Jealousy Over Apology

With a loud splash, Wes was pushed off the side of the boat and into the water.

"Wes!" I cried and dashed to the side of the boat. He had surfaced and was grinning.

"Great one, Shia! You got me!" He chuckled and then choked on a mouthful of water. After several agonizing seconds, he spit the water out and wiped his eyes.

"I told you I'd do it! I win, Wes!" Shia laughed. Ok, now I'm confused, I thought. Shia came up beside me and offered his hand out to Wes. Wes swam to the side of the boat and grabbed Shia's wrist in a firm grip. A second later, though, he pulled Shia out of the boat, who landed in the water face first.

Shia surfaced, grinning as well. "Guys, that wasn't funny!" I whined. Shia's hair was dripping in his boyish face. They both made their way to the side of the boat, and I stepped back several steps. I didn't want to end up in the water either. They were laughing heartily as they both got onto the boat, one by one. Shia pushed his hair out of his eyes, and I nodded in disdain.

I noticed that Wes had taken off his shirt from the corner of my eye. I caught myself staring at his slightly tanned skin. My eyes sought his first—which were concentrating on his wet shirt—then down to his navel. A thin, visible line of fine black hair trailed down...down...down...

STOP IT, JEN! I yelled at myself and averted my gaze.

"I'm going to take a shower and a nap," Wes said as he wrung his shirt over the side of the boat. Shia clapped him on the back, and Wes passed me, his arm briefly grazing mine. I turned and stared as he was about to descend the stairs. He looked at me at the last second, caught my gaze, and gave a crooked smile. It sent a chill through me as if he knew what I had been doing or thinking. I shivered at the thought. I turned around, hoping Shia hadn't seen what had just happened. I was in luck; he was lying back in the chair next to the boom; his long legs stretched in front of him. There was an open chair next to him, and I went and sat in it.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Shia asked.

"Definitely!" My heart thumped.

"All of this water, so blue and green. Who knows what lives out here," Shia said.

"Yeah."

"I used to go boating when I was little. I got so sick, though," Shia murmured.

"Really? So you're not now?"

"I'm getting that way. I'll just have to tough it out. I'll be ok."

"That's good."

"So, what, may I ask, is going on between you and Wes?" Shia asked, looking at me with half-closed eyes.

"N-nothing. Why?" I stammered.

"You were just getting along so well. I figured that you'd still be mad at him."

"No, I'm not mad at him. I never had a reason to be in the first place." Ok, that was an outright lie; I cringed with guilt.

"Oh. Not like it's any of my business, Jen, but do you like Wes?" Shia asked.

"What?" I asked. It had become an involuntary reflex.

"C'mon, Jen. I can read you like an open book," Shia chuckled.

"That's absurd, Shia! He's like thirty-something! Think about what you're saying! How could you accuse me of that?" I asked, sitting up and glaring at him with all my might. I didn't think it was very convincing.

"Oh yeah, Wes is around thirty. Wow, he got old," Shia laughed some more.

"This isn't funny!" I scolded.

"Jen, I know you like him. It's the way you look at him while he's around. You can't hide something like that. But I think you should be careful, ok? I care about you and don't want to see you hurt," Shia said firmly.

I laughed at this. "You care about me? We don't know each other from Adam! What in the hell am I going to do? Sleep with him? He's already said he would. So there!" I yelled.

Shia looked hurt. I mean, really hurt. Oops.

He looked away from me, and his face had a set, determined look.

"Shia?" I asked tentatively. He didn't look at me.

"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it," I tried.

"I know you didn't," Shia whispered.

"You know I wouldn't. I care about you too. We've made a connection over these past couple of days. I don't want something as simple and silly as a schoolgirl crush to get between our friendship. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Ok?" I whined. I didn't mean to whine. It just came out that way.

"It's ok. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't jump to conclusions so fast. I just know how he is. Are we ok now then?" Shia asked.

"Yes, as always."