"Hey, ladies, are you coming on the boat with us?" Austin yells.
Everyone looks over at us, and I can see them all gawking at Ris. Which I knew they would. I can tell Nikki and Mindy are intimidated by her beauty; they are hatin' pretty fierce right now.
"Hell yes!" Ris shouts and runs over to the boys.
Luke doesn't follow her with his eyes but stays focused on me as he smiles and puts down a potted flower. He walks over to me and looks me over.
"An orange swimsuit! Hot!" he says, then bends down to kiss me. "Orange is my favorite color, by the way."
He winks. I am so glad I chose to wear this today. That explains why the steering wheel in his truck is bright orange. I smile at him while checking out his sweaty rock-hard body. So that's great. We have an affinity for the same colors, even though my favorite color is green, orange comes in a close second or third.
"Are you going out with us on the boat?" I ask.
I figure he won't go because of the tension between him and Jason, but I ask anyway, so he knows I want to spend time with him today.
"No, I have lots to do around here with Gladys and Ernie. You go with your friend. Save her from being mauled by those morons," he laughs.
I kiss him then rush over to everyone. I look back at Luke as he smiles and gives me a wave. I smile and wave back then head down the stairs to the dock. We all pile into Jason's boat. It's a fancy one, mainly for pulling a tub or wakeboard; it's not an ideal fishing vessel.
"Who wants to board first?" Jason yells.
"Why don't you, I'll drive," I say.
Jason agrees and jumps out of the boat to gear up. I figured he'd be all for being the first to show off his skills for Ris and his friends. He was pretty good the last time I was here. I am sure he's still got it. Jason is ready, and I start to take off toward open water.
Chapter Thirty-Two
We come into shore after a crazy day on the lake. We did wakeboarding, skiing, and tubing. No one got hurt, and only Austin lost his trunks a few times. It was so much fun. Jason and Ris got a little cuddlier throughout the day, which gives me hope for tonight.
Nikki and Mindy were not too bad either, I don't know if it was because of Ris putting them in their place a lot or that Bridget is not here, but I still had fun hanging out with them regardless. Everyone is hungry and hyped up, ready to get their drink on. Ris is glued to Jason, and they are flirting something fierce. Mindy and I walk to the boathouse to hang the soaked life jackets as everyone heads up the hill.
"Are you and Luke a thing now?" Mindy asks.
I turn toward her, a tad surprised at her question.
"What?" I reply.
I wonder why she's so inquisitive. She's been pretty cool today, why ruin it now.
"He and Bridget were like together, then you came home, and he didn't want to be with her anymore," she says in her snarky bitch voice.
There she is, she must have held this in all day. Her true self is coming out now that she has me alone and without Ris. I don't even know what to say to her. What Luke and I are is none of her concern at all.
"They were hanging out and sleeping together until just a few days ago. Bridget called him because he didn't show up at her house, but he was with you. He told her he didn't want to be with her anymore," she says slyly.
I don't react to her comment. Luke told me they've only kissed and have never slept together. When I was eavesdropping on his conversation, I don't remember hearing him mention not wanting to be with someone. Maybe, that is why he took the call in the bathroom so I wouldn't hear him end it with her. He didn't want to raise any doubts, and that's respectful. I guess.
"We should head up to where everyone else is," I say without replying to her last comment.
I believe ignorance should be ignored, and that's why I don't care. Well, not entirely. We get to the top of the hill, and Mindy takes off over to Nikki and the rest of the clan. I skim the yard for Luke but don't see him anywhere. I walk over to Ris and grab her arm.
"I need to talk to you," I say.
I need her to help ease my mind. It's best not to leave any doubts, and my best friend can at least guide me and tell me I am overthinking. I hope! We head back into the cabin, and I tell her about what Mindy said. She told me to ignore the bitch as she is trying to get a rise out of me and do Bridget's dirty work. She reassures me that Luke wants me bad and to forget about it, precisely what I needed to hear. I love Ris!
"Let's get our drink on!" she shouts.
We head back outside, and Luke is at the grill with Ernie. He looks at me and waves. I smile and wave back. Ris runs over to Jason, and they start a game of volleyball. I sit in a chair next to Gladys. I ask her how her flower planting went, and she tells me about all the flowers she and Luke planted. She loves to plant flowers around the
