CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE #2
He'd been worried she might say no, but here she was, sitting beside him, the late afternoon sun painting her skin golden.
“I’ve only been out on the water a few times over the past couple of years,” Amelia said. “It was on Cole’s boat, so it was never this peaceful.”
Ben chuckled. “Yeah. TJ wanted to come along, but I told him no, though I promised that I’d take him out one of these days.”
Amelia scooted back on the wide bench until her back rested against the cushions, then she drew her legs up to cross them.
“If you’d ever like to go for a plane ride, let me know, and I’ll rent one around here.”
“A plane like the one we took to New York?”
Ben shook his head. “No. A small fixed-wing aircraft.”
“Do you fly much now?”
“Not as much recently,” Ben said.
“Do you have your own plane?”
“I do, but it’s currently in New York.”
Ben told her about some of the flights he’d taken. When he’d first been able to fly solo, he and Luca had flown to a bunch of different places. Lately, he hadn’t had as much time to just fly around.
As they were talking, her phone rang, and she reached into her pocket to pull it out. She set her drink down and pushed her sunglasses onto the top of her head as she peered down at the screen.
“It’s Layla.”
“Go ahead and answer it if you want.”
She hesitated but then tapped the screen and put the phone to her ear.
“Hey, Layla. What’s up?” Amelia paused, listening to whatever her sister’s response was. “I’m at the lake.”
Ben had to wonder what Layla’s response would be if she realized who Amelia was with at the lake.
“I’m on a boat.”
Amelia clearly didn’t want to give her sister that information, but Ben had a feeling that Layla would get it out of her eventually.
“Yeah.” Amelia’s gaze darted to Ben. “Ben’s here.” Another pause. “Luca, his bodyguard.”
Ben grinned when she sighed. “Yes, Ben invited me to come out on his new boat.”
Amelia frowned at something Layla said. “I don’t think that’s necessary.” She rolled her eyes. “Okay. Fine.”
She lowered the phone and tapped the screen. “You’re on speakerphone now.”
“Wonderful!” Layla exclaimed. “Hey, Ben.”
Ben shifted closer to Amelia. “Hey there, Layla. How’s life?”
“It’s good. Busy, but good.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“So you dragged Amelia out on your boat, huh?”
“I didn’t drag her,” Ben said. “I asked if she’d like to come out for the maiden voyage, and she said yes.”
“Well, I’m glad she agreed,” Layla told him. “Just make sure she doesn’t overdo it.”
“Layla,” Amelia protested.
“I just want him to know that you tire easily.”
“I’m aware, Layla,” Ben assured her. “And the only thing Amelia has to do this evening is enjoy the nice weather as we tool around the lake. We’re not going swimming or anything like that.”
“Good. I want her to have fun, but also not to exhaust herself.”
“Don’t worry, Layla,” Ben said. “She’s in good hands.”
There was a long pause, then Layla said, “I hope so.”
“Are you happy now?” Amelia asked, lifting the phone closer to her mouth.
“Yes. Yes, I am.”
“Good. Now go back to your family and let me enjoy my evening.”
“I want to hear all about it tomorrow,” Layla said.
“Maybe,” Amelia said. “Goodnight, sis.”
Layla was protesting as Amelia tapped the screen, effectively ending the call.
“I love her to death, but sometimes she’s a pain.”
Ben laughed. “I think that’s true of all siblings.”
He didn’t bother to move away from her, and she didn’t seem to mind that they were sitting more closely.
“Layla’s always been protective of you,” Ben said.
“Yeah, but she’s never been that way about you.”
“I guess maybe she’s just uncertain about my intentions now,” Ben said. “Especially since you’re in a precarious position with your health.”
“But she should still know that you wouldn’t hurt me.”
Ben was so glad to hear Amelia say that. He never wanted to do anything to hurt her, and he was thankful she understood that.
They lapsed into silence as a boat with a group of partying people drifted by. Rock music floated across the water, accompanied by laughter and loud conversation.
“Are you hungry?” Ben asked once the noise settled into the distance. “Connie put together a meal for us.”
“I could eat,” Amelia said with a nod.
Ben got to his feet, then held out his hand to her. She took it and allowed him to help her off the seat.
Keeping hold of her hand, Ben led her along the narrow walkway from the front of the boat to the stern.
The boat slowed to a stop, settling into the water with gentle dips.
“I’m going to fire up the barbecue,” Ben said as he walked to the small fridge that held their food. “Connie said she was going to make chicken and beef kebabs. Sound good?”
“Yep.” Amelia came to stand beside him. “What can I do to help?”
“Let me get the kebabs on the barbecue, then we can see what else she sent for us.”
“I’m going to hang out downstairs,” Luca said after lowering the anchor and turning off the engine. “Yell if you need anything.”
Luca had only agreed to leave them alone on the upper deck of the boat because there were cameras installed on the boat that showed a panorama of the surrounding area. He could monitor the cameras from the lower deck, so they could still have some privacy.
Once the kebabs were sizzling on the barbecue, Ben went back to the fridge and pulled out the remainder of the food. There was potato salad, fresh buns, a garden salad, and a cheese ball with crackers.
Amelia transferred everything to the table at the stern of the boat. She opened the crackers and used one to dip into the cheese ball, then handed it to Ben. Rather than take it from her, he reached for her wrist and ate it right from her fingers.
She gave a little huff of laughter, then turned to take a cracker for herself.
Once the kebabs were done, Ben set them on a platter. He called for Luca to come and get himself a plate.
There was a lot of food, so after Luca had filled his plate, there was still plenty left for the two of them.
“This is amazing,” Amelia said after Ben had said a prayer of thanks as they sat at the table on the padded bench seats.
“Connie is as good a cook as her mom,” Ben said. “Mom and Dad are fortunate to have her.”
Their conversation was intermittently interrupted by passing boats. It was busy on the lake, which wasn’t surprising given how beautiful the evening was.
Ben was thrilled with how well things were going, and how relaxed Amelia seemed to be. It was exactly how he’d hoped the evening would unfold.
As the sun sank low in the sky, they finished the main part of the meal and turned their attention to the cheesecake Connie had made for them.
“This is wonderful,” Amelia said with a smile. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Thank you for accepting,” Ben replied. “I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I almost didn’t.”
“What made you say yes to me?” he asked. “When you said no to that other guy?”
“James? He’s a bit of a flirt,” Amelia said. “I’m pretty sure I’m not the only woman he persists in trying to date.”
Once they’d finished eating, they transferred all the leftover food into the cooler and cleaned up the disposable dishes and dumped them into the trash.
Luca had come back up to the main deck, and they were once again moving slowly on the water.
“Want to go to the front again?” Ben asked.
Amelia nodded, and they made their way back to the seating area at the bow of the boat. There was a bit of a breeze, which had cooled the heat of the day.
As they stretched out on the seating area, Ben looked up at the sky. There was only a partial moon that night, so they could see stars scattered across the inky black expanse. If they could have turned the lights off on the boat, even more stars would have been visible.
“It’s been ages since I’ve seen the stars like this,” Amelia murmured. “It’s so beautiful. The song Starry, Starry Night is playing in my brain.”
“And now it’s going to play in mine,” Ben said with a chuckle.
She reached over and rested her hand on his. “Sorry about that.”
When she didn’t immediately remove it, he turned his hand over and interlaced their fingers. Before he could say anything, a sudden burst of color filled the sky, followed by a muffled bang.
“Fireworks?” Amelia said, sitting forward a little. “Did you arrange for those?”
“You know, I did try, but I needed a special license and more time than I had for tonight,” he told her. “But apparently someone else got their ducks in a row, and we get to benefit from it.”
Luca must have realized they would want to see the fireworks because the angle of the boat shifted slightly, then he slowed it to a stop.
Ben glanced over at Amelia at the next burst, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of awe on her face, illuminated by the pink burst high in the sky above them.
For the next twenty minutes, they watched countless displays of color brightening the dark night. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
After the night sky filled with a crescendo of colors and noise, Amelia squeezed his hand and turned onto her side to face him.
“That was stunning. Absolutely beautiful. I know you didn’t plan it yourself, but thank you.”
Ben shifted to face her more fully. There was just enough illumination cast by the lights on the boat for him to see her features.
“I’m so glad for this time with you, Lia,” Ben said, his voice soft.
Luca hadn’t started the engine again yet, so the motor wasn’t noisy in the background.
“I know that you have reservations about us dating again.”
“It’s been ten years,” she said.
“I know. I know. And I thought I’d moved on. I thought it was in the past, but no one has ever made me feel the way you have.” He paused, emotion choking him for a moment. “I’ve missed you.”
There was a long stretch of silence, broken only by the sound of the water lapping at the boat.
“I’ve missed you too,” Amelia murmured. “I didn’t realize how much I would until after I broke up with you. I hadn’t expected…”
“What?” he prompted. “What hadn’t you expected?”
“That I’d never see you again.”
“I thought that’s what you wanted,” he said, clasping her hand with both of his. “I thought I was a distraction to you, and I didn’t want to be that.”
“I was… wrong.”
The breath whooshed from Ben’s lungs. “Wrong?”
“Every time I achieved a goal, all I could think was how much better it would have been if you’d been there to celebrate with me.”
“Oh, Lia,” Ben whispered. “I was there for your first Olympic bronze medal.”
“You were?”
“Yes. Mom and I travelled there to see you skate. I was so proud of you.”
His eyes met hers in the dim light, and Ben couldn't resist any longer. He leaned forward, closing the distance between them, and gently pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was soft, tentative, asking a question rather than making a demand.
Amelia froze for just a moment, then her lips softened beneath his. Her hand trembled slightly in his grasp as she returned the pressure, the gesture achingly sweet and familiar, yet somehow entirely new.
It lasted only seconds, but Ben felt as if the world had shifted beneath him. When he pulled back, her eyes remained closed for a moment.
Ben held his breath, waiting for her reaction. When her lips curved into a small smile, relief flooded him, quickly replaced by all the emotions he held in his heart for her. He kept the words inside, however.
He wasn’t sure that they were at the place in their friendship for them just yet.
It was his hope that that evening—that wonderfully perfect evening—was the start, though. And that soon there would be a moment when he could share how he felt with her.
Hopefully, she’d feel the same way in return.