14. Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

COLTON

C losing my eyes, I tilted my head back allowing the sunshine to peek under the ballcap I wore and warm my face. The air was heavy with moisture from the mist rising off the lake. It was a perfect day to be on the boat. Everything seemed to fade away with time on the water.

I dropped my head and opened my eyes. Riley was sitting at the front of the boat, one of my old ball caps on her head, curly hair braided into two pigtail braids that I was dying to tug on. She had on a pair of faded jean shorts that I knew she bought yesterday with Jessica. One of my gray t-shirts that dwarfed her frame. Maggie sat between her legs, her tongue lolling out as we cruised across the lake. Riley tipped her face up to the sun, and I could see the corner of her smile. I knew she loved being on the water as much as I did so I was glad we had taken the day off now to escape to the lake.

Sitting at the front of the boat across from Riley, Justin took up the other lounge seat. His bronze skin on display with tattoos telling the story of his life and what he survived. I was extra glad for the sunglasses that hid my gaze as I traced my eyes along his muscles. Even years later, old habits died hard.

When Justin suggested getting the boat out and bringing Riley, I was surprised but also pleased. Justin had always been a bit distant from my past girlfriends but he seemed to like Riley. And Riley seemed to feel the same. She included Justin so seamlessly as if she understood his importance to me. She definitely included him more than my last girlfriend.

Kylie couldn't stand Justin for some reason and the feeling was mutual although Justin tried to get along with her. Kylie had been jealous and petty and started picking fights to get my attention. After a few months, I couldn't take it anymore and broke up with her. She had screamed and caused a scene and accused me of doing it because Justin didn't like her and that wasn't the only reason but I wasn't going to lie and say it wasn't part of it. Even if we weren't in a relationship, Justin and I's friendship was important to me and I wasn't going to throw that aside for anyone. That's why Riley seemed like such a breath of fresh air. We talked about anything and everything and that comfortableness seemed to extend to Justin as well.

Justin leaned over and pointed out something on the shore to Riley and the muscles in his back rippled. Riley's eyes lingered on Justin even after he sat back in his seat. I wasn't insecure that Riley was checking Justin out. Justin was an attractive man after all so I couldn't blame her.

I forced my eyes away from Justin and out onto the water. I eased the boat to the left to avoid a large branch bobbing in the water. Maggie barked at the spray, her black and white ears flopped in the wind as she tried to catch the water droplets with her mouth. Lying on the ground beside me, Rex was taking advantage of the shade from the boat's canopy. He enjoyed swimming but the summer sun and his long coat did not get along. The boat eased to the right, following the bend in the shore as we streaked across the water towards one of Justin and I's favorite spots, a shallow cove that had enough of a beach for the dogs to explore but was deep enough for swimming.

As we approached the cove, I eased back on the throttle, bringing the boat down to a crawl as we made the final turn around to the cove. Thankfully there wasn't another boat in sight. It was an isolated cove but that didn't mean that people weren't going to do the same as we did and take the day off to enjoy one of the first nice summer days on the lake. Justin was already on his feet by the time I killed the engine, stepping up onto the bow of the boat and opening the compartment the anchor was stored in. He eased the anchor into the water with a splash letting the rope out hand over hand until it hit the bottom. Maggie bounced onto the bow of the boat next to him, her paws scrambling on the slick surface until she caught traction on the carpet we had laid down for that exact reason.

Rex was also on his feet but he stayed glued to my side, watching me anxiously to take out the toy that was sitting in the compartment underneath the wheel.

"Need any help?" Riley asked, coming to stand at my side.

I fished the toy out of the compartment and handed it to her. "I think we're good but if you wanted to throw this for Rex he would be eternally grateful for you.

She laughed as she took the rubber stick with rope tied to each. "I can do that. Off the back?"

I nodded and she scooted by me to open the door for Rex. As she scooted past me, I grabbed her waist and drew her close, leaning down to kiss her. She moaned softly as she sank into me, opening herself up. I sucked on her bottom lip softly before I let her go, enjoying the way her eyes went all soft and molten.

"What was that for?" She asked softly.

"Just because," I said just as softly.

Rex barked and Riley jumped in my arms. I laughed when she rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright," Riley said, taking a step away. "I'll throw it. "

Rex danced at her feet and she brought her arm back and sent it sailing into the middle of the cove. Rex barked happily and launched himself into the water. I dug into the seat next to her and lifted the dogs' pup ladder.

"Here, if you slide this over the ladder, he can get back onto the boat." I handed the contraption to Riley. She bent over to set it up and I let myself ogle her ass for a few moments before turning around. Justin's eyes snapped to mine and I bet money that his eyes had just been where mine were and I didn't blame him. I should have been angry or jealous maybe but neither of those feelings popped up. Instead I was almost… happy? My best friend, who I had been secretly in love with for over half of my life, was attracted to my girl. And my girl was attracted to him. Immediately images sprang to my mind of Riley pinned between both of us. Justin kissing her while I kissed her neck. Justin kissing me and tasting Riley on his lips. My cock sprang to attention and I turned away to grab the towels so I could hide it. The boat swayed slightly as Justin leapt off the side. Seemed I wasn't the only one affected. I could work with this. Would it be unconventional? Yes. But I was raised on love and acceptance of all types. My Aunt Susan was a lesbian but before she married her partner, she had been in a polyamorous relationship. Love came in all forms and in this case, I might be able to have my cake and eat it too. A life with my best friend and the woman I was falling in love with… was it possible to have the best of both worlds? Maybe. We would have to see how the day went.

I reached back and pulled my shirt off, throwing it onto the driver's seat. I followed Justin into the water, jumping off the side of the boat in a clean dive. Rex swam towards me, barking around the toy in his mouth before he headed for the pup ladder. He clambered onto the boat and I laughed when Riley shrieked as he shook the water off all over her.

She scolded him gently but there was a wide smile on her face as she picked up his discarded toy and tossed it into the water again. Maggie barked at Rex from the bow of the boat, content to hang out and visually hunt the ducks that swam along the bank.

Shirt now soaked, Riley pulled it off and I sucked in a breath at the sight of all her creamy white skin. The red halter top bikini cupped her breasts and I wanted to replace it with my own hands. She shimmied her jean shorts down her legs, revealing a black high-waisted bottom that hugged her curves. She carefully laid the shirt and shorts out in the sun to dry and climbed up onto the front of the boat, taking a seat and leaning back on her hands.

I heard a soft groan from my right and grinned at Justin. I could relate. Riley looked like a goddess sitting there, face tipped to the sun like she was soaking in power from its rays. Justin raised his eyebrows at my grin but didn't say anything. I could see the confusion in his eyes and there was a little crease in between his eyes that I used to love tracing my fingers over when we had late study nights in college.

"Are you coming in?" He asked Riley and she shook her head, shooting me a wry smile.

"Colton knows this but I'm not a huge fan of being in the water. On the water, absolutely. But I don't like things I can't see underneath of me."

"Not a fan of the loss of control," Justin said, half teasing and half serious.

Riley looked surprised and I could see her eyes widen even under her sunglasses. "I hadn't thought of it like that but probably," she admitted, shrugging her shoulders.

Any other woman I dated would have probably reacted defensively so when Riley shrugged her shoulders, I could see Justin's surprise. Something else was in his eyes as he looked at her and I smirked. He was smitten. He liked Riley but didn't know what to do with her sass or her easy-going nature. My girlfriend was tying my best friend up in knots and I wasn't mad about it.

Instead of calling him on it, which he was not ready for, I swam over to the boat, preparing to climb the ladder and grab a few beers .

"I can get them," Riley said, seeing me approach.

"Not trying to make you serve us, baby girl," I said, treading water by the front of the boat. She rolled her eyes and grinned.

"Not making me if I'm offering," she sassed and I laughed.

"Okay then, two beers if you don't mind. And I grabbed some of those wine coolers you mentioned liking."

Her expression softened and a warm smile spread on her face. "Thank you," she said softly, getting to her feet and carefully climbing off the bow. She retrieved two beers out of the cooler and leaned over the edge to hand them to me. After getting herself a wine cooler, she plugged her phone into the boat's aux cord and music started playing.

"We don't only listen to country in Kentucky," I pointed out with a laugh. We had joked over the last few weeks about Kentucky stereotypes starting with the trucks both Justin and I drove. Riley's eyes danced with amusement but she changed the channel and a popular folk artist started playing.

For the next half hour, we just floated and talked, listening to the music playing softly out of the speakers. I could get used to this, the three of us on the lake with the dogs. For a few moments I let myself think of the future and if I could get both of them on board, this could be our life.

I open my eyes just in time to see Riley throwing the stick for Rex off the front of the boat. She was so focused on throwing the toy out to shore, she doesn't see Maggie launch herself to bark at a duck. Maggie collided with Riley's knees and Riley cursed as she lost and her balance and tumbled off the side of the boat.

"Fuck," Justin cursed and with a few powerful strokes was next to Riley as she emerged from the lake, sputtering. He wrapped his arms around her, supporting her in the water while she got her bearings. I hung back, grabbing her hat that had fallen off when she fell in. Riley's cheeks were red and I'm sure she was embarrassed but she laughed at something Justin said. Maggie, completely oblivious to the chaos she caused, barked down at us all like we were the problem.

"You okay, baby girl?" I asked as I reached them.

Riley coughed again. She must have gotten a mouthful of lake water and Justin rubbed her back until she got her breath. "I'm fine," she rasped. "The water feels kind of good actually even if it was unplanned."

I placed the hat back on her head, brushing a finger over her cheek. A slight flush rose on her cheeks and I wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or being between us. Her eyes shifted to the water and I could see her stiffen as the adrenaline wore off and she realized she was in the lake. I took a chance and did a little pushing.

"Lean back against Justin's shoulder and give me your feet," I instructed, moving so I was a few feet away. Riley looked uncertain but didn't protest, moving to do exactly what I said. "That's it, baby girl," I placed her feet on my shoulder as Justin looped an arm around her waist. "We'll always catch you." I promised. She took a deep breath and relaxed.

As we floated, I could feel the tension ease out of her. I could also feel Justin's eyes on me, knowing he caught the ‘we' in my statement. I met his gaze without hesitation and grinned at him. He narrowed his eyes on my face, trying to figure out what I was up to but I knew in his wildest dreams he probably couldn't imagine what I was planning. I wanted this. Both of them. And I was going to do my best to make that happen.