I bitemy lip and take a secret picture of Colby at the wheel, his bare back to the camera, all muscle and a slight sunburn. BeforeI can talk myself out of it, I send the picture to the boyfriend group chat.
Benji
omg……. Wow very happy for you eye roll
Trevor
Be careful
Benji
Wet blanket Trevor
Trevor
Okay sunshine
Benji
I’ll kill you
Jackson
Don’t admit that in a text chain
Miss you guys
Benji
Invite us to the wedding!!!!!!!
Trevor
You watch pretty woman too much
Jackson
Okay, everyone break!
I slyly tuckmy phone back into the canvas bag. I’ve known Jackson the longest, having been with the agency since undergrad. It might sound weird to say but they’re kind of all my best friends. We understand each other in a way that other people can’t understand us. There’s an inherent judgment to doing what we do, even though there shouldn’t be.
“You’re thinking pretty loudly back there!” Colby shouts over the sound of the engine and the water.
“Just thinking about you!” I yell back.
Colby aims a gorgeous grin over his shoulder that sends my heart rioting in my chest. He slowly guides the boat back into the safety of the marina. I’m exhausted by the time we climb out and make our way towards the Jeep.
“Let’s pick dinner up on the way home so you don’t have to cook tonight,” I say after we buckle in.
Colby turns a tired smile towards me. “You sure? I like cooking.”
“Yes, we had a long day. Anything good around here?”
“There’s a barbeque place a few minutes from here.”
“Let’s get that, then.”
I twine my fingers with Colby’s against his thigh as we make the drive back into town. We stop at the barbeque joint, grabbing enough food to give us leftovers, before finishing the drive back to the beach house. I help Colby unload the vehicle by carrying the food inside. Colby takes the food from me with a thankful smile and puts it into the oven.
