“Oh, uh, I’m sorry.” I rub the back of my head. “You don’t like the pink. That’s okay.”
“What?” Cubby yelps, then jumps forward. He presses his lips to the side of the boat and kisses it, then again. “You’re the perfect boat,” he coos and turns to me, eyes wide with excitement. “This is like, actually a dream.”
Before I can say anything, Cubby pins my arms to my sides with a big hug. He squeezes around my chest, holding me tight, and I stop breathing.
The warmth of his body presses against me. I’m flooded with heat. All my nerves tingle, and my heart pounds.
I can’t remember the last time I felt another body against mine.
“Thank you, thank you,” he repeats and finally steps back. “I’m so excited for our new ride!”
“Uh, yeah.” My voice shudders. “My pleasure. You can store it here anytime you come to town.”
Cubby’s cheeks are round when he smiles. “Cool.”
I grunt. “I’ll grab the back. It’s pretty light, if you don’t mind helping me move it.”
I work my way around until I get a good grip, then lift the boat off the fence where it’s propped. Cubby is shorter than I am by about six inches, so I drop my arms and squat, trying to keep the boat even as we walk.
“You must go out on the water all the time, huh?” Cubby asks, walking sideways.
“Mainly just fishing these days.”
“Fishing, cool,” he says, then walks straight into the water with his hiking boots on. “I might try fishing in one of my vlogs.”
I stomp into the water too, and we lower the boat. Clouds pass over the sun, and in the distance, people are hollering back and forth from a couple of canoes out on the lake.
“How’d the filming go today?”
“Good! Nice and quick.”
I step back, out of the water. “To be honest, I’m still not sure I understand how it works. You’ll sell these videos online?”
Cubby laughs and wiggles his hand from side to side. “Kind of? My main channel will be on YouTube, although I’ll keep a presence on lots of platforms. I’ll make videos, but I like writing and other kinds of performing too, and I hope I can land speaking gigs, guest interviews, maybe an advice column.” He shrugs lightly. “I’m launching sometime later this month, so it’s all theoretical right now.”
I nod. “Must be good work. Lots of people on YouTube.”
Cubby laughs again, his voice high and musical. I can tell he’s laughing at what I just said, but it’s not in a mean way.
“Therearea lot of people on YouTube,” he agrees, then slaps the back of the boat. “Want to teach me how to pilot this thing?”
“Oh, it’s easy. Just pedal like a bike and steer with that handle in the middle. You’ll be home in no time.”
Cubby sticks his hand on his hip and purses his lips. “If you think I’ll let you go without pedaling out on the water with me, you’re dead wrong, Chase of the mountains.”
I laugh, and even though I should say no and get back to the store before Uncle Ray forgets what he’s doing, I nod instead.
“All right. Hop in.”
Cubby laughs, delighted. “That was easy. I should have guessed the hunky man who saved me from a bear wouldn’t leave me hanging.”
I grunt as I push the boat out and hop in, not sure what else to say, but plenty pleased with myself.
“You don’t mind that I’m flirty, do you?” Cubby asks as the boat bobs on the waves. “I mean, you always smile, so I don’t think you mind. But I’m pretty forward, and if it makes you uncomfortable, I can rein it in.”
“Uh, no,” I say, rubbing my beard and trying to ignore my jackhammering heartbeat. “You’re not bothering me at all.” The words sound weak and strained, especially after he’s been so direct. “My best friend is gay,” I add.
Cubby leans back and sets his feet on the pedals. “Cool. Sounds like the kind of thing a nice straight dude might say to a smiley gay guy who can’t help but flirt with him.”
