He popped back up and splashed me this time. “Jerk!” He said in my same tone.
“You fell for the second-oldest trick in the book!” I groaned. “Colton, I thought you were the best bareback rider in the world!”
He scooped me off the dock and brought me farther into the lake, both of our feet keeping us afloat.
It felt like heaven, being weightless under the endless Texas sky in crystal blue water. His body was pressed against mine; we truly couldn’t get any closer if we tried. He spun us around and kissed me tightly.
“I love you, Ally,” he said with perfect ease.
I ran my fingers through his hair, wanting to see more of his face. “I love you.”
With every declaration, I could feel a warmth spreading through my whole body, a peaceful calm that felt so right.
Colton looked past the dock. “Come on, I actually see the guys with the food.”
I looked for myself to make sure he wasn’t teasing me again and followed him back to the dock.
This time, he pushed himself up with ease, not thinking twice before turning around to offer me a hand. I accepted it, and with superhero strength, he lifted me up and completely out of the water.
Okay, that had to hurt his sore body.
“We leave you kids alone for ten minutes, and you manage to fall into the lake. Colton, why would you let that poor girl getso soaked?” Jimmy said in his best Jo impression as they walked toward us.” Get that poor girl a towel now!”
Alan put his hands up over his eyes. “Colton, get your pants on! No one wants to see that!”
I watched Colton throw his pants on and start chasing Alan. Alan took off. With the look in Colton’s eyes, I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to throw him in the lake, too.
“He’s just a bronc rider; you can outrun him!” Dean encouraged Alan. “Oh crap.”
Colton spun on his heel and changed his target. Dean started to run, but it was too late. Colton threw him over his shoulder and sprinted off the dock, back into the water.
Jimmy walked to the edge, beside me, and shook his head with a smile.
Something moved in my peripheral vision. I glanced to my right and saw Alan sneaking up toward Jimmy. He caught myeye and put a finger to his lips. I nodded back enthusiastically, excited to be a part of another inside joke.
Jimmy started to look up, but Alan was already midair. Both of them tumbled off the dock into the water.
Jimmy popped up first, scowling at me. “I thought we were friends, Ally!”
I threw my hands up. “I didn’t have time to warn you!” I lied.
He looked past me and nodded.
Oh crap.
I turned in time to see Colton running toward me. When had he gotten out? I squealed and ducked just as he dove to tackle me. I had gotten down just in time. He soared over my head and back into the water.
Now, I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
Colton popped up while I was still crouching and pulled me in before I could think twice.
He was there right as I broke through the surface, a big grin on his face.
I had smiled more, laughed harder, and been happier in the last few weeks than I had been in a very long time. It was all thanks to Colton, who showed me that love didn’t have to be full of drama, that it could be fun.
Loving him wasfun.
If only his career weren’ta life-threatening sport.
