Chapter Eight Four

I assumed as much, but I sucked in my bottom lip, not wanting to cut him off or ask questions when he was finally opening up to me.

“It was late, he had made me a promise that he’d take me out on the boat and let me drive it. Being a typical teenager, I was a dick about him not holding to his words. Against his better judgment, he took me out anyway and let me drive.”

He exhaled deeply, his thumb brushing against my skin more rapidly. Shifting his head, he buried his nose into my hair. “I got the motor stuck in a low spot, and my dad had been hovering over the back trying to fix it.” His voice was a whisper now. “It all happened so fast.”

He paused, and I hugged him tighter, sensing his discomfort.

“It was too dark, and these kids on jet skis came roaring. I couldn’t see them; I could only hear their engines.”

That explained why he’d froze and panicked earlier when the jet skiers had circled us.

“One hit the boat, so forcefully it knocked my dad over the side and into the water.”

His