Only then does Rick look away. He gives a short snort, lifts an eyebrow at Maya, and says, “Alright, I’m in.”
“Yay,” Maya says, completely oblivious to what just passed between us.
Rick swims over to her, pushing wet hair out of his face. “We’ll win for sure. Noah could never stay balanced for more than ten seconds.” He shoots him a smirk over his shoulder and winks.
And just like that, I hate the guy a little more.
It’s not even the trash talk. It’s the way he says Noah’s name. Like he still gets to reach for that older version of him whenever he wants.
“Actually,” Noah says quickly, “I don’t think I want to play—”
But Maya cuts him off, splashing water in his direction. “You already said you’d crush me. No backing out now.”
Noah sighs and looks at me, the plea in his face hitting me right in the chest.
I give him a small grin. “Come on. Let’s destroy them.”
He sighs again. “Okay, fine.”
Maya lets out a whoop and pumps her fist in the air. “That’s the spirit! Let’s go.”
Rick moves into place in front of her. “Ready when you are,” he calls, a smirk still tugging at his mouth. He dips lower in the water, and Maya climbs onto his shoulders, her strong thighs locking around his neck.
“Your turn,” I tell Noah, moving in front of him. “Hop on.”
Noah hesitates for half a second, then puts his hands on my shoulders. I sink lower and brace myself, then feel his legs wrap around my neck, his thighs pressing against my ears. The position is alarmingly intimate—his stomach against the back of my head, my hands gripping his calves to keep him stable. I try very hard not to think about the fact that his boxer briefs are pressed right against the back of my neck.
“You good?” I ask, tilting my head enough to glance up at him.
Noah nods, his face pink. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
I rise slowly, lifting him out of the water. He wobbles for a second, his fingers digging into my shoulders, but then finds hisbalance. The water is deep enough here to reach my chest, which makes it easier to keep us upright.
“Uh, are you okay?” he asks, looking down at me, and there’s a note of embarrassment in his voice. “I’m not too heavy, am I?”
“You’re fine,” I say, my hands tightening on his legs. “I’ve got you.”
“Just don’t let me go,” Noah says, giving me a crooked smile. “I don’t want to break your neck.”
I laugh.
“I won’t let you go. Promise.”
“First team to three wins,” Maya announces, already keyed up for battle as Rick carries her toward us. “No hair-pulling, no scratching, no cheap shots.”
“Ready to lose, Caldwell?” Rick calls to Noah, and I can’t tell whether he’s trying to trash-talk or flirt. Either way, it pisses me off.
“In your dreams,” Noah shoots back, sounding firmer than I expected.
Cassidy steps in as referee and counts down from three. Then we’re moving toward each other, the water dragging against me as I try to maneuver. Noah leans forward as Maya reaches for him, and their hands meet in a tangle of shoving and grabbing. I brace my feet against the lakebed and widen my stance as Rick does the same.
I try to ignore him, but he’s too close. I catch him looking at Noah, and something in his face makes my jaw tighten.
Whatever this asshole said to Noah in the woods, he’s clearly still not over him. And for some reason that pisses me off so much I want to dump him into the lake myself.
Above us, Noah and Maya are still grappling, their hands locked as they try to throw each other off balance. I can feel every shift in Noah’s weight, every adjustment he makes as he pushes against her. Then Rick surges forward, trying to knock us off center, but I counter with a quick step back, giving Noah a better angle.
“Come on,” I say, tightening my grip on his legs. “Push.”
