Page 51 of Places I've Never Been

Adam stayed behind their guide for a little while to let Mattie get used to the bouncing movement of the waves. Cooper and Tina trailed behind them, and Nassor brought up the rear.

At first, Mattie’s grasp on him wasso tight it was hard to breathe. She shrieked when they hit a rough patch of water, then giggled when she got splashed.

“This is terrifying!” Mattie screamed in his ear. “Go faster!”

Adam laughed and sped up.

Mattie snuggled in closer, her arms tight but no longer constricting across his stomach. She was warm and soft against his back, and it made him want to turn around and kiss her. He leaned into her a little and grinned like an idiot as the sea spray slapped his face.

They went from one tip of the island to the other before Bayo stopped and gathered them all in a circle.

“Now is the time for decision. There are two sites to see. One is Aldabra Bay, around the south tip of the island. It is a breeding ground for the giant tortoise that grace our waters.”

Mattie made a little squeal sound, like a little girl in a candy store. “I would love to see them!”

Adam squeezed her hand. “Then that’s for us.”

“The other site is a short ride to the island you see over there.” She pointed to a bit of land in the distance. “It is the home of a beautiful underwater sea cave. We will split into two groups. Nassor will lead those who wish it to the cavern, and I will take the rest to see the Aldabra. Now who would like to go to the cave?”

Cooper turned to speak to Tina. Brandon and Flynn looked at each other, then at Adam. “What are you two doing?”

“Turtles,” Adam said.

Flynn’s hand shot up. “Caves.”

Brandon raised his hand. “Sign me up for caves too. Coop?”

Cooper appeared to be arguing with Tina. Adam exchanged glances with Brandon and Flynn.

Mattie leaned in close and whispered, “Why didn’t she stay home?”

Adam snorted a laugh. “An all-expense paid trip to a tropical paradise? Who would pass that up?”

“Good point,” Mattie said.

“Hey, Coop,” Flynn shouted. “Which way you going, man?”

Tina glared at him.

Cooper stared off in the distance as if he were counting to ten, or maybe twenty. “Caves.”

Tina hit Cooper’s arm. “I want to see the turtles.”

Brandon and Flynn exchanged glances.

A few seconds ticked by, and tension mounted with every wave that rocked the skis. They couldn’t keep staring at each other like this. Mattie would wonder what was going on. But he couldn’t exactly say, “Don’t worry about ruining our carefully manufactured alone time. The more the merrier.”

“Oh good,” Mattie said brightly. “I thought I’d be the only one wanting to see cute animals. We’ll have a great time.”

“I do not think…,” Bayo said at the same time, then stopped before she finished the sentence.

“Hey, Coop,” Flynn said. “Man, the caves sound fantastic. And you love scuba diving.”

“Yeah, come with us,” Brandon said. “You could always do the turtles later.”

The innuendo Brandon managed to put into that sentence made Adam cringe.

Bayo and Nassor looked at each other.

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