Trey moves ahead on his jet ski and holds up a thumb pointing to the cluster’s right. I follow him and we both turn to go around the rowdy group. Trey moves farther ahead of me and I squeeze my gas harder to try and catch up. In that moment one of the other riders shoots his jet ski in front of mine.
I pull my handlebars to the right, but hit his wave. The force between my turn and the wave hitting my jet ski sends me tumbling over the side and into the water. The cold Atlantic water rushes over my head chilling me after the last hour spent under the warming sun. My mouth opens to gasp at the cold contact and water rushes in. I throw my arms out and push up to force my head above water again, spitting out my salty mouthful.
“Simone!” Trey’s voice is a whisper over the hum of the other riders still circling their friends.
My orange and black machine bobbles in the water beside me, no longer running. The emergency rip cord hits my forehead as I bring my hands up to wipe the water from my face. Trey’s jet ski stops next to me and the splash created when he dives off sends more waves up to battle against my efforts.
He splashes in the water until he’s next to me. “You didn’t answer me. Are you okay?” His eyes stretch over my face searching for my answer while his hands grab me by the shoulders. “Can you swim?”
I look at him puzzled. “Yes, I can swim.” And even if I couldn’t, the life jacket would keep me up.
His face relaxes after he determines I’m fine. “That guy’s an asshole. You might have been seriously hurt.”
I laugh at his concern. “Are you going to go beat him up for me?”
“For you? Totally.” He pulls me closer so our life jackets bump against one another. His large hand cups my cheek for a second until he traces the curve of my lower lip with his thumb.
I wait for a kiss I’m sure is coming, but it doesn’t happen in some wild passionate moment like I expected. Trey leans in slowly and his lips press delicately on the corner of my mouth before the water pulls us apart. “So gorgeous.”
The words make me blush, and I cast my eyes downward. A thick emotion stirs in my chest and tightens my throat. I guess even vacation Simone can’t handle compliments from tall, hot, barely clothed men.
