Page 5 of Yours for the Weekend

I smack the pockets of my jean shorts and come up empty.

My mind whirls before I remember; Casey threw my phone on the lounge chair after catching me on Nina’s Instagram.

In the aftermath of Marcus’s interruption, I forgot to grab it, and I was so lost in memories before falling asleep, I never realized I didn’t have it.

“My phone is still on the deck,” I explain. Casey momentarily brightens, and it does something weird to my stomach.

No. Friends can’t hook up without ruining the friendship. I thought I was going to die after Nina and I broke up, losing her and Casey will definitely kill me. It’s not worth the risk.

“But you’re too important to me,” I say. “I really appreciate your willingness to do that for me, but I think it’s better if we don’t … you know.”

Casey scratches her nose and nods before standing up straighter. “Of course. We can forget last night ever happened.”

“Thank you.” I smile.

Casey comes around the counter and pulls me into a hug. We squeeze each other, and I don’t want to let go. Her skin is so soft and warm. She smells like her lavender shampoo. The scent is both calming and intoxicating, and I sink further into her embrace.

She rubs my back like she always does when we share hugs like this, but there’s a new ache low in my belly that catches me off guard. My arms are wrapped around her bare back, my hands gripping the soft skin of her waist, and I jolt back as desire floods me.

Casey thankfully doesn’t seem fazed by the way I recoil from her. “I love you so much, Dakota.”

“I love you too, Casey.”

“Hey, come drive for a second.” Casey waves me over while moving toward the back of the boat. We’ve been cruising along the water in what has been our longest stretch of time not getting hailed down by someone wanting to talk.

It’s a beautiful day at the end of June in Michigan, and the water is crowded.

I recognize only a couple boats, but Casey waves to everyone and occasionally stops to catch up with someone.

Normally, this would be my introverted self’s worst nightmare, having to stop and interact with so many strangers, but the conversations energize Casey, who is sweet and charming to every person she’s ever met.

I love seeing her like this—in her element.

Her smile is brighter, and I can’t help but match it even if I’m not a part of the conversation.

“Um, are you sure that’s a good idea?” I stand frozen, staring wide-eyed at the steering wheel.

“It’ll only be for a second,” she says. “Unless you want to check if the bilge is still running?”

“The what?”

Casey smiles. “Exactly. Come here.” She hooks her finger into the belt loop of my jean shorts and tugs. My palms are clammy as I hover them five inches above the steering wheel, too afraid to touch it.

I’ve had a hard rule prohibiting myself from operating any vehicle on the water after I accidentally crashed my jet ski.

Sophomore year of high school, my family went on vacation to Florida.

My brother begged our parents to let him rent a jet ski, and despite him being older, I’ve always been the more responsible one.

Afraid of getting in trouble, I rarely goofed off or broke the rules.

Unlike James who was grounded every other weekend and spent high school in and out of detention.

James kept playing around, trying to do tricks he was way too inexperienced to pull off, and I warned him he was going to get himself killed.

But it was me—too distracted watching over him—to see the approaching group of kayakers despite their desperate hollering.

I overcorrected and flipped my jet ski after narrowly dodging the lead kayak.

Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but I’ve been racked with guilt ever since.

It didn’t help that James was so damn smug that it was me, Little Miss Perfect, who almost killed someone instead of him.

It was rare, but he always loved getting the last laugh when he could.

It’s how I know he’s eating up every second of being the new favorite since I replaced him as the family disappointment.

Nothing he could ever do can be worse than my coming out and “embracing my homosexual lifestyle.” I hope he appreciates me forever taking the heat off him, but I doubt it.

“Just hold it like you would a car steering wheel.” Casey holds her hands up in the air, modeling the correct position. “Ten and two.”

“Do people still say that?” I ask and clutch the cool stainless steel like our lives depend on it.

Somewhere over my shoulder, Casey laughs. I focus on my breathing, my entire body tense and locked up as I focus on the expanse of water before me.

Oh no. A boat approaches in the distance. Sweat pools on the back of my neck. The boat is gliding closer toward us. Too close. My heart is lodged in my throat. How do I slow this damn death trap down?

“Case!” I yelp.

“Huh?”

“Boat!” I shout.

Casey saddles up beside me with a frown. She squints and asks, “Where? You mean that one halfway across the lake?”

I glare at her.

Casey snorts. “It’s all good. It’s headed parallel to us anyways.”

“Just take the wheel back.” I try to push around her; the captain’s seat feels way too suffocating, but she holds up a hand to stop me.

“Hold on. I should take a photo of you.” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, and I’d find it super cute if I wasn’t freaking out. Nope. Actually, I do find it super cute even while freaking out.

“You can use it on some dating apps,” she explains. “A gorgeous woman driving a boat? You’ll have every girl in your DMs.”

My skin flushes with heat as my brain short-circuits on the word “gorgeous.” Which is so stupid.

Casey has complimented me more times than I can count.

Hell, I’ve said the same thing to her before.

We are each other’s biggest hype woman. So why is it that every time my best friend has told me my outfit was hot or that my haircut was beautiful, it felt good, but it’s nothing compared to the warmth spreading across my skin at hearing her say I look gorgeous while driving this monstrosity?

Besides, it can’t be true. I look petrified. She’s just being nice. That’s all.

“Smile.” Casey holds up her phone.

I try to smile, but it’s stilted, and I know the photo will be hideous. It will never see my Instagram feed, let alone a dating app, whenever I build up the courage to sign up for one.

“You’re a natural,” she says and leans in close to show me. I barely glance at it, only making out the outline of myself and the bright blue sky behind me, before refocusing my gaze on the lake.

“Okay. Sure. Very nice. Can you take over now?”

Casey grins. “Come on. You’re doing great.”

She squeezes my arm, and I chuckle humorlessly.

“See? This isn’t so scary,” she says.

“I beg to differ.”

“Nah, you’re a natural.” She edges behind me and points toward the throttle. “Go ahead and give it a little gas.”

She’s standing directly behind me now. So close her warm body pressed against mine sends tingles down my legs. She takes my hand and guides it to the throttle.

“Just a little …” Her breath tickles my ear, and I jerk, giving the boat way too much gas, and we rocket forward. I’m propelled backward and land on top of Casey, who falls into the captain’s seat.

My heart beats wildly in my chest as adrenaline floods my veins.

My gaze darts across the water, checking to make sure I didn’t accidentally crash into some poor unsuspecting kayaker, and blow out a sigh of relief to see the coast is clear.

Then Casey’s chuckle tickles my neck, and the sound fills me with heat as I cut my gaze toward her.

I’m still sitting in her lap. Her eyes are bright with amusement, her smile wide. “Okay, maybe not so much a natural.”

I frown. “Hey, I was doing fine until you jumped in.”

Casey nods, placating, and I playfully slap her shoulder.

“I’m just teasing you,” she says with a squeeze around my waist. It’s only then do I realize her arms are wrapped around me.

My breathing slows as the whole world narrows to her expression. Her soft smile. Her gorgeous emerald eyes as they lock onto mine. Our faces aren’t far apart. It would be so easy to kiss her. I could kiss her.

Her tongue pokes out as she licks her lips. Our faces are closer now, I’d only have to move a couple inches. Her plump lips look so soft. Would it really be so bad if I did kiss her?

“Casey Greene? You asshole! Why didn’t you text me you’re here?”

We jolt apart by the sudden shout. A boat has pulled up beside us. There’s a small group of people our age onboard. A beautiful woman stands by the edge, and I presume she’s the one who shouted at Casey. She’s holding a seltzer while raising both hands in a way that says, What the hell?

“Oh, my god,” Casey groans and stands. I edge back to give her more space. My skin is flushed with heat, and I miss the warmth of her arms around me. “Don’t give me that! Did you text me?”

“Yes. Check your phone, bitch!” The woman has long auburn hair that falls to the middle of her back. She has fair skin, tinged pink with what will surely be a wicked sunburn. She’s wearing a pair of bold, black sunglasses and lifts them to sit on top of her head.

Casey scans the area before fishing her phone from the cup holder. She snorts. “This text is from two minutes ago.”

The redhead shrugs. “Still texted.”

“Oh, whatever.” Casey laughs. “What’re you doing in Michigan? I thought you were in Arizona?”

“I was, but for only two days. It’s Taylor’s birthday, so Landon surprised her with a trip up here,” the redhead explains when one of the guys behind her says something I can’t hear. She nods and says to us, “Food’s ready. Come over.”

Casey glances at me, leaving our answer up to me, which I appreciate, and I shrug. “I could eat,” I say softly so only she can hear.

“We’ll meet you there,” Casey calls out.

The redhead beams, and their boat takes off. Casey follows in their wake. I ask, “Who was that?”