Since You Came

Ch. 21.5

Dan's POV

The wind whipped their hair around their heads.

Dan tightened his grip on Maddie's back as she hid her face in his shoulder.

"Why are we going so fast?" she screamed.

Dan laughed. "Just open your eyes, babe! This is fun!"

She shook her head against his shoulder. "It would be if we slowed down!"

Dan sighed and signaled Josh to slow the boat down.

Maddie's grip on his arm loosened. "See? Now I'm enjoying this. I'm not afraid of dying."

He laughed again. "You weren't going to die, though. I was here with you."

She smirked. "Well, I thought I was going to die."

"Why's that?" Dan asked as they watched the horizon zoom past them, water spraying in their faces.

"I don't like fast speeds. They make me anxious," she said, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Maddie smiled, and Dan recognized how her eyes lit up and the right side of her upper lip got pulled up more than the left. He had that look memorized.

"This is relaxing," she said. He surveyed her face as her eyes watched the landscape.

He loved watching her right eyebrow twitch when she was thinking. A smile spread across his face, a gleam appeared in his eyes.

Maddie glanced at him. "What?" she asked.

He laughed a little. "Nothing. I just find joy in staring at you."

Her eyes rolled. "Oh, please."

Dan moved his arm to nudge hers. "Babe, just accept you are the most beautiful thing to ever happen to me. And I intend to enjoy you."

Her body, laying stomach-down beside his, scooted ever-so-slightly closer. He felt the side of it push against his. "Fine," she said, her lips curling into a satisfied grin.

They rode the tube in silence, reveling in the cool wind, smooth water, and warm sun.

Only when the boat began to slow did they speak again.

"That was actually a lot of fun," Maddie said. She climbed onto the platform on the back of the boat when the tube got closer.

Josh smiled. "That's good," he chuckled a little. "Sorry for starting out with a hard run. I wanted to see what you'd do."

Mrs. Thompson laughed behind him. "Don't be sorry, Josh. It was funny."

Maddie frowned. "Whatever, Mom. I just needed to get used to it."

Mrs. Thompson just rolled her eyes.

"So," Josh said. "Who's up next?"

Aubrey and Jo perked up at that. "We'll go," Aubrey said.

"It's actually pretty fun," Maddie said to them, smiling.

Josh helped the two girls get life jackets on. Aubrey gave Maddie an excited smile before jumping out onto the tube.

"Care to sit up front with me?" Dan asked Maddie, slinging an arm across her shoulders.

"I'd be glad to," she said. He led her to the cushions at the bow of the boat.

The material was cold against his back, and he imagined how cold it was against the back of Maddie's thighs. He longed to be able to touch them, to feel her skin.