Page 51 of Lavender and Linebackers

My heart suddenly feels like it’s being squeezed tight.

I know which lake it is. He always said his dream home would be on this lake. White Egret Lake. Our lake. My nose starts stinging. I will not cry in front of him. I will not give him the satisfaction of knowing that this hurts me. Four years later, he can still somehow hurt me.

He doesn’t make eye contact with me and stares over my shoulder.

“If they’re going too, we’ll also need them to sign a waiver.” All of us turn to look at the boat owner who’s standing in the wooden hut, but he’s just staring at Sully all wide-eyed.

“Come on, let’s go get settled.” Kelli loops her arm through mine to lead me away.

“The lake,” I whisper.

“Say the word, and I’ll ask them to leave,” she whispers back.

We really should tell them to go, that they aren’t invited, but I think about the Mighty Monarch posts that have them in them and how much traction those got. If we let them come, we can collaborate with them for larger exposure, which in turn will generate more money. For both of us. Kelli can use the money just as much as I can.

“No, it’s fine. But we are one hundred percent going to use them.”

Stopping, I turn us back toward the boat office. Ryder warily watches me approach.

“Hey, Dylan, do you have shirts in their size? Let’s get them branded.”

Dylan’s smile stretches from ear to ear. “I do. Gentlemen, which color would you prefer?”

“Alice, what color do you want me to wear?” Ryder asks, knowing everything about this situation is awkward.

Dylan pulls out a few options. “Let’s go with the cream-colored shirt.” Neutrals and warm colors go great with golden hour, plus they won’t be a distraction to the color of the swimsuits.

Both guys whip off their shirts to put the new ones on. I’ve seen Ryder without a shirt many times, but I’ve never seen him look like this, and I have to force my tongue to stay in my mouth. His skin is tanned from being outside. He has muscles stacked on muscles. His abs are so well-defined they blend into the ridges of his rib cage, and he has that “V” that points straight south. He is the perfect specimen of a man, and I hate that my lower stomach clenches and that I suddenly have butterflies to be near him.

Just as quick as his shirt comes off, the new one is on. Sully hands his shirt to Danica, and Ryder’s gaze catches on my bag before he hesitantly holds his out to me. I take it and shove it in. It’s warm. I’m certain it smells like him, and now everything in my bag will too. Why does holding a piece of his clothing suddenly feel intimate?

“We’re all set whenever y’all are,” Dylan tells us, and the five of us follow him down to a dock.

The eboat is adorable, and it’s pink. It seats up to ten, and it’s decorated for a girls’ night, as that’s what we told them. There are pretty throw pillows, and there’s a table in the middle set with a tablecloth, fresh flowers, and an array of food chosen for us in advance. In the back is a cooler. Kelli adds the sparkling energy drinks we’ve brought, and we all settle in. Sully has decided he’s the captain and whips out a captain’s hat from his back pocket as he sits behind the steering wheel.

“Oh, don’t look surprised. If Danica is taking pictures and videos of the two of you, then someone has to drive the boat.”

He’s not wrong. In my mind, we were parked somewhere, but this is even better. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing that they’re here.

“Oh, that’s not what we’re looking at,” Ryder teases him, and Danica laughs.

Danica.

When did she see him, and when did she talk to him about today? It’s not like they are friends.

Dylan gives us a brief rundown, and then Sully drives us out and away from the dock.

All of us are quiet. Maybe it’s the salt air blowing in my hair, maybe it’s the scenery, or maybe it’s because it’s about to be the golden hour, but I lower my walls and allow myself to sit back and enjoy the ride through and around the mangroves. Next to me, Ryder has his arm stretched out across the back of the seat. He doesn’t even complain when I lean against him. Eventually, Sully slows the boat, and we come to a stop.

“This looks like a good place, don’t you think?” he asks.

“A good place for what?” Kelli looks around, not seeing anything that interests her.

“To go swimming.”

“Feel free to swim to your heart’s content. Alice and I are not swimming.”

“Then what’s the point of the bikinis if you’re not getting in the water?” He looks confused.