“I really oughta get a picture of this,” Chris’ voice broke through, and suddenly he and Alex were hovering on either side of Devin. “So you can never give me hell for PDAs again.”
“Youlikeme giving you hell over it,” Devin said, blushing all the way to the tips of his ears. “Aren’t you guys supposed to be wrapped up in…privatedisplays of affection?”
“And miss your big moment?” Alex asked. “You’re our friend, Dev. We’re here to watch.”
The way Devin glowed made me grin, enjoying his happiness as if it was my own.
I got the feeling a lot of my happiness was about to start depending on Devin’s. Might as well start making him as happy as possible now.
“I wasn’t even sure I was going to get in the water,” Devin said, but it didn’t wipe the smile off his face.
Chris shrugged. “Could you at least take the jeans off? We all came here to see your ass.”
“I’m not here to see Devin’s ass,” Marta said, approaching from where the crowd was thickest, Julie trailing a step behind. “But Iamhere to see you kick Brad’s ass. If you’re up to it.”
Devin looked at me.
“I came here to see the whole Devin,” I said, prompting anawwfrom the assembled crowd. “And I wanna see him do whateverhewants to do.”
Devin glanced over toward the river—hidden by the sheer number of people milling around—and then back at me.
“Devin Goode,” that same tinny voice called over the megaphone. “You’re up, my friend.”
Devin looked at me again.
“Whatever you want to do,” I repeated. I wasn’t going to push one way or another.Devinneeded to make this decision all on his own.
“Come on Devin,” the voice called. “Tell us you’re coming.”
I knew what he was going to decide by the look on his face before he opened his mouth.
“Coming!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, a broad grin spreading over his pretty face.
Yeah, this was the right decision. This was what made Devinhappy.
I’d just have to trust him.
Before he could get away, I darted in, pecking him on the lips to a chorus of good-natured mocking from all his friends.
Ourfriends, I thought. These people liked me, too.
“Kick his ass,” I murmured against his lips, smiling just as wide as he was.
24
Devin
My stomach droppedas I sailed over the jump I hadn’t been able to make on the first day, the kayak in freefall for what felt like a lifetime, thoughts racing through my head.
Morgan loved me.
I needed to kick Brad’s ass at this.
Morganloved me.
Holy shit. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.
The kayak hit the water with a crash, dipping beneath the foam for a moment before righting itself just like I’d imagined the fall the first time. It was almost perfect enough to surprise me into stopping, stunned by how well I’d landed it.
