The Driving Force to Love (MXM) ✔

Chapter 37

Antonio Angel Hernandez Sanchez

We went back outside now in our swimsuits. It took my niece and nephew and his girlfriend a little longer than it took me and Dean. While we had been getting dressed, my papa and Jose had put the boat into the water. My padre was now helping my madre unload the car she had come in while Jose stood in the boat. We just had to go along the dock and climb into the side of the boat. Jose helped Silvia inside the boat while Felipe stepped in and helped Maria step into the boat.

"Let's go," Silvia cried out happily. She sat in the front with Jose who was driving. Dean and I sat next to each other behind the front passenger seat and Felipe and Maria sat on the side directly behind the driver's seat. Jose took the boat out into deeper waters. Silvia was having the time of her life as Jose sped up faster being encouraged by her enthusiasm.

When we got to deeper waters, Jose stopped the boat. "Who wants to water ski first?"

"Me," my niece cried out happily and raised an arm. She put on a life jacket while I pulled out the skis. She was an excellent swimmer, but all of us wore a life jacket when we were skiing. All of Jose's kids were great swimmers. She jumped off the back of the boat and into the water. I tossed the skis near her in the water. She slipped on the skis and then I tossed her the tow rope. I indicated the warning flag next to Felipe. He placed it in easy reach and then indicated for Jose to go.

The boat started again and Silvia got up on the skis. She crossed the waves that the boat made. Felipe had the warning flag in one hand while his other arm was casually draped around Maria's shoulders. For the briefest of moments, I forgot that my family didn't know I was gay. I forgot that this wasn't a date with Dean. But the moment passed before I could do anything stupid. The sun shined on Dean's face as we watched my niece. He had a small smile. One of his arms was draped over the boat, but it was in the opposite direction from where I sat.

When Silvia fell, Felipe called out to his dad and raised the warning flag that a skier was in the water. There were a few boats out on the water and more would come as the day went on. Jose turned the boat around and slowly approached Silvia. Felipe helped her back on the boat. Maria went next. She didn't last as long as Silvia had.

After Felipe helped her back on the boat, he put on a life jacket and jumped into the water to water ski. He lasted longer than Maria, but Silvia had been better than him. Maria couldn't take her eyes off him the entire time. She helped him back on the boat when he was done. They smiled at each other and gave each other a chaste kiss. Silvia rolled her eyes and looked away from them.

"Are you going next, Tio?" Felipe asked as he took off the life jacket.

"No," I said. "I just want to have a relaxing boat ride." There was no way I was going to go out there and embarrass myself in front of Dean. There was a good possibility I would just sink in the water.

"What about you, Dean?" Felipe asked.

"Sure," he said. "I'll go." He stood up from his spot next to me and took off his t-shirt. The sunlight glistened off his skin. His muscles looked even more defined under the sunlight. I swallowed hard and only then realized I was openly gawking at him. I quickly looked at the others on the boat, but no one was looking at me. I breathed slightly easier as I realized no one had caught me.

Maria and Silvia both stared at Dean as he put on a life jacket. Silvia blushed deeply when she realized I had caught her staring. She averted her eyes away from Dean. Maria only looked away when Felipe caught her staring at Dean. Dean didn't seem to realize that there had been many pairs of eyes on him, but he had to have known. He was probably used to it.