Page 67 of The Pretender

She throws off the boat cover and levels me with a look of contempt. “Are you saying since I’m a girl, I wouldn’t know how to drive a boat this big?”

Fuck. Way to walk into this pile of shit, Sebastian.

I match her stare. “Why you always gotta bring gender into this? Did I say girls couldn’t drive boats?”

“That’s what you implied.” She flips me off.

“I did not imply you couldn’t drive it because you’re a girl. I was implying that you couldn’t drive it because you can’t drive a car for shit. I’m simply assuming driving anything with a motor isn’t your forte.”

“Suck a dick, Sebastian. I drive fine. Just because I might have cruised through a couple stop signs that one time when I was your designated driver does not mean I didn’t see them. Relax. I can drive the fucking boat.” She tosses a life vest at my head. Clearly, I was staring at her boobs and not her face. “Just like I can drive a car. You’re already getting on my nerves. I don’t know that we’ll end up with any useable footage from today.”

Oh, we’re getting footage. I did not drive all this way, listening to her ridiculous 90’s bitch bands and playing a sign game that I still don’t completely understand, for nothing.

“We’ll get the footage. Don’t you worry your pretty little head.” I step over the ledge and set our cooler down on the leather seats. It’s good there, right? “Should we put it on the floor or something more stable?”

Vee’s eyes go to the sky. “It’s a cooler, not a baby. It doesn’t need a car seat. I’m sure it can handle a little wind.”

Okay damn. I just didn’t want it to go flying when Vee’s crazy ass driving sends it airborne.

“I’m just checking. It wouldn’t be the first time you lost something while you were driving.” I’m referring to the time we drove overnight to attend a concert in Tennessee. You know, before, when we were friends.

Her eyes narrow to slits. “You were the one who lost the tickets!”

I hop over and lounge on the plush back seat, letting my legs fall open. “I told you to drive straight.” And she didn’t. She ran off the road because she was too busy critiquing my camera angle. One curve led to me grabbing the “Oh shit” handles and our backstage tickets went flying out the window and into the road dust.

“That wasn’t my fault,” she argues, starting the boat.

“I beg to differ.”

As the engine purrs, my excitement mounts. Whether it’s from arguing with Vee or knowing I’m about to be on a board that I haven’t been on in years, one will never know.

“I’m the one who found the tickets!”

She’s still arguing about her driving.

“I think it was fitting since you technically lost them.”

“I swear, I’ll drown you out here, Sebastian. The lake monsters will enjoy a little bitchy snack.”

I grab my side and pretend it hurts from fake laughter. “You’re so funny, Vee. Why don’t you have more followers with this material?”

She flips me off and then, without another word, pulls out into the open water and throws the throttle down, sending the cooler sliding into my thigh.

See? I told you.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Valentina

University CamFlix Competition Submission

Entry Number: 75

Sebastian and Valentina

Second Interview Continued, also that time the demon sort of complimented me

“Sebastian, next question is from Maureen. ‘What is it like loving your best friend?’”

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