Page 84 of Girls Will Be Girls
The way his face changes to the saddest puppy you’ve ever seen is utterly comical. “You’re going sailing?”
I fight a laugh, my face scrunching up into a wince. “Yeah.” I draw out. “You couldn’t tell from my outfit?” I point down to my cut-off shorts, loose white shirt hanging off one shoulder, and my cute boat shoes that I bought from a boutique here.
He drops his head to my shoulder, his lips muffled against my collarbone. “What are you doing to me, baby girl?”
I laugh at his jealousy. “You could come with me?” I offer with a shy wince.
He lifts his head. “Can I?” He asks, a little surprised.
I shrug, trying to play it cool that I just asked him to ditch work to come play with me. “If you want.”
He rubs the back of his head while looking out at the dock like he’s torn up by this decision. His t-shirt rides up, revealing a sliver of tanned skin that I shamelessly ogle.
“I have so much work to do.” He says. “But-”
“Hey, you two!”He’s cut off by a familiar voice coming down from the water.
I instantly focus on Lou, whose expressive face has turned completely blank again.
“Are you guys doing this sailing trip too?” Otto finally reaches us. “What are the chances!” He grins wide, his eyes drilling into Lou.
“Yes, yeah,” I say. “I was-”
“Yeah, we are.” I’m cut off by Lou. “On my day off and everything.” He wraps his hand in mine a little possessively.
Otto claps his hands together loudly. “Amazing. This’ll be so good.”
“So good,” Lou says with a blank tone, squeezing my hand.
“Come on, we should board.” Otto gestures for us to follow.
“Be right there,” Lou says, holding us in place.
I turn to him instantly. “We?”
Lou’s gaze trails after his brother, before he turns to me, his expression warming with a small smile. “You invited me.”
“What about work?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I was obviously going to say yes. Work can wait, and there’s no way I’m leaving you alone with Otto all day.”
“You don’t think I can handle myself?”
“Most definitely you can.” He strokes my wrist with two of his fingers.
I arch my eyebrow at him jokingly. “Are you jealous then?”
He looks at me unimpressed. “Jealous or not, I could never in good conscience leave you stranded on a boat with him.”
I grin up at him. “Sounds like you’re jealous.”
“Just-” He flounders. “Just get on the boat.” He nudges me forward by my shoulders, leading us down to the dock as I giggle at him.
This is a whole new side of Lou, and I will admit I love it a little. I’ve found a new one of his smiles — almost coy, shy, like his own version of blushing. I’m starting to feel like I should be cataloging his different smiles so I never forget any of them. Each one feels too precious.
After a thorough briefing on safety and today’s schedule by our skipper while still on the dock — during which Lou continued to not take his hands off me, with light touches on my waist or arms at all times — we’re set free onto the boat. It’s bigger than I would’ve imagined, especially as there are only five of us and two crew members.
The skipper — who insists on only being called Skipper and is very serious about it, as she doesn’t even tell us her name — and Phil, her crewmate mate say that it’s time to divvy up the roles between us.
