Page 94 of That Last Summer

“Fuck, Pris!”

He protests over and over, but despite all his complaints he listens to me—he speeds up.

And once Alex stops worrying about me and we start to pick up speed, we’re unstoppable. The waves are huge now, gigantic, but Alex gets through them easily; we’re bouncing so hard I even hover in the air for a few seconds, but I’m clinging tight.

“Hold on! Don’t lose your grip!” Alex shouts as we overtake my brother Adrián. I nod at him with a smile, and Alex and I continue to move up the ranks.

It doesn’t take us much longer to pass River, Marcos and, lastly, right when we’re turning back, Hugo. Alex has handled the jet ski so perfectly we’re in the lead now.

“Alex, we’re winning!”

“And I’ve got luggage!”

I laugh in his ear and rest my head on his back. I can’t help but think that Alex is indeed like Poseidon. He has no rival in the sea. He never has.

As the water droplets splash onto us harder and harder, I shelter my face against his body and stay there, so comfortable, until Alex says, “Pris, we’re almost there, don’t miss it.”

I raise my head and look back to check if we’re ahead of the rest or if someone is on our heels, and indeed, my brother Hugo is a short distance behind us, but we’re so close to the finish line—which is no more than a group of people waiting for us on their jet skis—that it’s almost impossible for him to catch up.

And a few seconds later...

“Yessssssss!” Alex and I shout in unison.

Little by little, we lose speed and turn back to join the others. The rest of the participants are arriving now, and most of them come to congratulate us before stopping their jet skis completely. We all form an irregular circle.

I have an almost irrepressible desire to jump into the water and enjoy the moment, but I don’t even consider it; once I get off the bike it’ll be impossible to get back on—pushing up from the water is a hard task.

After the cheering and congratulating, when we’re ready to return to the beach and keep the celebration going at the festival, I realize I don’t want this moment to end. I want more time with this Alex, I don’t want to stop hugging him—something that, although we’re not riding the waves anymore, I’m still doing. He hasn’t complained either... at least, not yet. But it’s time to go back now. We do it in comfortable silence, enjoying the ride, and I know that goes for both of us. Alex could deny it as much as he wanted, but I wouldn’t believe him. His body is relaxed next to mine and he drives the jet ski calmly, slowly; if he was in a hurry to get rid of me, he’d speed up, wouldn’t he?

When we reach the beach and disembark, we head back to the jet ski stand—my brother Marcos is already there with Alicia and River. We were going so slowly that everyone passed us.

“I was waiting for you guys,” Marcos says when we arrive.

“And why’s that?” Alex asks as we take off our vests.

I leave mine on the counter and spot my pile of clothes in a corner.

“I wanted to ask if you’d like to eat at the promenade stalls with us?” He points in that direction.

“I’m in.” I was going to already, so... “What about the others?”

“They’ve just left,” Alicia says. “I just got here. I couldn’t make it earlier, my mother kept me busy with a wedding issue. By the way, here’s your cell phone—Jaime gave it to me before he left with your brothers.”

“And Catalina?” I ask River as Alicia hands me my phone. It’s not that I care, or miss her, but she and River are always together. Fighting, but together. My sister-in-law doesn’t work; she’s a rich heiress and considers working overrated. I’m surprised she didn’t come to the race.

“She’s around somewhere,” my brother answers, distracted.

I accept his lack of interest in the matter and start to dress without further ado, dragging my T-shirt and shorts on over my wet bikini, but when I go to put on my flip-flops I realize they’re not there.

“Marcos, have you seen my flip-flops? They aren’t with the rest of my things.” I wave a hand towards the spot where I’d left everything.

“Your flip-flops? No, no idea.”

“I’m sure I left them here.”

“I’ll help you look,” Alicia offers.

We all search—except Alex, who’s still getting dressed—but they’re nowhere to be found.