“He’s always loved the water, hasn’t he?”
“Yeah,” Lie agrees. “I think he’d live on the water if he could.”
“That’s an idea. Houseboats. That’s how we expand the housing until the new island is built,” Lie says, grinning.
“I imagine that’s been suggested.”
“There should be some, at least. No? It feels like a missed opportunity. Not just for residents, but for guests to stay on the water.”
“There are the bungalows with glass floors off Makara,” I say.
“Yes, but they don’t rock with the water. Not the same thing.”
“Hm. Maybe you need to suggest it at the next meeting. They’re open to the residents.”
“I think they should build more than one additional residential island,” Lie says. “One might fix the housing problems we have now, but if they’re also expanding the resort, that means more jobs. More jobs mean more people needing housing. We’re going to cap out again quickly.”
“Share those concerns when you offer a suggestion.”
He smirks. “Hold my board. I want to try my knees.”
Using my paddle, I get closer and grab the edge of his board. Lie is incredibly unsteady as he tries to climb on. The board rocks violently when he leans too heavily on one side. I grab his arm, keeping him from toppling over the side, sending him into a fit of laughter.
His laughter never ceases to make me smile. Ever. I love the way his face lights up. How his eyes shine. The sound travels through me, reaching every nerve ending.
He eventually manages to get on his knees, leaning back on his haunches, but his entire spine is stiff. “How am I supposed to paddle like this?” he complains. “If I move, I’m going to end up in the water.”
“You need to remain fluid. Move with the water. Right now, you’re fighting it.”
Lie glares at me. “Let me see you on your knees, Laiken.”
He’s entirely unimpressed when I manage to get on my knees without issue. No moment of almost ending up in the water. And I’m blessedly finding balance comes easily still. Even after years since being on one. Like riding a bike.
Not that I’ve been on a bike since I was a kid.
“You look good on your knees, old man,” Lie says, smirking.
“Careful. If a bird sneezes on you, you’re going in.”
“Seriously,” he says, glaring up at the sky as if a bird is getting close to do just that.
I remain close, encouraging him as he tries to use his paddle. Lie doesn’t move far, but he doesn’t end up in the water.
Right until he tries to look back at me. Then he goes over in a spectacular display of flailing limbs. I try not to laugh, but his feet are up in the air for one spectacular moment, and it’s a little funny.
Lie looks up at me from the water, pouting and glaring at the same time.
“Get your sexy little ass up here,” I tell him, adjusting my position on my board so I can pull him up without following him into the water. I get him up and then shift further back so our weight is more evenly distributed.
With a grip on the top of his life vest, I bring his face to mine and kiss him. “You’re sexy all wet, Lie,” I murmur.
“There are ways to get wet without going headfirst into the ocean,” he points out. “A shower, for example.”
I grin, bite his lip, enjoying the way his breath stutters as it spreads over my face. “Just hang on to your security rope,” I tell him. “Let me show you the sights, sweet young thing.”
Lie rolls his eyes. “Fucker,” he mutters.
He ends up on his back with his legs draped over mine, eyes closed behind his sunglasses as I slowly move us through the channels designated for manual water sports. His board trails behind us, the current occasionally tugging it and jerking him so he almost rolls off the side.
