Page 50 of Baby, It's You
“I brought some sandwiches and fruit if you're hungry.” He holds up a tan wicker basket with a half-smile playing on his lips.
“You made me a picnic?” I ask, unable to contain my grin.
He shrugs. “I just thought we would get hungry.”
“You’re speaking my language.”
“Well, come, sit, eat,” he tells me and motions to a large teal blanket on the grass. “After lunch we are going to take Donovan’s boat out. Have you ever been water skiing?”
“He has a boat?” I follow him over to a blanket and sit next to him.
“Yeah, the guys both live on the other side of the lake.” He points towards the right of the water. “They are cousins and run a fishing charter together. They havemultipleboats. But we arejust going on a smaller one today.” He motions towards an at least thirty-foot boat sitting by the dock.
“Oh yes, their tiny little boat,” I say sarcastically. “How sad that they didn’t bring their yacht. I’m deeply offended.”
Hunter laughs. “That does sound pretty ridiculous, huh?” He reaches into the basket and pulls out two sandwiches. “PB&J or peanut butter and banana?”
“Oooooo,” I respond. “Definitely peanut butter and banana. Got to get my potassium up before a long day of falling on my ass in the water.”
“You don’t have to water ski if you don’t want to.” Hunter hands me the sandwich. “They also brought a tube.”
“I’m gonna be honest with you,” I tell him, “I’ve never been on a boat.”
“You’re kidding!” He leans in towards me, eyes wide. “Never?”
“Nope, trailer park kid doesn’t scream knowing a lot of people with boats,” I joke.
Hunter’s eyes glow. “Your first time on a boat, you’re going to love it!” He takes a giant bite out of the PB&J in his hand.
“I’m a little nervous.” I pull my sunglasses over my eyes to hide the vulnerability behind them. “I’m not a great swimmer; I was never taught growing up so I kind of sink like a rock. I didn’t really think this through before agreeing to come to the lake.”
“Don’t worry, they have life preservers on the boat, and I will stay next to you the whole time if you want.” He stares at me with such sincerity. “I would never let anything happen to you. You’re safe with me.”
Those words ping off my brain and soak into my chest, my heart suddenly feeling like it’s expanding. I don't know how he does it, but he tells me exactly what I need to hear in this moment. He knows what I need to feel safe and secure.
The warm sensation continues to flow through me as I finish my sandwich, and we eat the fruit he brought. Hunter talks to me about his childhood with all the guys. Then, how he met Donovan and Ezra. “They were the wild kids at the skate park growing up,” he recalls, laughing. I listen to his stories and feel myself enamored with him as he lights up a little more with each memory.
Leena and Alice come over, pulling me out of my trance.
“Ready to go?” Leena asks, grinning as she pulls her braids back into a ponytail.
Hunter glances my way, his expression unsure, waiting to see if I want to go on the boat.
“Yup!” I say to her, feeling more confident with him at my side.
I stand up and adjust my bikini bottoms as the rest of the group begins to walk down to the dock. Ezra is already on the boat, turning on the engine.
I stand next to Ysabel as everyone starts to get on board.
“Have you ever been tubing, Olive?” She smiles, freckles covering her fair cheeks. She looks like a real-life Strawberry Shortcake doll.
I shake my head. “No, I haven't. Is it fun?”
“It’s a blast, ride with me when we go.”
“Okay.” I smile at her. Hunter stands on my left, and I feel braver by the second.
I climb up onto the boat and take a seat on a long, padded bench behind the wheel next to Wes and Alice. The boat engine vibrates under us, and I let out a breath as Donovan unties us from the dock before hopping on the back.
