Outside the Lines (Rebel Hearts #1) (23 page)

“Tonight, baby. They’re all yours.”

“And sorry if saying I was your date imposed,” he says.
 

“No, not at all.” We try to embrace but end up bumping legs as we both tread water to stay afloat. “I wanted to ask you, but wasn’t sure if you’d even want to go. I know weddings can be kinda lame.”
 

He nods, agreeing. “Being with you isn’t lame.”
 

“Thanks,” I say and let my arms fall, giving up on swimming and kissing. I float on my back, spreading my arms and legs out to keep myself up. “I was seriously dreading being stuck at the singles table again since they’re not doing the head table with the whole bridal party. Or be put with my parents like a loser.”
 

Ben laughs softly. “You’re not a loser now.”

“You don’t mind going?” I ask, unable to hide my insecurities. “I know you have a lot going on.”
 

“Do you want me to go?”

“Yes. I really do.”
 

“Then no, I don’t mind at all. I want to make you happy,” he tells me. “And I don’t want you to feel like a loser.”
 

I laugh. “That’s very considerate of you. And now I’m actually looking forward to the wedding.” A weight I didn’t know was on my shoulders lifts. Not only do I have a date to my brother’s wedding, but it’s the best possible date ever.
 

Ben stacks our lifejackets together and sits on them, then pulls me into his lap. With a little paddling, we are able to keep our bodies locked and stay above the surface.
 

“It’s nice here,” Ben says, moving his head down to kiss me. “Did you come out here a lot when you lived here?”

“We did. I feel like this is our little spot of the lake. I get pissed when I see other people here, like those guys over there.” I narrow my eyes at the other boats, who no doubt feel the same about us. “The seaweed is pretty bad so a lot of boaters don’t bother. That’s why the boat’s way out there and we have to swim here. And the shore isn’t good for laying out or playing or anything. The water is calm and it’s quiet. I like it.”
 

“I do too. I imagine the lake isn’t always this crowded either.”
 

“Not at all. Weekends are pretty full, but not as bad as a holiday. I like coming out during the week at the beginning and end of summer, when the kids are still in school.”
 

“More privacy,” Ben says and kisses my neck.
 

“What about you?” I ask. “What did you spend your summers doing?”

“Typical, boring stuff,” he laughs. “I played sports and hung out with friends. I did camps when I was younger. And by younger, I mean I went until I was fifteen.”

“They still let fifteen year olds in camps?” I tease.

“They let you go even longer. We lived in the same place for all of my high school years, so I had friends to hang out with then. Summers were boring, but winters were more fun. I like to snowboard.”

“I didn’t know that.”
 

“I’d say I’m better than average at it, but I’m no pro. It’s fun. I still go every winter with friends. And ride snowmobiles.”

“I much prefer warm weather activities.”
 

He chuckles. “I like warm weather too. I told you, when it’s bad I won’t even go into work. But it’s different when you’re doing something fun like snowboarding and skiing, or riding a snowmobile. You get all geared up and stay warm.”

I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t like feeling all bundled.”
 

His eyes drop to my tits. “I don’t think I’ll like you being all bundled.”

I shiver, despite the sun beating down on us. He reaches down into the water and rubs my core, wiggling his eyebrows and making me giggle. I think he’s joking until I feel his cock start to harden underneath me. I raise my eyebrows in question.
 

“You’re turning me on,” he says and pulls me closer. I crane my neck to keep it above the water. “That’s a problem.”
 

“It is,” I say and look behind me, seeing Zoey and Mindy finally join Danielle and Jake in the water. They make their way over, to the cove. “But I think I have a solution.”
 

*

“You’re sunburned already,” Ben says as we head back to the dock for lunch.
 

I look down at my shoulders and grimace. “I was going to put sunscreen on and forgot.”
 

“It’s not too late,” he says.
 

“I’ll get it when we get back.”
 

Mindy laughs, holding her hat with one hand to keep from blowing off. “You are really pale. No wonder you burned easily. I tan. I never burn.”
 

“Anyone with skin can burn if they’re out long enough,” I say dryly.
 

“You don’t even have a base tan.” She rolls her eyes and I feel like the lame-o in high school I once was, not allowed to go to the tanning bed due to my mother’s fear of me getting skin cancer. I’m thankful now, but that was just another thing added to the list of why I never sat at the cool table.
 

“I don’t care,” I tell her bluntly.
 

“I can tell,” she scoffs.
 

Ben watches the exchange but doesn’t say anything. Maybe he feels awkward since Mindy is an employee? Whatever. I’m not going to let Mindy fucking Abraham get under my skin. Not today. Not ever again.
 

The boat slows when the dock comes into view. We have our own slip and it’s never an issue getting in, but the loading ramp near the dock causes the water to get a bit congested. Jake idles the boat and we wait for some of the other watercrafts to clear out of the way.

“Ew,” Mindy says, elbowing her sister. I follow her gaze, expecting to see a dead fish floating in the water. Instead, she’s clearing pointing to a girl who can’t be any older than eighteen. I don’t understand what’s wrong. The girl is on the shore, chasing a toddler who may or may not be her own child. She’s wearing a tankini, and part of her stomach is showing. She turns around to scoop up the kid, who just face planted in the sand.
 

Mindy and Zoey laugh. My blood boils.
 

“She should
not
be wearing that in public,” Mindy says and shakes her head like she just witnessed a legit crime. “Why they make swim suits in that size is beyond me.”
 

A line lay before me and I knew I needed to pick one side to stand on. I can turn my head, think of something else, and let it go, or I could push Mindy fucking Abraham off the boat, rub my hands together, and laugh like I’d just taken over the Death Star and can carry out my mission to destroy an inhabited planet. Metaphorically, at least.
 

I cast my eyes down and realize that I’m not just standing up to Mindy, I’m standing up to every entitled, bitchy, thunder cunt in the world who thinks self-worth is defined by your waist size. The words bubble inside of me and I know I have to say something. Mindy points and laughs again, making fun of the girl’s stomach. I look down at myself. I’m not overweight, but I’m not fit with flat abs. My words die in my throat.
 

I turn my head and look at Ben, who has his feet up, shades on, looking sexy as hell. I can still feel him between my legs as he thrust that big beautiful cock in and out of me, fucking in the boat as fast as we could before we got caught. I set down my wine cooler.
 

I have a motherfucking spaceship to take over.
 

“Seriously?” I say and push my shoulders back. Mindy, Zoey, and Danielle turn to me. “Just because you’re insecure about how you look doesn’t mean you have to make fun of someone else. Tearing her down doesn’t build you up. Pointing out her cellulite doesn’t make yours disappear. It’s because of women like you that body shaming is an issue. Why belittle and bully other women when you can empower them? Grow the fuck up and focus your energy on something that actually matters.”
 

Ben, who I think had been oblivious to Mindy’s comments, sits up and looks at me like he wants to lay me down and fuck me again. Jake turns around from the wheel, eyes wide as he tries not to smile. Danielle will not look at any of us and Mindy just stares blankly in my direction.
 

“Well … if she didn’t want people to talk about her then she shouldn’t have worn that in public,” she finally responds.
 

“Oh my god,” I say slowly. “I just can’t with you.” I blink and turn away, fearing that her stupidity might be contagious. I snap my mouth shut, knowing I won’t be able to stop once I get started. I could argue until I was blue in the face and it wouldn’t change Mindy’s mind. She’s right and the rest of the world is wrong. I’m not wasting my time.
 

We dock the boat and climb out. Ben and I are the last out. He takes my hand, helping me onto the pier.
 

“That was pretty fucking awesome,” he says. “And I agree with you. It’s all petty bullshit that’s annoying to listen to.”
 

I nod and reach into my bag, seeing if Erin has texted me she’s on her way yet. She hasn’t.
 

“Are we eating now?” Ben asks, linking his fingers with mine as we walk toward the beach. The little section that stretches along my parents’ cabins is a private beach, and shouldn’t be this packed with people. But my parents don’t really care, as long as people aren’t getting crazy. It’s a holiday, after all. The whole point of holidays is to celebrate something and not be a dick, right?
 

“We can eat all day if we want to hang around here,” I say. “I’m sure my mom has everything out now. The party officially starts at three, but most my relatives show up before then. My dad will start grilling soon too.”
 

“I like this,” Ben says and we step off the wooden dock into hot sand. “It’s very American.” He chuckles. “This is how you should spend the Fourth.”
 

“It’s how I always did. What did you guys do?”

“Picnic and fireworks, but not to this extent.”

“Halloween gets my vote for best holiday because of the costumes, but this is a close second just because of the food and the water.”
 

“I agree. Halloween isn’t as fun as when I was a kid, but I do like watching the Halloween movies on TV,” he admits with a smile. “And Christmas is … too much.”
 

Oh my fucking God he’s my soulmate. I push my heart back into my chest. “Yes! It’s just too long and too commercial, though I do like presents.”
 

“Who doesn’t?”
 

We hurry through the sand, our bare feet not able to take it much longer, and climb up the steps to my parents’ deck. It’s just as hot. Feet: 0. Sun: 1. Shoes are going back on. I slip my dress over my head and lead Ben inside to fill our plates. We take a reprieve from the heat and sit in the living room, enjoying the wonderful modern amenities of ceiling fans and air-conditioning.
 

I come back with my second hot dog and sit close to Ben. The back door slides open and Jake, Danielle, and her lovely friends come inside to escape the heat for a bit as well. Mindy only eats fruit. I grit my teeth. It’s not worth it … it’s not worth it.

“I hope you like our little family tradition,” I say to Danielle.
 

“I do,” she says and I know she means it. She links her arm through Jake’s. “This is so cute and I just
love
the beach. Plus it’s nice having access right outside the house.”
 

“I always felt bad for the people who had to park and walk, carrying coolers and kids, and all the other crap you bring with you.”
 

“I hadn’t even thought of that! But you are right.”
 

“We liked it growing up,” I say. “Had a few parties, lots of good memories.”
 

“You had parties?” Mindy says to me, raising her eyebrows. “I never heard about them.”
 

I slowly inhale. “Yeah, I did. It was a lot of fun.”
 

Jake quickly changes the subject to sports, talking to Ben about how he’s looking forward to football starting up again already. They talk about teams and someone getting banned—things I know nothing about—and I relax against Ben now that my skin isn’t hot to the touch anymore. He puts his arm around me without even thinking, hand resting on the curve of my hip. My phone buzzes; Erin just let me know she’s on her way. Dave was slow, as usual.
 

I warn her about Mindy fucking Abraham. Erin was shy and quiet. She still is, really. She was able to fade into the background during school and was never the subject of direct bullying.
 

Unlike me.
 

She stuck up for me when she could, even though social confrontation was right up there with facing an entire army of Daleks without the Doctor by your side. She really is a good friend, and I can’t wait for her to meet Ben. I set the phone down and rest my head against Ben’s muscular shoulder. I’m not that tired, but a full belly plus a morning spent in the sun makes me want a nap.
 

“So, Felicity,” Mindy starts. I open my eyes and find her perched on the edge of the couch next to her sister. She’s so fucking pretty it kills me. Then the maliciousness comes out and I can see her true face. “Do you still do that nerdy costume stuff?”

“You mean Cosplay?” I ask and sit up. “Yes, I still do that nerdy costume stuff and really enjoy it. Ben’s a fan of my nerdy costumes, aren’t you, Ben?”

Mindy’s face scrunches up like someone just ripped a stinky fart. “Ben likes wearing costumes?”

“He doesn’t wear them,” I clarify. “I said he’s a fan of
my
costumes.” Well, just one costume, but I’m sure he’ll like others.
 

“Ben, really?”

He smiles. “I feel like I shouldn’t say anything because your brother is in the room and he won’t want to know.”
 

“Huh?” Jake says. Then it clicks. “Oh, ew. Yeah, no details please. I don’t even want to—nope. Just stop.”