“When I heard you were with the Don, I thought… this sweet girl with such a serious man?”
I laugh at that.
If someone had told me I’d be with a man like Nickoi. Serious, firm, but so full of love, I would’ve laughed in their face. But it’s working. And it’s real.
“He’s usually fun with me,” I say, watching him now, laughing, leaning on the rail, fully in his zone with Gutta and Rick.
“You two are a nice match though,” Lee says. “I just get scared of serious men.”
“He’s got a playful side,” Anna chimes in. “But yeah, the serious part is definitely there.” Suzanne suddenly points at the DJ and starts shouting excitedly. My eyes land on a girl in a champagne-colored dress, sipping from a glass. I know I’ve seen her face before. The Polo store.
That’s the one… Nickoi’s friend.
“You know her?” I ask.
“Oh, Keira? She used to talk to Jordane,” Suzanne says. I nod, and just like that, a small weight lifts from my chest. Too insecure. I’m trying to work on that.
I don’t even know how long we’ve been here, but the yacht party is still in full swing and Suzanne hasn’t stopped talking since we arrived. At first, the gossip was interesting, everybody loves a little drama, even if they pretend not to. But now, even my ears are begging for a break. I won’t tell her to shut up though; she’s my friend and she’s clearly excited. I just nod along, pretending to be into it, while Lee scrolls through TikTok like she’s mentally checked out. Anna said she went to prep her speech, but we all know she just needed to escape.
I don’t blame her.
When I glance at Suzanne again, I wonder if she’s drunk or just extra hype, glass in her hand. That’s when Nickoi walks over with Junior. He takes my hand and silently saves me.
He sits, taps his lap, and I climb on without thinking. His arms wrap around my waist and I melt into him. Anna’s up front giving her welcome speech now. Applause bursts out, but Nickoi’s hand is already slipping into my shorts. He’s still talking with the guys, but I’m completely gone, dragging my nails on his hand, leaning into the heat between us.
“So we a do the jet ski now?” he asks, voice low. My heart leaps. I’ve been waiting all day.
Everyone’s getting ready to ride. I glance around, drinks spilling, people dancing, snapping pics, wilding out. The energy is loud and intoxicating. I finally get on behind Nickoi, heart pounding with excitement and nerves. “Go easy with her!” Anna shouts as she rides off with Gutta.
I watch Anna take off with Gutta, both of them yelling like maniacs. My palms get sweaty. Nickoi slides his hands around my waist, pulling me close. “You ready?”
“I think so,” I say, even though my heart’s thumping like I’m about to jump out of a plane.
“You trust me?” he asks, hands curling around my side.
I nod, but it’s shaky. “Kinda.”
He laughs, leaning down until his lips brush my ear. “Hold on tight, mami.”
I do. I wrap my arms around him, fingers gripping his chest as he revs the jet ski and we glide forward.
At first, it’s smooth, calm enough for me to adjust to the motion. The wind kisses my cheeks, the ocean mist cools my skin, and I smile, but then he speeds up. I scream, not out of fear, but thrill.
It’s like flying.
My legs tighten around him and I bury my face in his back, heart racing as the waves smack beneath us. Water splashes everywhere. I can’t stop laughing. Every turn feels like we’re about to flip, but somehow he keeps control.
“This is crazy!” I shout over the wind. He just laughs and spins again. The jet ski jerks sharply, and the next thing I know, I’m airborne. I hit the water with a loud splash, everything cold and chaotic for a second. I shoot up, gasping, wiping my face as panic rises. Before I can even call his name, he’s already cutting back toward me, eyes locked on me.
“You good?” he asks, reaching for my arm.
I nod quickly, breathless, heart pounding. “I think I swallowed half the ocean.” He chuckles and pulls me up onto the jet ski with one arm like it’s nothing. I’m soaked and still shaking.
“I told you to hold on.”
“I did!” I laugh, coughing a little.
His arms wrap around me from behind, tightening protectively. “You better hold on harder this time.”
