He quirks a brow, amused. “No, in general. Some guys smack their woman’s ass.”
“Not in public, no. I’ll probably punch you if you smack my ass in public.”
“Got it, only in private.” He winks.
Today is either going to be amazing or a catastrophe. I honestly don’t know which it’ll be. But it definitely won’t be boring with Lucien around.
“No lessons.” The guy who was supposed to teach our group paddleboarding lessons points at the sign stuck in the sand. “Like I said, there’s a box jellyfish advisory. All our lessons are canceled today.”
“No!” Audra pouts. “I have the photographer coming and everything.” She looks at Kyle, like he can do anything about it.
He’s glaring at Lucien, who has his arm around me. I’m wearing a two-piece swimsuit, but it has a high waist and a long top, so only about an inch of my midriff shows. It’s cut to maximize my breasts, though, which I think look spectacular. I have a wrap around my waist and a straw hat on my head.
“We’ll find something else to do,” one of the bridesmaids, Kayla, says. “Maybe kayaking?”
“We’re not renting kayaks today, either,” the guide says. He looks at Kyle and Audra. “We’ll issue a full refund for today. Enjoy the rest of your trip.”
“Well, this sucks,” Audra says glumly as the guide walks away. “I really wanted to paddleboard on this trip.”
“Maybe we can do it the day after the wedding,” Kayla says.
The bridesmaids are easily identifiable because they’re all wearing cropped white T-shirts that say “Bridesmaid,” with Audra and Kyle’s names and wedding date. I snuck a photo of one of them earlier and sent it to Suki, Mara, and Lainey.
Lucien strips off his T-shirt and drops it to the sand. “I’ve always wondered what it feels like to get stung by a jellyfish.”
One of Kyle’s groomsmen lets out a single note of laughter. “It hurts like fuck, man. Don’t do it.”
Now I know why none of his groomsmen are hockey players. Lucien said it’s well known that all of his former teammates from Vancouver hate him, and why. They all made sure no one else would get burned by trusting him like they did.
“I’m gonna go for a swim,” Lucien says, kissing my temple.
I gape at him. “What? Why?”
He gestures to the vinegar rinsing station nearby. “I’ll rinse off if I get stung.”
He slides out of his flip-flops. Everyone is looking at him like he’s out of his mind, including me.
“I’ll go too.” Kyle pulls his T-shirt off.
I’m not surprised. His ego is too massive to stand here while Lucien swims with jellyfish.
“Want to race?” Lucien asks.
“Hell yeah. I’m not saving your ass if you drown.”
Lucien points at a buoy in the water. “Around that and back?”
“Kyle, no,” Audra says sharply. “You are not doing this. I don’t want your face all stung up on our wedding day.”
He sneers at her. “Keep your panties on. I’ll be fine.”
One of the bridesmaids I don’t know, gasps, probably at his dismissive tone.
“What the fuck, man?” one of the groomsmen, Mark, says. “I guess I have to do it, too.”
“No one has to do it!” Audra cries. “This is stupid!”
I agree with her, but I’m not going to undercut Lucien by saying that in front of everyone. He must have a reason for doing this.
