“Don’t bullshit me, boy, if you’ll pardon my language,” Mr. Prage said. “You don’t spend fifty-seven years with a person and not know a makeup scene when it happens.”
“You guys have been married for fifty-seven years?” Drea asked.
“We’ve been married for fifty-four, but we’ve been together since I was fifteen, got married shortly after my eighteenth birthday,” Mrs. Prage answered proudly.
“Well, that is certainly impressive. So, where can we take you lovebirds today?” Kyle asked.
“We’re just in this for a nice, calm, peaceful day out on the water. Maybe some snorkeling, definitely some sun,” Mrs. Prage answered.
“And my beautiful bride would like to watch the sunset over the water, if that’s possible. If there is an extra charge for keeping you two after dark then I’ll gladly pay it.”
“Oh no, Mr. Prage, we will gladly take you to the perfect spot to watch the sunset. We know just the spot, don’t we, Kyle?”
“We sure do.”
“Please, it’s Jack, and my beautiful bride is Diane.”
“You’re Jack and Diane?” The Prages just nodded.
“Oh, you just made his little classic-rock-loving heart very, very happy,” Drea laughed.
“Well, Jack, Diane, we’re gonna have a good day!” Kyle said, high-fiving them. “Let’s get started!”
The Prages started to get settled in with all their stuff while Kyle and Drea went back to the bar area to do the final few things before they could set sail. When he was pretty sure the Prages weren’t looking, he pulled her close again, wrapping his arms around her.
“So, are we okay? I know we need to talk, and I promise we will, but I need to know we’re okay.”
“Yes,” she nodded. “We’re okay. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I am looking forward to what you have to say for yourself.”
“Oh baby, I promise it’ll be worth it.” He kissed her forehead before hopping up to the captain’s perch.
Kyle kept himself up in the captain's chair all day, fighting every urge he had to go down to Drea and scoop her up. She was wearing that purple bikini again—he was pretty sure she’d done it to punish him. Bouncing around to her music, which Diane had insisted she leave on when Drea had gone to turn it off prior to setting sail, had her shaking her hips back and forth, jiggling her breasts as she went. He had wanted to go down and dance with her while the older couple was in the water snorkeling, but felt it was probably best to give her some space while they were working.
He could hear the older couple settling in on the trampolines up front, getting ready to watch the sunset. Drea had popped open a bottle of champagne for them and Mr. Prage was wrapping his wife up in a light blanket before settling in behind her and pulling her close.
Hearing her feet on the steps up to his perch, Kyle turned to see Drea headed up to him, two cups of champagne in her hands.
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Hey back,” he answered.
“Figured you’d want some too.”
“I do believe this is technically against policy, Miss Miller,” he smirked.
“I got an in with the boss,” she giggled. “But I won’t tell if you won’t.”
He took both cups from her and put them on the little shelf next to the steering wheel, and pulled her all the way up to the top of the stairs. It took a moment of maneuvering, but he scooted all the way back in his chair and opened his legs wide to slide her in between him and the wheel, pulling her closer, his legs swinging around her legs and holding her at the knees.
“Drea,” he sighed. “You know you mean the world to me, right?”
“Yeah, I get it,” she said, looking down.
The devastated look on her face was like a punch to the gut. What did she think was about to happen? He knew she was hurt and confused, and that it was all his fault, but the look on her face said more than just confusion. She was obviously a lot more upset than he realized, and he could kick himself for being the one to put that look on her face.
“Dre, just what do you think you get?” he asked, trying to not sound accusatory.
“I’m great, I’m just the coolest chick, but you didn’t mean it last night, you just want to be friends, all that. I get it, it’s, I—”
