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He motioned for Kurt to throw him the rope and held on to it for her as the boat taxied slowly away from them, far enough to straighten the line. “You’ve been crashing right before you succeed. If you could keep the ski under you for another second or two, you’d have it.”
Getting behind her, he pulled her into the chair he formed with his body so she could get in the proper position. “See? Like this,” he said. “Now relax. Are you relaxed?”
“I’m kind of scared, to be honest,” she said, her teeth chattering.
“There’s nothing to be scared of. If you get in trouble, all you have to do is remember to let go of the rope. But that won’t be necessary this time because you’re going to get up.”
“What about you?” she asked. “Why aren’t you swimming back to the boat?”
“Because you’re shaking too badly. I’m going to hold you steady, so you’ll have a better chance.”
“Is that safe? What if another boat comes along and doesn’t see you?”
“My brother won’t strand me out here. If you get up, he’ll just pull you in a circle around me until you’re tired.”
“Are yousurethat’s okay?”
He didn’t answer. He seemed to know she wasn’t only worried for his well-being, she was throwing up another excuse to procrastinate her next attempt. Holding her against the firm framework of his body, he signaled for Kurt to hit the gas and let go.
The engine roared, the rope yanked her arms and the pressure of the water hit her ski at all once, causing her to wobble like she had before. She thought she was going down again, but remembering what Brant had said, she fought to straighten her ski and keep it underneath her for a little longer—and it worked. The next thing she knew, she was flying across the water like those who’d skied before her.
She wanted to look at Brant in triumph, but she knew she’d fall if she did. She hung on for dear life as Kurt made a wide circle, exactly as Brant had predicted he would. They went around twice. Then, once she got close to Brant again, she let go.
“I did it!” she said as she sank into the water, this time with her ski intact. “Did you see me?”
He swam the short distance between them since she couldn’t maneuver very well. “I did.”
“You’re smiling,” she pointed out in surprise.
“I’m proud of you. And I figure you have enough people mad at you,” he added with a shrug.
“I do. Thanks for not piling on.”
He sobered as he studied her. “Did you give Paul the commitment he’s been after? Is that why you haven’t called me?”
She wiped the water from her face. “No. I haven’t called because I suck at romantic relationships, and you know it. You’re better off without me.”
He lowered his voice. “What if I don’t want to be without you? You have a phobia about getting stuck with the wrong person, but I don’t care. I want you. What do you say to that? Do you ever think of me?”
“Only every second,” she told him glumly.
His smile reappeared, this one much broader. “That’s my girl.”
Hisgirl. When Paul said things like that, it bothered her. But when Brant did it, she went positively gooey inside. “The odds are stacked against us, and I don’t want it to end badly.”
He met her gaze. “I wish I could promise you it wouldn’t. Maybe I’ll get my heart broken for the first time. Maybe you will. But we’ll have one hell of a good time before the big crash.”
“Do you have to use the wordcrash?” she asked.
“We’re brave enough,” he insisted. “Don’t you think? We’ll risk it together.”
She was in an impossible situation. And yet her hand found his hand, and a sense of contentment filled her as they laced their fingers together. “What about Charlie and Averil and Paul?” she asked. “There will definitely be repercussions.”
“If it’ll make you feel safe enough to give our relationship a chance, we’ll be more careful this time. No one else will have to know we’re seeing each other.”
“Okay.”
“Hey! What’re you guys doing out there?” Miles yelled. “Are either of you ever going to ski?”
