Page 44 of You Kissed Me First

I see movement beside us. I glance over to find Barrett sneering at us.

“Such a child. Can’t even drive her own jet ski. Pathetic,” he spews.

I go to respond, but Katie beats me to it. “I mean I could, but then I wouldn’t get to press myself up against Dom. Trust me, I think I chose right.”

Nessa snorts. “You’re right. What was I thinking? Babe, I should have made you drive.”

Grant shakes his head. “Nope. Last time we did that, you got bored and jumped off the back. I had to circle back and save you. It was a pain in the ass.”

“You were driving like my grandma,” Nessa shoots back at him.

“I had precious cargo,” he responds easily.

Nessa softens. “I like it fast though.”

“Fast and hard. I know, baby. Not in public, though.” Grant winks at her.

“Incorrigible,” Nessa mutters.

“Anyway, so what are we doing?” I ask, changing the topic.

“That’s why we stopped. We don’t have enough time to go too far, but we can circle around and hit some waves.”

Usually I’d be down for that, but I don’t want to risk Katie falling off. The rest of the group quickly agrees though, so I decide to keep my spot at the back and take it slow. The worst possible outcome is that they leave us behind. I know my way back, though.

After a few minutes, everyone is proceeding full speed ahead. Grant is out front making waves so the others can use them to jump. I stay far away, happy to cruise with my girl.

My girl.

God, I wish she were mine for real. I could do shit like this with her all the time. I can imagine it now. Us staying together back home. Going out to dinner. Hosting parties like Nessa and Grant do.

Maybe we would even be engaged in a couple of years. Going on our own little trip before the wedding.

Seeing her in a white dress heading down the aisle toward me.

I can see it all.

Suddenly, Barrett slows in front of me. I swerved to the side, barely missing hitting him since he let off the throttle, stopping suddenly.

“What the fuck?” I call over to him.

Katie is holding on tighter. I can feel her body tense.

He just shrugs, acting like he’s checking something on the jet ski. I shake my head and continue on.

A few minutes later, I hear his jet ski coming up beside us. I move over, giving him plenty of room to pass us, but the asshole doesn’t. Not right away. He keeps speed with me, glancing over.

I go to slow down, but before I can, he guns it, cutting in front of me. I immediately let off throttle and turn sharp, making the jet ski almost tip over.

I hear Katie let out a gasp. Then she’s gone. I turn immediately, finding her in the water.

“Fuck.”

I dive in, not caring about the stupid jet ski, and swim to her. By the time I get to her, she’s shivering, but it’s not from the cold.

It’s fear.

“I’m here. I’m so fucking sorry. Are you okay?”

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