Page 64 of Finish Line

“Really? You’d ride bitch?” A hint of disbelief flickers across her features.

I roll my eyes. “Yes, I’ll ride bitch. Why do some people make such a big deal about it?”

I plug the directions into her phone before starting the navigation feature and making sure her phone connects to her helmet.

She climbs on before turning back and smiling at me.

Shaking my head, I climb behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.

She kicks off and pulls out of the driveway, turning onto the coastal road. I expect her to take off when the road opens up, but she keeps the motorcycle to speed, allowing us to take in the scenery on the way to the marina.

When we arrive, she parks and shuts off the engine before we climb off.

“Being able to ride Serenity every day is one reason I would stay here. It’s so pretty.”

I link our hands, swinging them lightly as we walk. “We can come back during the summer.”

She smiles back at me. “I’d like that. So, what are we doing?”

“Have you ever heard of parasailing?” I ask as we approach the building housing the business’s office.

Her eyes widen. “I have. After Cam arrived, I wanted to do that, but he wouldn’t go for it.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, he has issues with heights. Let’s harness up.”

After a brief safety lesson, we head out to the boat, where they put us into harnesses and life jackets before the boat heads out into open water. The guide has us stand on a platform at the back of the boat, where he hooks us to the parasail.

“Okay, hold on to the sidebars, but not too tight, okay?” the guide says.

Shelby and I nod, then the boat picks up speed. With a sudden whopping noise, the parachute catches the wind from the speeding boat, and we soar up into the air.

“Holy shit!” Shelby laughs, and I whoop with joy.

The sail carries us up about five hundred feet before the winch line pulls tight. You can see everything from up here. The boat turns, and for as far as the eye can see, it’s nothing but blue ocean. The sky doesn’t have a cloud in it. It’s a gorgeous day.

Shelby points to a pod of dolphins. “Look!”

She takes picture after picture. “It’s so beautiful up here.”

With the backdrop of the extinct volcanic craters surrounded by lush greenery and the ocean sparkling beneath us, it’s quite the sight.

When I turn to tell Shelby, I see the most carefree smile on her. It isn’t the landscape that has my attention anymore.

Since I booked a private session, we stay up in the air for about thirty minutes. Shelby’s arms are out to the side, and her head is tilted back, letting the wind rush over her. Too soon, the line tugs as the winch pulls us in. We descend toward the boat.

Once we are back in the boat and seated, Shelby turns to me, kissing me gently. “That was so awesome, thanks.”

“We’re not done yet.”

Back at the marina, we thank our guides for the trip and head toward Serenity.

“Where to now?” Shelby asks.

Once again, I plug the directions into her phone without telling her, and she narrows her eyes at me. I climb on the bike and wait for her.

She cranks the engine and takes off.

At the private airport, she parks the bike in the parking lot. “What are we going to do here?”

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