We’re out in the open having brunch in the restaurant downstairs. I said I was done hiding, so here we are with my family next to the lake, drinking mimosas while scarfing down some of the best omelets around.

Andy strolls in last, having left one of his employees in charge of the gym. He’s holding up his phone. “Okay, so it’s out.”

“They couldn’t have gathered Press already,” Ethan mutters, reaching for it and staring at the screen.

Emma tries to look over his shoulder but he purposefully holds it just out of view. “Ethan! We’re not ten. Give it to me.”

“No,” he mutters to her, then reads aloud to the group, “Former Heavyweight Champ has announced that he is the winner not of the title, but of the girl.” Making a face, he hands the phone to Tobias who lets me read the rest with him.

I glance over to Sofia when we’re done. “You don’t have to look so smug.”

From behind her half-empty flute glass, she asks, “Don’t I?”

Gabriel exhales. Secretly he wishes he were a Cipher. I guess we all do in the dark reaches of our psyches. But no one here besides Sofia Sol would be truly happy in that nomad life. I know my cousins too well. And my brother wants to be singing in front of millions, maybe even playing the Super Bowl one day. He doesn’t want to live under the radar.

Andy, leaning back in his chair, puts his sunglasses on to ward off the bright sunlight. “Don’t know about you but I got maybe an hour of sleep. Who’s our waiter?” He motions for a menu and asks, “So, what are we up to? How ‘bout some jet-skiing?”

Oh my God do we all say yes to that brilliant idea.

* * *

A little over an hour later we’re whizzing along clear blue water in a speedboat, out to where they dock the jet skis far from swimmers and surfers. And where the waves won’t hinder us.

Emma, Sofia and I have our hair pulled back, but despite our best efforts some is flying free. Emma raises her arms and screams, “This is what I came for! Give it to me!”

Tobias shouts, “Freedom!!!” which makes everyone hoot and holler, Sofia looking pretty proud of herself.

Hot, delicious sunbeams warm my skin even with the wind. There’s not a cloud in the sky anywhere I look. My heart is light with a sense of possibility, and this feeling has good company. Every time Tobias smiles at me, all that storminess and those troubled shadows are gone. He’s even more handsome now that he’s happy.

“Are you good at this?” I call to him.

“I’m good at everything!”

My brother laughs and shouts over the wind, “Oh, you fit right in with that attitude, Tobias.”

Ben leans back in the waterproof seat, sun glinting off his shades as he looks over and asks, “You ever been on a horse?”

Tobias answers, “Nah.”

“Then you’re not that cool.” Ben juts his chin, suppressing a smile.

Sofia laughs and calls out, “Tobias has ridden something you never have, Ben!”

“Don’t even say it, Soph,” he crosses his arms. “Don’t!”

“He’s ridden a Hannah,” she triumphantly announces.

“Sofia!” Emma and I shout, but Gabriel and Ethan start laughing like you do when something is so wrong you can’t help but crack up.

Tobias pulls me onto his lap. “Sofia, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave this subject alone.” He takes off his sunglasses to warn her with his eyes, but there’s amusement in them. “You broke someone’s hand. I’m not treating you like a girl anymore.”

“Fair enough!” she smirks, throwing up her arms and turning to watch the jet skis come into view. “I’m gonna ride the hell out of those things!”

I smile to Tobias, “I’m so excited about this,” one arm around his neck as I sit across his lap.

He gently pulls my head down to whisper in my ear, “I can’t wait to ride you again.”

I whisper back, “I’m way more fun than a horse.”

He groans like this flirtation is too much for him and he wishes we were alone.

As the boat slows and idles up to the dock the guide says, “Okay, everyone watch your step as you climb out. We’re in the middle of a large coral reef that wards off most sharks; the big ones can’t get in, so stay inside this area. You see the buoys? Those are stationed along the coral’s edge. Be careful. The reef is sharp so if you fall in, keep your legs tucked or you might slice your feet. Got it?”

Everyone nods and we pile out. The view is breathtaking, so blue, with only a line in the distance to differentiate where the ocean ends and the sky begins.

We’ve all ridden before so everyone grabs a ski of their own and with challenges shouted out, a race begins.

But only Gabriel, Ethan and Sofia stick with it, the rest of us changing course to just enjoy the Atlantic splashing under our engines, the warm wind removing all of the stress from the past few days.

Emma and I weave around each other, screaming as our wakes soak each other as much as we safely can.

Ben’s coasting along, head turning left and right to soak in the beauty.

Tobias and Andy are laughing about guy stuff, because Andy got the bigger jet ski and he’s comparing it to his penis size, Tobias shouting, “You wish!”

I turn the handlebars and motion to Tobias to veer off with me. “Emma, I’ll see you later.”

She nods and jumps a wave, yelling, “Woohoooo!!!!”

Away from the pack, he and I ride side-by-side, wind whisking my hair tie away. Tobias slows his engine and I follow his lead. “Stay in Boca with me for a while. We can rent a place.”

Taken aback, I blink up to the sun and feel its comforting heat as I imagine going along with the plan that’s already set in place…leaving with my family the day after tomorrow, back to Atlanta. Sofia said over breakfast that she needs to get back home, too.

Even the thought of being away from Tobias is terrible. I meet his eyes and say, “I’d love to.”

His eyebrows rise. “Yeah?”

“Mmhmm. You think I’m done with you yet?”

He laughs low and rumbly, making my gaze drop to admire his naked chest. I remember how that laugh felt when I was pressed against him. I can’t wait to feel it again.

“You know what, beautiful?” He pauses. “I may be saying this too soon, but I hope you’re never done with me.”

He dips his head like a cowboy saying goodbye, and revs the engine, tearing off into the fucking sunset.

I shout after him, “Oh, you’re so smooth, aren’t you?!”

He laughs and raises his fist high, gorgeous back muscles rippling with power.