Page 86 of Notice Me, Jameson Hart

“That it makes people uncomfortable, but I should do it anyway?”

“Close enough.”

Back on deck, Jameson shows us the upper level, and the hot tub. “Six-person capacity,” he notes.

“Life jackets are in the compartments along the sides,” Damien says, shifting into responsible adult mode. “I know you all can swim, but safety first. There’s also sunscreen in the baskets by each seating area. The sun can be brutal on the water.”

“Where’s the sound system?” Robbie asks, already scoping out spots for his speaker.

“Built-in,” Damien says, pulling out his phone. “Bluetooth enabled, surround sound, weatherproof speakers throughout.”

Robbie’s eyes light up. “Can I?—”

“No,” everyone says simultaneously.

“You guys are the worst.”

A horn honks from the parking lot, and we turn to see Adam jogging down the dock, Matthew and Tyler flanking him. They’re all carrying coolers and bags, their flip-flops slapping against the dock.

“Sorry, we’re late!” Adam calls. “Someone”—he glares at Tyler—“forgot to set an alarm.”

“I thought Matthew was setting one!”

“Idiots,” Adam mutters, accepting Damien’s help aboard. “I’m surrounded by idiots.”

With everyone finally present, Damien starts the engine. The boat purrs to life, vibrating gently beneath our feet. “Alright,folks,” he says from the captain’s chair. “Let me show you what this beauty can do.”

As we pull away from the dock, I find myself standing at the rail next to Jameson. The marina shrinks behind us, and the open ocean stretches ahead, endless and full of possibility.

I turn to face him, taking in his wind-tousled hair and nervous smile. Behind us, Rita is peppering Damien with questions about the boat while Robbie hovers nearby, growing increasingly grumpy. Dad and Adam are discussing something that involves a lot of hand gestures. The whole scene is a chaotic family affair and summer perfection.

Jameson grins at me, and my heart forgets how to beat properly. He grabs my hand, pulling me toward the bow. “You have to see the view from up here. It’s incredible.”

I let him lead me forward, our fingers intertwining. The boat picks up speed, and the wind whips through my hair as we make our way toward the front.

I have to say, the bow of the boat is perfect—because it’s Jameson and me against the endless blue. The wind hits differently up here, stronger and cleaner, carrying away everything except this moment. I grip the railing and lean forward slightly, feeling as though I could touch the horizon if I stretched far enough.

“This is incredible,” I breathe, watching the water split around the hull in perfect white foam.

“I know, right?” Jameson steps closer, and suddenly he’s right behind me, his chest almost touching my back. “You know what we need to do now?”

“What?”

His arms come up on either side of me, stretched out like plane wings. “I’m flying, Jack!” he declares in the worst fake British accent I’ve ever heard.

I burst out laughing. “Did you?—”

“Come on, play along!” He’s laughing too, his breath warm against my ear. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

“I am not doing theTitanicthing.”

“Kevin Pryor, you’re telling me you know the entire choreography to ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life,’ but won’t do the most iconic boat scene in cinema history?”

I turn my head to look at him, and our faces are so close I can see flecks of gold in his brown eyes. “No. Because this is real life, not a movie.”

“Sometimes real life is better than the movies,” he says softly, and my heart stops.

For a moment, we stand there staring at each other, the boat cutting through waves, the sun warming our skin, his arms creating a shelter around me. Then Ethan’s voice carries from somewhere behind us.