Chapter 27 #2
“Well, everyone else will be all covered up in warm clothes, so it will give me a great excuse to show off my body to all the ladies. I’ve got to do something to compete with all these damn rowers.”
“And streaking is your answer to that?”
“It’s also a great icebreaker.”
“Because you really struggle to start conversations with girls.”
“What can I say? I’m a secret introvert at heart.”
“I don’t believe that for one second.”
He grinned and swung an arm over my shoulder. “That’s just because you know me so well, sis.”
I groaned and shrugged his arm off me. “Wes told me you’d stop calling me that if I came to your game the other day.”
“Oops, I guess I forgot.” Given the cheeky glint in his eyes, I knew he hadn’t.
The race started and our gazes darted to the end of the lake. The boats were barely larger than specks in the distance, but an announcer’s voice was blaring over the speakers as they commentated on the race. Bexley had started strong and was already pulling ahead of the rest of the competitors.
My hands bunched into fists at my side, and my heart raced as I listened to the announcer. Wes’s team was pulling up the rear.
I glanced at Sawyer who didn’t share any of the tension I felt. He looked the picture of ease as he watched the race, and when he caught my worried expression, he smiled.
“Stop stressing,” he said. “Like he does many things in life, when my brother races, he starts out slow but finishes hard and fast.”
“Sawyer!” Anna gasped from beside me. “That sounded way too sexual.”
He shrugged. “What? I’m just saying it how it is.”
I shook my head and focused back on the race, but Anna leaned in close to me. “Sounds like you and Wes should be doing more than just kissing,” she murmured, nudging me in the side.
“Anna, get your head out of the gutter. I’m trying to watch the race.”
“Okay, okay.” She fell silent, but I could still see her smirking at me from the corner of my eye.
My heart leaped as I heard the announcer call out that Weybridge were gaining on Bexley. They were moving up the lake swiftly, and I could see the boats more clearly. Weybridge was easy to pick out in their red uniforms, and they were only just behind their rivals.
The crowd started shouting and cheering as the boats came closer and closer. We were standing right by the finish line, and the two boats were neck and neck as they fought for the lead.
With only meters to go, the Weybridge crew attacked the water with a sudden burst of energy, pulling out in front just as they flew across the finish line. The crowd went wild as our boys came in first, and I found myself jumping up and down as I squealed with Anna and Cress.
When we finally calmed down, I noticed Sawyer didn’t look nearly disappointed enough about losing his bet. In fact, he was grinning brightly like he couldn’t be happier.
“And here I thought you’d be disappointed that Wes won the bet.”
He winked. “Wes was always going to win.”
“So, why make the bet then?”
“Because what is life without a little bit of risk?”
“That’s very deep of you Sawyer.”
“Like I told you, I’m a secret introvert. I’m really quite profound.”
“Sure, you are.” I laughed at him. “We should go find Wes to congratulate him.”
“And give him the satisfaction of admitting I lost our bet? I don’t think so,” Sawyer said.
“Anna? Cress?”.
“We’ll catch up with you,” Anna said with a knowing grin.
“Yeah,” Cress agreed with a bigger smirk. “We’ll be there in a minute. We just want to watch the next race, but you go ahead.”
“Fine. I’ll see you guys soon.”
Their faces were all too smug as I turned to go. I had a feeling they were yet again trying to push their Wesobel agenda on me, but I was too excited to see Wes to let it bother me.
When I caught sight of Wes, he was celebrating with the rest of his team.
His whole body radiated excitement, and I loved seeing him so happy.
When he saw me, his happy smile morphed into a beaming grin, and he rushed over to me, catching me up in his arms. I squealed as he swung me around before he lowered me to my feet once more.
“Did you see us?” he cried. “We won. We actually won.”
I laughed at his exuberance. He was so cute when he was this happy, and my heart was lifted by his brimming enthusiasm.
“You guys were incredible out there.”
“I really thought we were done for toward the end there.”
“Could have fooled me.”
He folded me into his arms once more, and I smiled as I leaned against his chest. It was impossible not to like Wes, especially when he was like this.
When he pulled back, he was still grinning down at me. “Date me, Isobel.”
“What?”
“I know I’m supposed to be patient and we’re supposed to think this through. But I want this. I want you. Be my girlfriend, for real.”
“You’re still high on adrenaline from your race.”
His expression sobered slightly. “Perhaps I am. But perhaps that adrenaline has also given me clarity. I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“Really?”
He nodded, and a hint of uncertainty entered his eyes. He’d probably been slightly high on energy when he’d asked me, but I could see in his gaze that he meant it, and I knew he’d be hurt if I turned him down.
Even as I looked into his eyes, I thought of Noah. My relationship with Noah had been like a starlit sky. It was beautiful and endless, and the darkness had a unique allure all its own. But the dark was also fraught with danger, and there were so many obstacles you couldn’t see.
Wes was more like the sunny sky overhead. He was happy, easy, and warm. Being with him wasn’t complicated, and his brightness chased away even the gloomiest of shadows. I deserved to be with someone who made me happy. Perhaps this was the nudge I’d been asking for from the universe.
Slowly, I started to nod. “Okay.”
“Okay?” A smile tugged at his lips as my nod became more definite.
“Yes, okay.”
He laughed and pulled me up into his arms, swinging me around again.
When he slowly lowered me to the ground, he sealed our relationship with a kiss.
His lips tasted slightly salty, and the intensity with which he kissed me had me feeling light on my feet.
I could feel his kiss all the way down in my toes, and I smiled as I heard his team whistling and jeering at us from behind.
Slowly, I pulled away, and when I opened my eyes, he was gazing down at me. He was looking at me like I was the prize he was taking home today rather than the trophy his team had just won.
“I think we just made a bit of a scene,” I murmured.
“I think we might have too,” he agreed. “Want to make another one?”
I laughed and pushed back from him. “Maybe later.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” He glanced past me to his teammates who had returned to celebrating their win.
“You should get back to them,” I said.
“I’d rather stay here with you.”
I shook my head. “Go celebrate with your friends. I’ll see you at the party later tonight.”
He gave me a grin and then swooped down to kiss me on the cheek. “I can’t wait.” He jogged past me to catch up with his team and head back to the boathouse, and I smiled as I watched him go.
Wes was sweet and fun, and I liked him so much.
Things were moving fast between us, but this felt right, and I was glad I’d agreed to be his girlfriend.
I knew we were putting our friendship at risk, but I didn’t want to let that hold us back.
Not when we clearly both wanted to be something more.
Sawyer was right; what was life without a little risk.