I chuckle. “Yeah, guess so.”
It’s a relief, getting some of that out of the way, although I’m starting to seriously reconsider that straight part. Mainly, though, I just appreciate Cubby’s confidence in going right to the heart of it.
We cruise across the lake, side by side, our legs stretched out in front of us. I match his rhythm as we pedal, moving in unison.
My chest feels weird. Fuzzy or something, I don’t know.
“Ahhh.” Cubby sighs, sinking back into the bucket seat. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”
I laugh as we float out toward a small island, making a lazy loop. “Yeah, not too hard, right?” I turn the steering handle, which is right between us. “Why don’t you take over?”
Cubby grabs the handle gingerly when I pull my hand away, then steers us as he talks, focusing on the open lake ahead like he’s driving a race car. “If I crash and we die a horrible death drowning, please forgive me.”
I grin. “It’s only about five feet deep through here. You’ll be good.” When I glance and see his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth in concentration, I clear my throat. “I will put a lifejacket on you, once you head home.”
“Safety first,” he says cheerfully, then steers the boat in a circle, looking out over the docks and lakeside houses and businesses. “Is the whole town going to talk about us now?”
“Excuse me?”
“Because we’re boating around together.” He steals a glance at me. “In a pink boat, of all things.”
I rub the back of my head, well aware that he’s flirting again and that I like it. “It’s just a boat,” I mumble, although now that he’s said that, I can admit that this boat ride has a different feel.
“Sorry,” he says with a warm laugh. “I’m trying not to think it’s cute when you’re uncomfortable.”
I grunt. “You’re fine. But tell me something. You like being anonymous in the city, and I get that. But then why are you putting videos of yourself online, trying to get famous?”
Cubby scrunches his mouth to the side, thinking. “That’s different. Ninety-nine point nine percent of the people online, I’ll never meet in person. But if I were making my vlog in a place like this, then every time I left the house, I’d run into someone who knew all my business…” He trails off.
“What? You think people around here would have a problem with you making camping videos?”
Cubby glances down, peering into the lake. “I’m just being silly,” he says quickly. “Hey, maybe I could recruit you. I’m sure I’ll be in need of expert advice. Recommendations on campsites, fishing lessons, that kind of thing.” He looks back to me hopefully with those wide eyes that do me in.
“Sure. Just don’t think of putting me on YouTube.”
Cubby puts a hand to his heart. “I solemnly swear.” He gently clears his throat. “Especially if it means we get to hang out again?”
My heart pounds. “Yeah. We can hang out.”
Cubby sways the boat from side to side, guiding it through the gentle waves. “That’s cool,” he says playfully, then laughs.
I realize I’m smiling to myself, and I can feel the flush across my cheeks. Regardless of the fact that he’s a guy, I know I’m not interested in casual dating without hope of future commitment, and I don’t want to be one of those asshole straight guys, leading him on just because I’m horny. But truth be told, at the moment I’m not entirely sure which one of us is leading and which is following.
The boat glides back up to the gravel, and an urge grabs me, breaking through the shy indecision. I want to reach out, take Cubby’s face in my hands, and pull him into a kiss. It’s so strong, I almost do it then, but I manage to grab control of myself first.
Weird.
“Here we go,” I announce loudly and jump out into the shallow water before I embarrass myself. “This is my stop.”
Cubby leans back in his seat casually. “When will I see you again?” he asks, then taps his chin. “We’ll need to do another lake promenade in my pink paddleboat, if we’re going to keep the locals gossiping.”
I’m flustered, and my feet are wet. “There’s the, uh, fish fry this coming weekend,” I answer, then walk over to grab him a lifejacket. “You going?”
“Fish fry?”
“It’s right here on the water. Whole town will be out.”
Cubby’s eyes light up, and as I return to hand him the lifejacket, he pounces forward, leaning over the middle of the paddleboat so suddenly, it rocks and threatens to topple.
“Hey there.” I chuckle, catching him with one hand on his shoulder and one on the boat. “Easy.”
Cubby grins, still leaning, and pecks a kiss on the tip of my nose. “This weekend. It’s a date!” he says brightly, then crawls back into the boat. “Can’t wait!”
I rub the back of my head, unable to do anything but watch as he makes his exit. Cubby steers the boat into the rocks, then again, then tries to pedal backward fruitlessly. With a loud, delighted laugh, he finally just reaches over and pushes himself off the dock. As he floats toward the deeper water, he looks over his shoulder, gives me a wide wave, and blows a kiss.
“See you at the fish fry!” he yells. “And thanks for the lifejacket!”
