“I have to release him. No way I could stand to eat him. Look at his face.” I turned the fish’s head to face River, and his face turned a little green.
“Yeah. Agreed.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I have a feast for you, and that I was joking when I said you'd eat what you caught. Reel everything in, and let’s celebrate our catch and release in style,” Kianu said.
As we reeled in our lines, Kianu brought a tray filled with sandwiches. Then he returned downstairs, coming back up with a six-pack of beer.
“I’m afraid this is all I allow on the boat,” he said, “but a celebration is in order.”
I chuckled. “What do you do when someone catches an actual big fish? Throw fireworks?”
He flipped the lid on a can of soda and took a swig. “You’d be surprised at how little fishing actually happens on these trips. Most people just want to go out in open water and maybe swim a little.”
“You mean we can swim out there?” River asked.
“Sure, you can.”
Before Kianu had finished, River’s T-shirt was over his head. He ran toward the back of the boat and threw himself into the water.
I followed him to see him resurface.
“Guys, the water is phenomenal. Jump in before you eat.”
I looked back at the guys who’d started taking their shirts off. Kianu sat on the cushioned bench and flipped his backward cap forward before leaning back, looking as chill as anything.
“I guess this makes me the winner because with you all splashing around, you’re going to scare all the fish,” I said, throwing my T-shirt onto the pile and jumping into the water after everyone.
“This was the best idea ever,” Lex said.
“I believe your exact words were—” Emery started but was cut off by Lex, who kissed him.
A quick glance at Noah and Lior revealed they were also whispering to each other between sweet kisses.
I looked away, feeling like an intruder in their moments.
“You can say something, you know?”
I turned to River. “What do you mean?”
“If it’s hard for you to see them all loved-up, you can ask them to tone it down. They’d do it in a heartbeat.”
“I know, but I don’t want to do that to them. They’re so in love. It’s nice to see. Even if it didn’t happen for me, I like that it happened for them. They both deserve to be really happy.”
River stared at me, his green eyes framed by long eyelashes glistening with water droplets. He came closer until I felt his hand take mine under the water.
“It’s going to happen for you too, Adam.”
A lump formed in my throat, but I didn’t want to give in to thoughts that had no place on a happy day.
“Of course it will,” I said, grinning. “I’m already the best fisherman. It can only get better from here on.”
9
RIVER
The Frisbee sliced through the humid air. I watched Adam’s lean form as he darted across the sand to catch it. Adam was all tousled hair, defined muscles, and a smile that went on for days.
His arms flexed as he threw the Frisbee back in my direction.
