Page 31

Nicole rolled over in the water and wrapped her arms around his neck, her chest against his back. “Good. Carry me up, I need a one.”

Matt pulled his athletic frame up the boat’s ladder with Nicole hanging on him. Once up, Nicole released her grip and Matt wrung out her towel, laying it over the railing to dry. He high-fived his two buddies when he walked into the cockpit.

“Meatheads,” Nicole said. “Get me a beer.”

Matt walked down three steps into the cabin and opened a cooler that was built into the countertop. He popped the top on a Bud Light and handed it to Nicole as he walked back up the stairs.

“Keep it low just in case the cops come around.”

Nicole sat on the seat in front of the steering wheel. She chugged half her beer in a series of five swallows meant to impress Matt and his two wrestling buddies. She belched loudly.

“So what are you losers doing tonight?”

“Hanging here this afternoon,” Matt said. “We might go to Sullivan’s, he’s having people over. Or maybe into town. The street festival’s going on. Supposed to be live music. How about you guys?”

Nicole shrugged. “Don’t know yet. We’re just hanging at Rachel’s. We talked about the street fest.” She chugged the rest of her beer. “You have enough for Jess and Rachel?”

“Yeah,” Matt said.

Nicole looked over at Rachel’s boat, which was twenty yards away. “Why don’t you two sneak up on them. They’ll freak,” Nicole said to Matt’s friends.

Matt’s buddies laughed and then looked over at Jessica and Rachel, who were sunbathing, eyes closed and lying on their backs. Like two obedient dogs, Matt’s friends nodded at Nicole’s suggestion and quietly slipped into the water to start their stealth approach.

Nicole watched them for a minute as they made their way over; then she looked at Matt. “I need another beer.”

“You drink like a sailor.”

Matt headed below deck. Nicole stood from the captain’s seat and followed him. There was little below deck, just a small space occupied by a half fridge, a small counter and sink, and cabinets for storage. But for Nicole, it was perfect.

“Boo,” she said just as Matt was reaching for a beer.

He turned quickly and they were face-to-face in the small area. Nicole’s body had partially dried in the sun while she drank her first beer, but her hair was still wet and slicked back and dripping down her shoulders. Quickly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and locked her fingers.

Instinctively, he put his hands on her waist. “What’s up, Cutty?”

“You didn’t even look at me the other night,” she said in a pouty voice.

“When?”

“At your party when we all went out to the platform.”

Matt laughed. “Trust me, everyone was looking at everyone. It was too dark to see anything.”

Nicole smiled and raised her eyebrows. “So you did look?”

Matt nodded. “Guilty.”

“Did I look fat?”

“That’s a stupid question.”

“Then how come you ended up hooking up with what’s-her-face?”

“Megan? She’s cool. We’re both off to Duke after the summer.”

“So she’s your girlfriend?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”