Good News,I Fell in Love. Bad News,I Fell in Love with my Stepbrother

chapter 5

Have I mentioned how much I love water parks?

Because I totally do.

And I totally love Holden for suggesting that we came here.

Seriously, if he weren't already dating someone I would marry the guy.

So maybe I'm over exaggerating a little bit, but only slightly.

We haven't even paid for admittance yet and I'm already in love with the place.

"So, Ryn, are you afraid of the really tall slides?"

I looked at Oakley like he was crazy, "Ryn? Since when was that my name?"

"You don't like being called Ryn?"

Before I could answer Gav replied for me, "It's her dad's nickname for her, and let's just say she doesn't like being reminded of her dad."

I stepped on his foot and glared at him.

"Ow, that hurt! What was that for?" he hissed while rubbing his sandled foot.

"They don't know, and I'd like to keep it that way," I hissed back.

Oakley and Holden hadn't seemed to notice the tension, but Daniel was staring at me like he was trying to figure something out, I lightly knocked my fist against his forehead, "Don't hurt yourself there, buddy."

He just rolled his eyes and walked up to the ticket window.

He bought two tickets.

TWO.

And he handed one to me, that surprised me more than anything, "Thanks?"

He smiled lightly, "Can you ever just accept a gift?"

I rolled my eyes and walked over to Oakley while I waited for the rest of my friends to buy their tickets.

"To answer your question, Oak, I'm not afraid of the really tall slides. And DUH! I'm going to ride them."

"Even the Rampage?" Daniel asked, turning me around and pointing to a really tall slide with an almost vertical drop.

The riders went down the slide in two-person tubes screaming the whole time.

"Except that one."

"Come on, Taryn."

"Yeah it'll be fine."

"You'll have fun!"

"It's not like you're going to fall off the slide or anything."

I glared at Joey, "Thanks, I wasn't even thinking about that."

Aaron hit Joey upside the head, "Way to go, dumbass."

Daniel poked me lightly in the side, "I'll go with you."

And somehow that was more reassuring than anything any of my friends were saying to try to make me feel better.

I nodded, "But not until the end of the day."

Daniel nodded and the boys cheered.

And then we ran off to ride the slides.

- - - ♥ - - -

Daniel's Point of View

The group of us was hanging around the wave pool.

I was currently watching Taryn and her friends playing a game of tag or something in the shallow water.

She looked so happy as she ran around and tried to keep out of tagging distance of the boys.

They were faster than her, that was obvious, but they let her think she could outrun them.

She's happier than I have ever seen her.

I wonder what will happen when the boys go back to California.

Will she be okay?

She shrieked out in shock and happiness and I watched as Oakley wrapped his arms around her waist and carried her off into deeper water just in time for a huge wave to hit them and sweep them into the cyclone zone.

I instantly tensed up, if she wasn't ready to enter the cyclone zone she could drown. Did Oakley know that?

Was he even thinking?

A second later they both came up with huge smiled on their faces, "That was so cool let's do it again!" Taryn yelled.

I smiled softly, but then someone nudged me and my smile disappeared quickly.

"I saw that."

I glanced at Holden, "Saw what?"

"That. And I don't think you should. Sure, she's cute and fun to hang around, but she's going to be your stepsister. And need I remind you that you have a girlfriend?"

I sighed and looked back at Taryn, she was jumping up and down in excited anticipation, waiting for the next wave. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Just promise me that you won't do something stupid."

"I promise."

"And promise me that you won't hurt her."

"I promise."

He stared at my face for a moment, reading me, making sure that I was telling the truth.

Then he nodded.

"Hey, Taryn! We've got to go soon, so let's get you to the Rampage."

I smiled as the grin quickly slid off of her face.

She was too adorable for her own good.

And if you ever tell anyone that I used the phrase adorable I swear I will kill you.

I have an image I have to protect, here.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Taryn's Point of View

I nervously counted all of the 465 steps that Daniel and I had climbed until we got to the top of the slide.

Daniel had been a gentleman and offered to carry the tube up the stairs, which was a good thing, because I think in my nervousness, I would have dropped it over the side of the tower thing.

Actually I probably would have done that on purpose so that I wouldn't have to ride this ridiculously scary ride.

We were at the top of the tower and there were only two more pairs of people until it was our turn to slide.

I was afraid.

I think Daniel could tell because he silently reached out and took my hand in his, squeezing it gently.

It wasn't romantic in anyway, I mean he didn't interlock our fingers or anything, he just held my hand.

Simple as that, he just held my hand.

So why was it that my heart jumped at that slight touch and I instantly felt calmer.

"Okay, it's time to go, " he whispered in my ear.

I started hyperventilating the second they placed the slide in the little pool-thing at the top of the slide, "I can't do this!"

"Hey man, you're either going to have to calm your girlfriend down or get off the slide and walk down the stairs," the lifeguard told Daniel.

Daniel simply turned to me and grabbed my hand, "It'll be fine, I'm going down with you, and I won't let anything happen to you."

He didn't even point out to the guy that we weren't dating.

"Promise?"

He nodded and squeezed my hand again, "Always."

I nodded and climbed into the front part of the slide. Daniel climbed in behind me and wrapped his arms around me, "Just grab my hand if you get scared."

I nodded, and down we went.