He shakes his head, a touch of sadness lingering behind his eyes.
“Don’t be. Just don’t come crawling back to me when you realize you made the biggest mistake of your life,” he says lightly, that playful signature energy of his slowly returning.
I roll my eyes with a more genuine smile. “I mean, I’ll try not to.”
He laughs as he looks down, and I can tell he’s about to say something. He seems to think better of it, though, and shakes his head instead. I lean forward and press a peck to his cheek. Shane looks to the side quickly, his eyes searching mine as I wrap my arms around my legs.
“Friends?” I ask.
He lets out a scoff, tipping his face up to the sky. “Courtney, it’s bad enough to friend-zone a man, but to say it out loud? America is watching, for Christ’s sake.”
The smile he gives me tells me that he’s totally kidding, and I appreciate the tension reliever he provides before he stands up and offers me his hand.
“Ready to head back, friend?” he asks.
I scoff at his dig but gladly take his hand, letting him pull me to my feet.
“I’m not sharing the inner tube this time, though,” I say as I take off running for the dock. I hear him laugh behind me as I book it to the boat, sailing myself through the air before landingon the inner tube. I sprawl my arms and legs out as wide as possible, like a fucking starfish, and take up the whole dang thing.
Shane catches up to me and lifts his hands in defeat as he climbs onto the boat. “Pretty sure that early start is a cheat move, but I’ll allow it since you wouldn’t have stood a chance fairly.”
“Sounds like something a sore loser would say,” I throw back.
He scoffs and shakes his head, but he’s smiling as the captain fires up the boat, and the cameraman climbs in before untying us from the dock.
I have the time of my life on the ride back because I’m able to enjoy it without fear of being body slammed into the ocean.
Once we dock back at the main island, Shane gives me a hand off the boat before we head back to the house. We walk in complete silence and don’t even acknowledge each other until we make it to the hall near the bunk rooms.
Shane turns to me with only a half-smile before holding his arms out for a hug. I smile sympathetically and go to him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he holds me to him for a few moments.
When we pull apart, he gives me a nod and a smile that’s a little brighter before stepping into the guys’ bedroom. God, I feel so bad. Did I lead him on? I mean, I don’t think so. Maybe me choosing him for my second date was a bad idea.
It’s a short walk to the girls’ room, and when I push inside, all I hear are giggles and squeals. A group of girls are gathered in a circle, whispering and laughing before they stop and look at me. Several heavy and judging gazes rake over me as I walk through the room.
Okayyyy. Nice and awkward.
Luna is on her bed, filing her nails. “Hey, you’re the last back. Where did you go?”
“Another island offshore a bit. We took this inner-tube thing.”
“Wait, you and Shane?” Luna asks.
I nod.
She smiles. “How was it?”
“It was good. He’s a really nice guy.”
I glance around the room to make sure no one is listening, then whisper to her, “He tried to kiss me.”
She doesn’t look surprised in the least as she tilts her head. “Aaand?”
“I mean, obviously, I turned him down.”
“Really? Why?”
“You know how things are going with Noah. I didn’t want to screw anything up.”
