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It was just my luck. I’d have no choice but to sit behind Johnny, wrap my arms around him, and press my body tight to his. If nothing else, I was grateful that we were required to wear life jackets. At least they’d provide a barrier between our bodies.
We’d all arrived at the jet skis, where I did my best to focus on each of our friends as they got themselves situated on a jet ski. Zac and Talia went first, and the moment he took off, she let out a shriek of surprise. Her arms quickly tightened around him.
With the exception of Colt and Thea, the rest of the couples had a relatively similar start. Colt took it easy out of the gate, which meant that Thea had a much smoother transition to the high speeds on the jet ski. I didn’t know what it was about him, but Colt had always been very sweet with Thea. I think he always had thoughts of their two children in the back of his mind. He wanted to have fun with Thea, but he wouldn’t risk having anything happen to her that could impact her ability to take care of their kids.
Before I knew it, Johnny and I were up. He held his hand out to me, making sure that I made it safely onto the jet ski. We both sat down, and he twisted his neck to look back at me. “Hold on, Kiera,” he instructed.
There had been a battle waging on inside me. Was I supposed to do this, knowing that it was crucial to my safety, and remember it as being just that?
Yes. Of course, it was.
But there was the other part of me that was being worn down slowly. The part of me that was bloodied and broken and devastated over the impending dissolution of my marriage. That part of me, the one that was getting glimpses this week of the life we once lived, wanted to hold on tight and never let him go.
In the end, as a means of self-preservation, I sat only close enough that I could reach out to him to hold on. No matter how much I wanted to indulge myself for one last time this week, I knew I couldn’t. It would only result in more heartbreak for me when the week was over. Keeping my defenses up was crucial.
Much like Colt had done when he first pulled away, Johnny took it easy, too.
Good.
At least he realized I wasn’t holding on in a way that would ensure I’d not go flying off if he went speeding.
But after taking it easy for a little while, something I had actually enjoyed when I gave myself the opportunity to relax a touch, Johnny craned his neck again. He reached back with one hand, curling it behind my knee, and gave it a gentle tug. At the same time, he asked, “Ready?”
Ready?
“For what?” I countered.
“This,” he said.
I barely had enough time to register that single word when Johnny took off. He continued to hold firmly on to my leg for only as long as it took me to shift my body closer and wrap my arms completely around him.
I had no choice. It was that, or I’d die.
And while I knew I was holding on to Johnny in an effort not to go flying from the jet ski, I couldn’t deny that there was a part of me that couldn’t miss the feeling of his body being positioned between my parted thighs, even if he was facing the opposite direction.
Eventually, I let go of the tension I’d been feeling, and I allowed myself to enjoy the new experience.
The jet skiing.
It had truly been a wonderful time, and there was a lot of laughter as we all raced around with one another in the water beneath the hot summer sun. The guys took a lot of risks, confident in their abilities, and it just made for a really fun time.
“Time for the ladies to take control,” Margot shouted when we’d all slowed down for a moment.
“Yes, I want a turn to drive,” Saylor declared, standing up and immediately climbing over Gage.
“I can’t wait,” Talia bubbled.
“Okay, babe,” Zac said as he shifted his body to allow her to sit in front of him.
“Before anything crazy happens, we need to peel off one at a time and give the women a chance to get comfortable driving,” Simon advised.
Colt and Gage spoke simultaneously. “Agreed.”
Since everyone else was already in the process of changing positions, I realized I had no choice but to do the same. So, after having loosened my hold on Johnny completely, I stood. But as I attempted to maneuver around him, my foot got caught on the seat. I let out a yelp and saw the water approaching my face quickly when I was instantly hauled up and settled on Johnny’s thigh.
“I’ve got you,” he said. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
