she answered while smiling sweetly.

Lennox shot her the dirtiest look she could make and I couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle.

“Let me help you.” I followed after Sarah.

Sarah began pulling the beer out of the mini-fridge and loading them into my arms. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”

“You’re telling me. You got anything a little harder than beer?”

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