Page 104 of Summer People
“Oh.” Wilder sits up. “Let’s do it. I’ll jump with her.”
“Hey,” Libby chimes in. “Maggie and I were going to do it with her.”
“We’ll all do it.” He’s suddenly all smiles. “This is great. I can be outside and have fun and still avoid Nic. There’s no way that prissy woman is jumping in ice-cold water. This is a win-win.”
Six hours later, I am absolutely not winning. Both of my girls are ready to plunge into the icy water behind a moving ferry. The line of summer people getting ready to board the boat runs down the dock and up the path toward the bakery, and piles of luggage have been loaded onto the boat for the twelve-mile trek back to Boothbay.
“You’re sure you want to do this?” I ask Sutton as the waves crash against the rocks on either side of the dock.
Her entire body droops under the black wetsuit I insist she wears when she goes in the icy waters. She sighs, the sound one of pure annoyance. “Yes, I really want to. It’s high tide, so the jump is only, like, ten feet, and it’s warm today.”
Warm is a relative term. The temperature is currently hovering at seventy degrees, and there’s a decent breeze. At least the sun is out.
Libby gives my hand a quick squeeze. “We’ve got this.”
When I focus on her again, all I see is skin. So much skin. Damn, she looks hot in that bikini and cut-offs. Every inch of her. Even her feet are hot. Pink toenails and rhinestone flip-flops and all.
There is no denying how gone I am for this woman.
“And you’ve got our towels. I’m sure you’ll do a great job warming us up when we get out.”
I angle in so my lips brush her ear. “I’ll warm you up tonight, Princess.”
She rolls her lips together, but there’s no hiding the flash in her eyes. My girl likes that idea.
“Who’s ready to do this?” The high-pitched voice claws at my ears a second before Flora steps onto the dock next to the line of people now filing onto the ferry.
“Oh no, it’s Flora,” Sutton mumbles as she steps closer to Libby. “You’re not jumping, are you?”
Judging from the wetsuit pulled up to her hips and the towel in her hand, she is. “Yes, I heard from Mrs. Knowles, who heard from Blue, that you’re jumping for the first time. I thought it would be fun to join you. I can hold your hand.”
“Sorry, Flo.” Wilder steps into our little circle on the dock, and with a thunk his large hand lands on my shoulder. “I’ve got dibs on our little sweet pea.”
Wilder understands his role. His job is to make sure Sutton surfaces quickly and gets safely to shore.
“We’re going to race Maggie to the rocks.” Sutton’s blue eyes brighten as she looks up at my best friend. “I climb on your back, and you swim like the fishes.”
“Exactly!” Wilder holds out his fist and Sutton pounds it.
“Well, I swim like the sharks.” Maggie steps up next to Wilder, wearing a purple bikini. “So good luck beating me.”
Wilder turns, and I swear he stiffens. He blinks once, twice, and his mouth opens, but nothing comes out. Like he’s forgotten how to speak. Eventually, he clears his throat. “I like the purple, Mags.”
“Thanks.” Maggie’s cheeks go pink. “Libby’s been helping me with shopping.”
“See.” Libby nudges her. “I told you this one would be amazing.”
“Yeah.” Wilder shakes his head. “Looks good.”
I look from one friend to the other, eyes narrowed. Are they…? Do they?—
“You should have told me you wanted help.” Flora’s grating voice pulls me from my thoughts. “I would have gone shopping with you on the mainland. We need to have more girl time. Just islanders, not summer people.”
Maggie doesn’t even look at Libby.
“Libby and I went shopping on the mainland a few weeks ago,” Sutton says. “You should come with us next time, Maggie.”
“Absolutely.” Libby gives Sutton a sweet smile.
