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Over Tour Guide Barbie with her dark hair, perfect hair, perfect make-up, perfect body as she fawned over my best friend.
I rolled my eyes as she complimented him on something, and turned, adjusting my camera strap and looking out at the water again, tempted to jump right in. The two of them laughed, and I pressed my lips together.
I totally didn’t expect to be a third wheel on my Christmas vacation.
I didn’t want to feel like a third wheel on my vacation…and yet, here I was…trying to not see how potentially perfect they could be together.
Terry sat down across from me.
“You look…” I waited for the rest of the sentence. “Like you need a distraction.” He smiled and pulled the cooler closer, leaning in and digging around. He handed me a cold can of soda. “Best I can do right now. We usually go to dinner after…”
“Everyone?” I asked, taking the soda and opening it. I wasn’t sure I could take more ofeveryone. The crew on the boat seemed nice, friendly. They’d been really helpful getting in and out of the water. They’d brought out snacks a while before, but I haven’t felt all that hungry, especially with wanting to get right back into the water as soon as possible.
“Sometimes.”
“I’ll see.”
He nodded, glancing down the aisle. “Well, you need anything, just holler.”
“Thanks.”
I sat there alone for a while, my legs drawn up under the towel as I watched the water. There were a few boats off in the distance. I could see another group diving in, getting ready for their own snorkeling adventure. I finished my drink and set the empty can down under the bench, pulled my hair out of the bun and ran my fingers through it, combing through before pulling it back up again. I could hear Lucas’ voice from somewhere nearby, and a moment later, he walked out on deck, another towel in hand and with a bottle of sunscreen.
He smiled as he saw me and came over, sitting beside me. He set the towel beside him then started spraying the lotion on his arms. “You need any?”
“Probably, yeah. Thanks.”
I took the canister from him and sprayed my arms and my legs, before setting it down.
Terry came back over to us, Dominique at his side. She’d added a pair of denim shorts to her ensemble. “We wanted to see if you wanted to try one of the other bays…not a long ride, but give you more to explore.”
Lucas nodded. “That would be great. Abbie?”
“All for it,” I agreed.
“Great. We’ll start moving in about ten. Let you know when we’ll drop anchor.” Dominique looked at the two of us then turned and headed back to the front of the boat with her phone in hand.
I turned, propping my feet up on the bench and leaning back, my eyes closed.
I felt a shadow go by me, and a moment later, Lucas took a seat behind me.
I gave him a look and readjusted my position, leaning against him as he put his arm up around me. A few moments later, the boat jerked slightly, then we began moving smoothly through the amazingly calm waters.
***
We stopped in the midst of a different bay on another part of the island. The water was just as gorgeous, fewer people around. Apparently, there was more of a chance for turtles in the bay here, Terry told me as I slipped my fins back on and he handed me my goggles, before wishing me good luck and I dove back in after Lucas.
The water was amazing. Blue and warm, and it seemed to take away every bit of tension I’d had with me that morning. I swam through the water peacefully, Lucas nearby as we explored, the different fish going by us. I took some amazing photos, and we kept going. I watched him for a bit as he swam ahead of me. His toned legs moved gracefully through the water. I followed.
This was one of the best vacations I’d ever been on.
Okay,thebest. If I took Dominique out of the equation.
She still needed to back off, and I didn’t quite know how to make that happen yet. Although I had to give points to Lucas he wasn’t really paying her a lot of attention, but the more attention she gave him, eventually, he’d be giving some back.
And I wanted all the attention.
That was a bit of an alarming realization.
