“It’s like a rainbow explosion in your mouth!” Olivia exclaims as she climbs onto Luke’s shoulders. “Who wants to play chicken?”
“I was about to take Raine out on the pedal boat,” I say quickly, wanting to have her alone to myself again.
“Yeah. That'd be nice,” she replies and waves at Olivia, who jumps off Luke and floats on her back.
“Whatever, you’re just avoiding being beaten again,” Olivia adds before splashing us with water.
Luke laughs, but I can tell it is forced. His dark brows are pushed together in concern as he looks over at Raine, but she pays no attention to him. He’s quick to recover, placing a smile onto his face as he looks up at me and gives me a salute before diving into the water.
I hold Raine’s hand to steady her as she places a foot into the small boat. I follow close behind her, and within minutes, we are in sync with our feet as we push against the pedals. She’s silent, keeping her focus over the water.
The wind picks up as we move farther out onto the lake. Her hair begins to blow across her face and into her mouth. Ilaugh as she spits it out, and more pieces fly into her mouth. “Here,” I say, tapping her shoulder and nudging her to turn around. Once she has her back to me, I take her hair into my grasp and start braiding.
“Since when do you know how to braid hair?” she asks, moving her head, and I place my hands on either side of her head to keep it still.
“Maybe some things are still a mystery between us.” I reply, teasing her because we tell each other everything, and wrap the hair tie she keeps on her wrist onto the end of her hair.
She turns back around, placing her feet back onto the pedals, and we move through the water again. She’s quiet for a moment before she adds, “Yeah, maybe so.”
“What’s up with you and Luke?” I blurt, feeling heat raise into my cheeks as the words leave my mouth.
She twists her face toward me and tries to act innocent, but I see right through her mask. “What?”
“You and Luke have been avoiding each other. Are you two—?” I can’t finish my sentence. Instead, I pray silently that it has nothing to do with them secretly dating each other or having deeper feelings for one another.
“We don’t have those kinds of feelings for each other, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she admits and rolls her eyes. “He’s like a brother to me, Ry—even more so now.”
I wait for her to elaborate, watching her closely as she bites her lip and stares out onto the lake. After a moment, her shoulders drop, and she returns her attention to me.
“Things have been a little weird between us since his dad moved in with my mom. Now, Luke is living with me every other week,” she confesses.
I know that Raine’s mom is dating Luke’s dad, Davis, but I had no idea they were planning on moving in with each other. Although, they’ve been dating for almost two years. From the dread on Raine’s face, I can tell it bothers her, and in return, it does me too. Davis is a hateful and controlling person.
Davis reminds me a lot of my father. I’ve witnessed how he treats Raine a few times. It doesn’t take much for him to snap at her. He demands to know what she’s doing at all times when she’s with her mom. Raine has told me that her mom’s drinking problem has become worse since they started dating.
Luke informed me of his dad’s life of crime and how he has control in every part of the town. The police turn their heads anytime Davis does something illegal, and he walks around as if he runs the place. In a way, he kind of does. I can’t stand the guy and pray daily that he gets served justice.
A frown takes over my face. Raine knows how I feel about Davis, and the idea of him living with her unsettles me. “Why didn’t you tell me Davis moved in?”
She shrugs her shoulders, keeping her eyes on her lap where she picks at the skin by her thumb nail. “I don’t know. I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Of course I’m going to worry. He causes problems in your life already—Luke’s too. I don't like to think about how living with Davis must be for you.” I huff and run a hand through my hair. “I’m glad Luke can be there for you, but it sucks that it’s only every other week, since he goes to his mom’s.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, he’s lucky that he has an escape. I guess I resent him for it, and he’s picked up on it.”
“But you have your grandparents. Have you thought about living with them?” I add, seeing the worry that flashes in her eyes as she lifts her head toward me.
“I have. Many times. Before Davis, I wanted to keep an eye on Mom and make sure she was okay. But now…I just want to run away.”
“We’ll find a solution. It’s going to be okay,” I promise her, praying that my words will become true.
“How do you know it’ll be okay?” she asks as she runs her fingers along her braid.
The thing is, I don’t know. But there is one thingthat I am a hundred percent sure of. “Because you have me, and I’ll always make sure that you’re okay.”
She drops her braid, eyes finding mine, and gifts me with a beautiful smile. The kind that lights up her whole face. Being the reason for that smile sends a surge of confidence running through me.
A boat nearby is playing music loudly, distracting us for a moment, and an idea hits me. I place my hands onto the side of the boat and do my best to balance myself as I stand up. Raine watches me, raising a brow in question.
