Page 12 of Make You Love Me

I notice her rod jerk a little bit, but she regains control and holds steady.

I jump into action and move right behind her, holding onto her hips instinctively. “Damn girl, I think you’re about to get the first catch of the day." Seeing the pull of her reel, it must be a good-sized fish. "It looks like a big one. Just hold it steady.”

She looks up at me with a huge smile on her face, proud of her accomplishment.

“Ahhh who knew fishing was so fun? This sucker is heavy, though. I don’t want to lose him,” she says, looking at me again with an anxious expression.

I reassure her by placing my hand on her back. “I’m right here. You can do this, but I promise I can quickly grab the rod and reel if you need me. Just say the word." I take hold of her elbow. "Now slow and steady… you got this, Lottie.”

That seems to give her the boost of confidence she needs, and she focuses on her task, doing the damn thing.

I should not be turned on watching a girl catch a fish, but I can’t fucking help it.

Earlier I offered her my Dri-fit long sleeve fishing shirt to put over her bathing suit instead of her nice coverup.

Yes, that bathing suit was sexy as fuck, but seeing her so happy and carefree while wearing my shirt has all kinds of shit stirring to life inside me.

Right as the fish comes to the top of the water, I immediately recognize the colors. It’s a huge Mahi-mahi. Lottie reels it in close, as I quickly pull the line and wrestle it into the boat. The smile on Lottie’s face is contagious. Nathan cheers from the back of the boat and Berkley comes up to snap some pics.

Standing there with the fish in between us, I can’t help but lean down and give her a quick kiss. “Hell yeah Stacks, you did it!” Looking a little stunned, she takes her free hand and lifts it to her mouth before she says, “Today has been amazing, Grey.”

“And to think we’re just getting started,” I say with a wink before turning to handle the fish.

Nathan comes to help me with the Mahi-mahi and throws it in the fish cooler. I smile as I look at the girls, who are celebrating Lottie’s first catch by cracking open some cold ones and dancing around. This boat has the best sound system on the water and we’re blasting anything from Kane Brown to Jack Harlow and everything in between.

Nathan speaks up from beside me, “Now this isReelyliving.”

His corny ass uses a play on words in reference to his boat’s name.

“Yeah brother, I’m starting to see that.”

Nathan looks like he wants to say more, so I bite. “What’s on your mind, Nate?”

“It's just good to see you smile and open up with a girl. I know you weren’t celibate last summer by any means, but I also never saw you actually hang out with any chicks. I definitely didn’t see your grumpy ass smile as much as you have today.”

That makes me laugh. “Yeah, I won’t lie. The minute I saw her, I wanted to fuck her. But then I talked to her, and I realized she wasn’t that type of chick and that I didn’t want it to end after just one night.”

He pats me on the shoulder and looks over at his girl as he moves to the captain’s chair. “I know the exact feeling. When Berkley moved to town last year and flipped my world upside down, I knew I’d do anything to have her. I know some of my friends don’t get being tied down to a girl when we’re still young, but I really don’t give a fuck, and neither will you. When you find the right one and she consumes your every thought, you’ll realize you don’t want to live without her. Plus, all those friends are jealous as fuck because I get pussy way more than they do.”

Personally, I’ve never thought that about him and Berkley. They have a lot of fun together and he is the same person when he’s with her and when he’s not. Why would you want to give up something that feels so right?

“Yeah, they sound like dumbasses. It's not like that for me. I’ve just never had a girl keep me interested beyond sex… Until now,” I say as I look over at Lottie with her long brown hair blowing in the wind as she listens intently to Berkley.

“That’s what I’m saying brother, I see that, and I just don’t want you to let her slip away. You deserve it, man,” he says as he starts getting the boat ready to head to another spot.

I nod in agreement. “I don’t want her to slip away either, but this is unfamiliar territory for me, and she lives in New York. That’s a long ass ways away.”

“Yeah, but y’all are both here right now, aren’t you? There’s a reason for that.”Point made.

There’s no doubt in my mind there is a reason.

We continue to fish for a bit more, but nothing’s as exciting as Lottie’s Mahi.

We decide to take the scenic route back to the marina. Lottie is currently snuggled into my side while she chats with Berkley, who is sitting across from us as Nate captains the boat home.

Pulling her even closer, I whisper to her, “You feel so good in my arms, pretty girl.”

She looks up at me with those need-you eyes as she says, “It feels like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.” She shyly looks back out to the ocean as I kiss the top of her head, not able to help myself with this girl.

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