Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
I didn’t give him the satisfaction of carrying on like a damsel in distress. Instead, I hugged the life jacket and floated on my back, staring up at the mountains of clouds in the distance. “Do you think my dad and your brother look at Playboy magazines?” I asked, even though I couldn’t hear his answer with my ears under the water. “I mean God probably appreciates them. Of course, He focuses on the articles, but while He’s flipping from one article to the next, I bet He appreciates the titty photos. After all, it’s just admiring His artwork. Don’t you agree?”
When I lifted my head, Kyle was still shirtless with his back to me while he fished out of the opposite side of the boat.
“You’ll be happy to know that I take much better care of your child than you take care of your brother’s best friend’s daughter.”
“You pushed me in the water. Maybe you were trying to drown me. That’s attempted murder.” He set his pole aside and turned, offering me his hand.
I didn’t trust him, but I was out of other options, so I swam toward the boat and flung my life jacket into it before accepting his help.
Once I was inside the boat, I held up both arms. Kyle stared at me with a wrinkled brow.
“Help me remove my shirt so I can wring it out.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “No way.”
“I have on a bra. Think of it like a bikini top.”
“No. Just wring it out the best you can without taking it off.”
“You’re shirtless. What’s the big deal? No one’s around here. We could skinny dip and get away with it.”
“We’re not skinny dipping, and you’re not removing your top.”
“Why? Worried you can’t control yourself?”
“Eve, I haven’t strangled you. I think I’m showing a lot of control.”
“Don’t be a square. Do you think I want to leave my clothes on after you got me wet?”
He gazed at the sky for a brief moment before tucking his chin and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Christ,” he mumbled. “Don’t say it like that. Just sit down. Let’s head back to the dock.”
I had other ideas.
Kyle stiffened, staring between his legs at my wet shirt when it landed next to his feet.
“If I were Adam, I’d remove my wet shirt, right? We’d crack open a beer, too, but you didn’t bring beer, which leads me to believe you don’t really think of me as that kind of friend.”
“Put your shirt back on,” he said, keeping his head bowed.
“No. Just look at me. My bra is on. You look at naked women in magazines. I’m not naked. Stop making this weird. You’re totally freaking out over nothing.”
Kyle lifted his gaze and stared at my chest like it needed to be studied. Then he peered out at the water. “What’s there to look at?”
“Jerk.” I wrinkled my nose.
“Snoopy perv,” he said.
I bit my lip to keep from giggling, then I twisted my hair and leaned to the side to wring out the water. “See. No big deal. We’re just buddies fishing.”
Little lines of distrust formed at the corners of his eyes.
“I wonder how many couples named Adam and Eve end up together. It would get exhausting dealing with the looks and snickers every time they introduced themselves. Can you imagine?” I asked, combing my fingers through my hair.
Kyle’s gaze stayed firmly on the water, but he grinned.
“How did you and Adam meet?”
“I’ve known him since kindergarten.” He squinted against the sun.
“That’s how long I’ve known my friend Erin. You must really miss him. Erin has decided to attend a community college for her first two years, so she commutes from home. I don’t know what I will do when she moves away to finish school. Maybe you’ll have to fill in as my best friend. We can fish, hunt, and drink together.”
Kyle kept staring at the sunset while scratching his jaw. “Think so?” He reached between his legs and grabbed my shirt, squeezing the water from it before tossing it to me.
“I’m looking at you, and you’re not even wearing a bra,” I said.
Kyle rolled his lips between his teeth, gazing at my feet. “This was a bad idea. You’re every kind of imaginable trouble.” In the next breath, he started the engine and steered us back to the dock.
He was supposed to let me drive, but I didn’t make a big deal out of it, surprising myself with my new level of maturity.
“I should get back in case Gabby’s having any issues with Josh,” he said, climbing out of the boat.
This time, I ignored his proffered hand since he still wouldn’t look at me. “Yes. I’m sure Josh is giving her fits,” I said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
Kyle loaded his boat onto the trailer in what I imagined was record time while I sat on the edge of the dock.