“Nothing will prepare you for seeing me in a swimsuit. In fact, your eyes might melt from the sheer glory.”

“I bet,” I mumbled.

“What? What are you possibly trying to mutter under your breath? Because nothing you say will burst my self-esteem.”

“I’m not arguing. I bet you look fine as hell in a swimsuit.”

She studied me pensively. “What new angle of snark is this?”

“It’s not snark. I believe I’m not ready to witness you in a bikini.”

“You’re not.” She side-eyed me in the shade from underneath the bouncy rim of her giant hat.

“Agreed.”

“All wet and wild.”

“Okay…”

She shoved me with her shoulder, although without any weight to it, I didn’t budge.

“Don’t start with me, Bane.”

“You’re the one wondering what I look like underneath my clothes.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying anything because I wasn’t just wondering, I was imagining.

“So your friends rented a boat for a few hours?” she asked.

“Yep. At least there will be some shade for you, or we can shove you into the water to cool you off.”

“Don’t you dare!”

“Can’t swim?”

“I can swim but there are deadly things in the water. No thanks.”

At least we could agree on that.

When we met the others, they greeted Bane like she was the missing link to our circle while Sejal kept a cordial distance. We drove out to the marina and excitedly stepped onto a good-size boat large enough for all of us with plenty of space to spare.

Aamar and Maya had splurged on the couple by renting a boat to take everyone out into stunning turquoise waters. I wasn’t a water guy, but the intensity of these colors in clear water was tempting.

Even Bane was leaning over the railing, holding her hat on her head as the boat sailed out. Sun glistened on her skin, speckled with ocean mist kicking up from the side of the boat. She beamed at the water, on her tiptoes and so close to teetering off that I almost grabbed her before she could fall overboard. The silky belt of her cover-up flapped in the breeze. What would happen if I caught it? Tugged at it? Would that open her cover-up and reveal her swimsuit?

How the hell was a piece of clothing so interesting? Was she wearing a bikini or a one-piece? Just a top to go with the shorts? What color was it? Red? Black? White? How did white hold up when wet? Shit, now I needed her to get into the water.

“So beautiful,” she was saying.

When I didn’t remark, Bane looked to me and said, “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about work instead of enjoying this.”

“I was actually thinking about how to get you wet.”

Her mouth dropped, cheeks flushed.

“Um…in the water. The ocean, Bane.”

I walked away before I said anything dumber, only to find one chair left, kitty-corner to Sejal and Pradeep. I had every intention of standing when Sam slapped my shoulder, inadvertently sitting me down. At least Sam had placed a cold water in my hand. Others had beers or iced coffee.

Minutes went by and my body relaxed, melted into the chair with the breeze whipping through my hair. I tried to stay in the conversation, mainly wedding things and snorkeling information, but my focus kept wandering toward Bane. The wind kept raising her cover-up higher and higher, the long ends fluttering up and away, revealing sneak peeks of light brown skin. Ah. So, a two-piece?

“Did you hear me, Sunny?”

“Hmm?”

Leave it to Sejal to interrupt me. She was wearing a string bikini clearly seen beneath a lacy dress and sitting on Pradeep’s lap. He placed a hand on her thigh and kissed her neck. Even though I didn’t check, I knew the others were watching me. Waiting for a reaction that never came.

I expected to have one. Jealousy. Annoyance. Pain. Anything. Maybe Sejal was right that I didn’t have emotions, at least not enough or the right kind a girlfriend needed, because I felt nothing. As long as she was nice to Bane, her presence floated by unnoticed.

“Where’s your girl?” Sejal repeated.

“My woman,” I corrected, “is doing whatever she’s doing.” She was obviously on the boat, so why was Sejal asking as if Bane had jumped ship and swum off? Although it wasn’t a horrible idea. If Bane fled, I’d follow her.

Bane pushed away from the railing and walked past us on her way to the nose of the boat in her floppy hat, short shorts, and sneak-a-peak cover-up giving me all sorts of glimpses of skin. Cute, awkward, kind of hot. My eyes followed her. Damnit, what was she wearing?

“Bhanu! Why don’t you sit with us?” Sejal crooned.

“Oh, okay.” Bane looked around for a chair. Before I could give her mine, Sejal suggested, “Oh, you can just sit on Sunny’s lap.”

I stiffened, and so had Bane. Her expression went deadpan, and the others had quieted to watch our little weird interaction of current and ex-girlfriend. Were they expecting something to happen? They seemed ready to jump in to douse any situation that might arise, but I wasn’t having any said situation get that far.

I shifted to get up when Sejal said, “I’m sure Sunny won’t mind. Since you are his girlfriend, aren’t you?”

I lowered my feet off the footrest and began pushing myself up when Bane calmly replied, “That doesn’t seem comfortable.”

“Oh, it’s fine! I’m doing it.”

“I need more space for all this, I guess.”

My brows shot up and I imperceptibly leaned back to conclude, that yes, Bane had a nice, full backside.

Sejal stuttered, like she didn’t know how to respond.

Bane twisted toward me. “Were you just checking out my butt?”

I nodded with grave appreciation. “It is nice.”

Bane rolled her eyes, trying not to smile, and told Sejal, “I was on my way to look at the water. There are dolphins out.”