Page 48 of Places I've Never Been

“Hard,” Brandon repeated, then turned away, shaking with laughter.

“You two are forever stuck at fifteen, aren’t you,” Adam muttered.

“It’s a fantastic age,” Flynn said. “You should try it sometime. I think you missed yours.”

“Good morning,” Mattie said when she got closer. She bit her lip as she looked at the Jet Skis. “I’m not so sure I should be doing this. I’m not a strong swimmer.”

“Don’t worry,” Brandon said, with only a hint of giggle. “We’ll have two guides and life jackets, and you’ll have a big, strong—”

Adam jumped in before his brother could finish that sentence. “You seem to be missing something.”

Mattie cocked her head. Her eyes sparked with amusement, as if she knew exactly what Brandon had been about to say. “What? Sunscreen? I put it on before I left.”

“The bag,” Brandon said.

“Yeah,” Flynn chimed in. “I thought it was permanently attached.”

Mattie laughed and patted her side like the bag was still there. “I know, I feel naked without it. But I thought it might be a bad idea to bring my notebooks along for the ride. Paper doesn’t do so well around water.”

A golf cart carrying Cooper and Tina pulled up. They hopped out, and their driver backed the cart off the dock. Cooper smiled brightly at them as they reached the group. He’d dressed down for a change and wore swim trunks, a white T-shirt, and sandals. Tina, on the other hand, wore a frownand a string bikini that didn’t hide much of anything. She looked at the Jet Skis and wrinkled her nose.

“Hey, Coop,” Adam said. It was obvious Tina wasn’t happy. The sooner they got going the better, but they were still missing someone. “Where’s LT?”

“LT isn’t coming,” Cooper said. “He’s busy following his island sweetie around. Apparently they aren’t allowed to go on activities with the guests unless they’re one of the guides.”

“Coopie.” Tina hugged Cooper’s arm in a way that made her breasts push up and out. “Aren’t there any boats? Jet Skis are so loud and rough.”

“This will be fun.” Cooper put on his patient face, the one he used with overly demanding girlfriends or small children. “And afterwards we have a picnic at Lanmou Bay, just you and me.”

Tina sniffed. “I really shouldn’t be out in the sun this much. I have a photoshoot the week we get back.”

“I have another rash guard, if you’d like to borrow it,” Mattie said. She smiled politely at Tina.

“Those things chafe.” Her tone made it obvious that she thought Mattie was low class and stupid for offering.

Adam started to object, but Mattie responded before he could.

“So do wet seats.” Mattie gestured at the Jet Skis. “Maybe you should put on something to cover your, um, thighs?”

Adam snorted a laugh. Tina would never wear something that covered that much skin,

Tina tossed her hair back. “I have to avoid lines for the camera. That’s why I shouldn’t be out all day in the sun.”

“It’s not going to be all day,” Cooper said. “And you bathed in sunscreen this morning. You’ll be fine.”

Adam exchanged looks with Cooper. “You don’t have to go with us. You could hang out on the beach or something.”

Cooper’s expression hardened. “We’ve had enough hanging out.”

Adam glanced at Tina. The look on her face said she’d had enough of just about everything, but she didn’t make any other comment, so he let it go.

Flynn tapped Cooper on the shoulder. “Hey, man, come help me with the vests.”

“Sure.” Cooper and Flynn sauntered toward the tour guides, talking in low whispers. Flynn must be filling Cooper in on the throw-Mattie-at-Adam plan.

Adam turned away before his impulse to stop them made him do something foolish.

“Adam,” Mattie said, “have you thought about where you want to go with the second song? I have some snippets and thoughts written down from our sessions…” She patted her hip and grimaced. “In my notebook. Which is in my bag. In my room.”

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