Sailor Proof (Shore Leave 1)

“Darn.” Arthur started cleaning up the clay. “Way to foil my plans.”

“I’ll play your dice game later,” I promised. “We don’t need rain for that.”

“Best boyfriend ever.” He gave a happy wriggle, and in that moment, I truly hoped I was, hoped I was exactly what he wanted and needed.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Arthur

“I think we’re lost,” I announced to Derrick as we passed a stump I swore we’d seen twenty minutes prior.

“We’re not lost.” That he could keep his patience with me even when I was being extra dramatic was one of the things I liked most about him. That and how he was holding my hand, even with no one around to see his perfect-boyfriend act except me.

“I haven’t heard the others in at least ten minutes.” Turning my head, I glanced behind us, but yep, only trees, not a Euler in sight.

“Five of those don’t count.” He gave me an arch look before copping another feel of my ass. It was true that we’d lost track of the others around the time he’d dragged me behind a particularly dense thicket of trees and kissed me until my toes curled in my hiking boots.

“True.” My skin heated and the temptation to repeat the interlude made my pulse thrum. “Still, I think we’re going in circles, and we haven’t added anything new to our list.”

I held up the list for the annual scavenger hunt. It was filled with things that might be found in or around the camp like four-leaf clovers and bird feathers and playing cards. So far we’d found a blue shirt and a flip-flop, but only because I’d had both those things back at our cabin. However, another kissing break there had put us further behind the rest of the teams.

Not that Derrick seemed to care.

“So? We’re having fun, right?” After shrugging, he grabbed my hand again. “Isn’t that your whole message? Have fun, don’t worry about winning?”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I like coming in last either.” I might rail against the family competitive gene, but I could also admit to being plagued by dreams of winning, same as my brothers.

“Hey, maybe they’ll have an award for the team who got the least number of items. Then we can still be winners. Er...losers. Winners at losing?” Derrick gave me a lopsided grin.

Winners at losing. The notes to a song I’d been trying to write all week slid into place. This. This was the big idea I’d been waiting for. “You’re brilliant.”

“I am?” Derrick tilted his head, nose wrinkling like I’d stopped making sense, which was a strong possibility. “I was more trying for goofy and kissable there. I’ll take brilliant though.”

“You’re definitely kissable.” Stopping at a clearing, I leaned in to give him a quick kiss. “And you gave me the best idea.”

“Oh? Tell me.” The way he demanded, all eager and happy for me, made my chest so light that his hand was the only reason I didn’t float away.

“Okay, so you know how I’ve been pissed about the idea of certain kids winning and certain kids losing at talent night?” I’d made him listen to several rants on this topic in the last few days.

“Yeah. I like how your choreography makes sure they each have a moment to shine.” The pride in his voice sounded genuine, not like part of the good-boyfriend act. He’d paid attention to those rants too, always listening and not telling me to just deal with my bad attitude. In fact, his concern always managed to take the edge off my anger, made it so that I could continue finding ways to enjoy myself outside of the family drive to succeed. Like kissing him senseless every chance I got. People who listened as well as Derrick were rare as fuck and needed to be rewarded.

“Thanks for your help, too. But what if they were all winners?”

“What? They can’t all win.” Looking every inch the by-the-rules military man, he pursed his mouth.

“Sure they can.” It was my turn to be the patient one. “We make the rules. If I say everyone wins, then everyone wins. No more first-place and runner-up bullshit. I’m going to have Best Smile and Loudest Laugh and Highest Kick. Everyone wins something and no more ranking the results.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Like superlatives in school, but they’re all good ones?”

“Yup. A whole stack of winners.” I bounced on my feet. I fucking loved my brain sometimes. It was all I could do not to dash back to camp right then.

“Your mom may hate this change. I think she liked the idea of handing out trophies.”

“She can deal. And we can use her prizes. I’ll just need a few more.” I finally caught sight of one of the taller camp buildings, a two-story lodge, and I started heading that direction.

“Hey, where are you going?”