I don’t notice that I’ve sighed until Charlie calls back to me, “Enjoying yourself?”
“I am. It’s weirdly relaxing.”
He shows me the best passage around the bay, slows when we reach the larger island, and glances at me. “You’ve never been on a Jet Ski?”
“First time.”
A corner of Charlie’s mouth inches up. “Is that why it’s on that list of yours?”
Ride a Jet Ski.Number thirteen.
I make a point of finding the buckle on my life jacket fascinating. But he ducks down so I’m forced meet his laughing eyes. “Any other firsts on there?”
There are tiny flecks of yellow surrounding his irises, and I glare at them. “That’s none of your business,” I say primly. “What you read was private.”
“I’m only curious.”
“Well, don’t be.”
Any trace of humor fades. “I’m sorry. I’m only teasing.”
“Okay.”
“My family was big into teasing,” he says. “It’s basically the Florek love language.”
I mellow. “I don’t speak Florek, so you’ll need to translate.”
“The one thing you really need to know is that we only make fun of people we like.”
“What happens when you fall in love? Do you stage a roast? Gift wrap a rubber chicken?”
He chuckles. “There’s that Alice Everly sense of humor. You’d fit right in.”
As soon as the words leave his lips, his grin flattens. “Hold on,” he says. “I’ll show you the safest route around the island.”
As he points out the areas that are hazardous for the bladesof a motor, there’s not a sliver of a smirk in sight. He glances at me over his shoulder to make sure I’m following, his gaze narrowed in concentration, and I wonder if there’s a more serious person under the swagger. I’m usually quick to figure people out, but Charlie keeps surprising me.
Before we set off again, I point to the cliff across from the island. “I’m going to jump from that.”
“I know.”
“How do—” I cut myself off. The list. Number one. “Never mind.”
Charlie studies me. “Want to do it now? I’ll go with you.”
My stomach knots.
“Are you scared of heights?” An earnest question.
“No.”
We look at the rock face.
“So you’re afraid of…?”
“Dying.”
“I won’t let you die. Or get hurt.”
