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Apparently, Garrison could no longer water ski. It really ticked him off.
He hadn't tried since college. He'd been able to do it back then. As he wiped out the fourth time—just seconds after being pulled to his feet—Garrison decided water skiing was stupid.
Nate swung the boat around and idled beside him. "Had enough, old man?"
Garrison hoisted himself onto the boat. "Anytime, anyplace, Boyle."
"Except on water skis, I guess." Nate's smug look had Garrison wishing he'd arrested the guy when he'd had the chance.
Sam held out a towel. "It was a good effort."
He snatched the towel and looked at Aiden, who was fixated on the phone in his hand. Must have been Nate's because Garrison had buried his own at the bottom of Sam's bag with hers. Well, at least one person hadn't witnessed his humiliation. Then Aiden cracked up, stood, and angled the phone toward Nate. "Dude, you gotta see. I put it in slow-mo."
Nate watched, roared with laughter. "That was the best wipe-out yet."
Great. Just great.
Sam bumped his shoulder. "Don't listen to them. You looked good."
Garrison lifted his eyebrows. "Isn't it a sin to lie?"
She giggled and snatched a life preserver. "It's my turn."
Five minutes later, watching Sam cut through the smooth water, Garrison nearly forgot his humiliation. The lake was surrounded by cabins nestled among pine trees. The sun shone and glistened off the surface. With Sam smiling at him, the sight was breathtaking.
Aiden handed him a bottle of water, sat beside him on the back of the boat, his eyes on Sam. "She's good."
"Yup."
"Looks hot in that bathing suit, too."
Garrison kept his focus on Sam in case she got into trouble but leaned toward Aiden. "That's not creepy at all."
Aiden laughed. "I'm just saying, she's really pretty." A short pause, then, "There's still nothing going on between you two?"
Garrison couldn't help it. He flashed back to their kiss, those moments when he'd held her in his arms. He'd hoped to put this conversation off. "We were just friends, but things have...progressed."
He glanced at Aiden. His son was staring back at Sam and nodding slowly.
"Is that a problem?"
"Sam's okay. I like her."
He met his son's eyes. "Yeah?"
He shrugged. "I guess."
Garrison turned to watch her again. She jumped the wake and swung out beside the boat, sending a perfect spray onto the glassy water. She was more than hot. She was beautiful. And kind. And for some reason Garrison couldn't comprehend, she liked him.
And Aiden didn't hate her.
Maybe at least one part of this story could have a happy ending.
Aiden was quiet so long, Garrison figured the conversation was over. Then, "She didn't tell you, did she?"
"Tell me what? She didn't tell me anything."
"Oh. Okay."
Sam slid effortlessly back across the first bump of the wake, then the second, and swung out toward the other side of the boat.
"She caught me in your bedroom," Aiden said, "on Sunday. I was looking for my phone."
"Ah. She didn't tell me. Not that I'd have been shocked."
"You hid it well."
"I'm a pro."
"Where was it?"
Garrison had already duct-taped the cell back to the underside of the coffee table. "Good effort, son. I'll tell you when you have a teenager of your own."
Aiden laughed. "Can't blame a guy for trying."
A few minutes passed while Sam showed off her skills.
Other families were out today, some skiing, some tubing, some anchored in coves and swimming off the side of their boats. With the hum of the motor and the waves and smiles from fellow boaters, Garrison felt at peace.
Aiden took the seat beside Nate, and the two of them had a conversation Garrison couldn't hear. He'd need to ask Aiden later what they'd talked about while Garrison had been with Sam. Whatever it was, the two seemed to have bonded in the hour or so they'd been together. That was a good thing. Garrison could use all the help he could get.
After they'd skied, Nate maneuvered the boat to a quiet cove, and the group jumped off the side and swam until they were exhausted. Then they climbed on board, reclined in the seats, and snacked on the food Garrison had grabbed from the cabin. The sun dipped low, and shadows crept across the water.
"It's been a good day," Nate said, "but Ana's expecting me to come over and tuck her into bed."
"You two don't live together?" Aiden asked. "I figured, since you're engaged and all."
"That's not really any of your business," Garrison said.
"Don't worry about it," Nate turned to Aiden. "We decided to do things the right way. First the wedding, then the living together. Now, if I had my druthers, we'd already be married. But she wants the whole shebang—fluffy dress, bridesmaids, fancy wedding."
Aiden looked at Sam. "Why are chicks so weird about that stuff?"
Her blush was slight as she glanced at Garrison. He winked, and she looked at Aiden. "Most girls dream about their weddings their whole lives."
Aiden smirked. "That's a stupid thing to fantasize about, a poofy dress and some dude in a tux."
"Maybe," Sam said. "Maybe it's like how guys dream about hitting a walk-off home run."
"Or the big catch for a touchdown," Garrison added.
"Sure," Aiden said. "But sports are cool."
Nate chuckled. "I guess weddings are cool for girls. Whatever Marisa wants, I'm fine with it."
Garrison said. "She agreed to marry you. You better not give her any reason to wise up and back out."
Nate snapped a towel at Garrison, who barely angled out of the way. "You wanna go back in the water, Boyle?"
"Right. Like you could put me there."
Aiden laughed, and Sam said, "Now boys, let's try to be a good example for the youngster," which only made Aiden laugh harder.
Nate pushed the throttle forward, and Garrison wondered if the afternoon could have been better. Three more days, and Aiden would go into rehab. Three more days for Garrison to figure out how to make this work.