The Bucket List Boyfriend (Boston Love #3)

Chapter 12

Max

WE ALMOST kissed. That thought has been plaguing me since it happened. I keep replaying the scene in my mind, wishing I could go back in time and ignore the honking horn.

But it had brought me back to reality.

My bravery suddenly disappeared and all I could think about was what would happen if she rejected me. What if I ruined our friendship forever?

I realize that soon I’m going to have to take that risk. But before I do that, I need to prove to myself, and her, that I’m more than just Max the computer nerd.

These bucket list items are a step in the right direction but I’m not ready to bare my soul quite yet.

This needs to be a carefully executed plan, otherwise it might backfire completely.

Thankfully, Maya hasn’t been weird since the incident.

I haven’t seen much of her during the week, but on our road trip to New Hampshire yesterday, she was her regular self, spending the drive chatting away about crazy clients and her funny coworkers.

When we arrived at the wilderness adventure center yesterday afternoon, we got to meet everybody else in our group. After dinner we had an orientation evening, and then went to bed in a dorm-style room so that we could be up bright and early this morning.

The morning sun glistens on the lake’s surface as our adventure guide, an Australian woman about our age with sun-kissed skin and an effortless smile, gathers us around for a briefing.

“Welcome to the three-day Wildway Wilderness Adventure. I’m Skye, and this is Derek.” She indicates to the guide next to her who is similarly dressed in khaki shorts and a white t-shirt. “We’ll be your guides. You had your safety briefing last night, and today the fun starts.”

The group of ten applauds.

Well, nine, because I’m not part of that applause. I’m not sure why they’re clapping. Perhaps because she used the word fun ? Her and I clearly have different definitions of fun.

“Alright, pay attention everyone,” Skye begins, her voice carrying just a hint of authority. “Today we’re starting with the basics of canoeing. It’s all about teamwork, balance, and—most importantly—communication.”

Her gaze sweeps over the group, but I notice it lingers a bit longer when it lands on me. Skye gives me a quick, bright smile and I can feel Maya tense next to me.

Interesting. I’m not sure if the reaction is because she’s feeling protective, or because she’s jealous. That may just be wishful thinking.

Skye continues explaining the schedule for the day before instructing the group on the proper way to hold the paddle.

Derek takes over and talks about balance, steering strokes, and what to do in different circumstances.

I feel less nervous with Derek around. He looks like the superhero Luke Cage. He could definitely pull me back onto a boat with those muscles.

When they said this was for beginners, they weren’t joking. Even though we’re all adults, this is pretty basic stuff they’re explaining. That doesn’t mean I pay any less attention. It’s important to be fully prepared.

After Skye and Derek have finished, they walk around the group checking life jackets are properly secured and making sure we’re all comfortable with our paddles.

“You look like you’ve got a strong natural grip,” Skye says, her tone playful as she looks pointedly at my biceps.

I can feel Maya shift beside me and take a peek at her out of the corner of my eye.

Is it my imagination, or does she look irritated?

“Uh…thanks,” I reply.

“What’s your name, handsome?” Skye asks.

That earns a cough from Maya.

“Max.”

“Hi Max. And is this…your…?”

She indicates towards Maya as her sentence trails off.

“Friend,” I blurt. “My friend, Maya.”

Only when I feel Maya’s eyes burning holes in me because of how quickly I blurted that out, do I realize how that may have come across.

In spite of what Maya may think, it’s not because I’m interested in Skye and am trying to make it clear that I’m single. It was a natural reflex because I don’t know if I can stand another conversation like the one we had with Mabel Pickles.

I was simply cutting Maya off at the pass before her mischievous streak took over again and landed us in trouble.

“Hey Maya.” Skye finally acknowledges Maya, although to be fair, her smile really does seem genuine. “It’s great to have you guys with us. It’s going to be fun.”

“I’m sure it will,” Maya says, looking a bit smug.

Uh oh. I know that look. My attempts to avoid another situation may have backfired. Maya definitely has something up her sleeve.

The guide moves on to the rest of the group, finding out everybody’s names, before finally circling back as she claps her hands together.

“Alright, everybody ready? We’ve specifically chosen a calm stretch of the river today, so no worries, yeah? We’ll keep it nice and easy. Hope you all had a good brekkie because it will take us a couple of hours of gentle paddling to reach our picnic spot. After a short break there, it will be another couple of hours of paddling to reach the campsite.”

“Your luggage has already been transported there, and the tents have been set up…” Derek takes over from Skye.

Maya nudges me and whispers. “Be honest. That’s the reason you chose this specific wilderness adventure, isn’t it? Because they do all the setting up?”

“Guilty as charged. Plus we get to check three things off our list at once.” I hold up three fingers.

“Hmmm. I don’t know, Max. Does camping really count when somebody else sets up the tent and takes it down again?”

I give her a mock offended look.

Since when has Maya cared about the rules?

“Of course it counts! We’re the ones sleeping in there. It’s the sleeping part that makes it count as camping,” I argue.

Maya laughs. “Okay. If you say so.”

“Besides, there was no fine print with these items on the bucket list,” I tell her smugly. “I checked.”

“I’m sure you did.” Maya pats my shoulder and we turn our attention back to Derek and Skye.

“ Let’s get into our pairs and head to the canoes.”

“Ready for this?” Maya asks me with a smile.

“Let’s do it.”

We stand at the edge of the lake, watching the double, wooden canoe wobbling slightly as it bobs in the water. Maya grabs a paddle and turns to me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“I’m taking the stern,” she declares, already moving toward the back of the canoe.

“Wait, why do you get the stern?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. “Is it because you don’t trust my steering?”

Maya laughs, hopping into the canoe with the ease of someone who’s done this a thousand times.

“Partly because I trust myself not to steer us into rocks, but mostly because I’m going to really enjoy watching you paddle.”

I wish she was talking about enjoying the view the same way I did when she was climbing the ladder in front of me. Sadly, I think she’s more interested in the spectacle of me flailing around.

Skye approaches us as I’m climbing into the front, trying not to topple over. At least these wooden canoes are a bit wider than the slick fiberglass ones.

“You guys okay?” She looks at Maya and bites her lip. “It’s probably better for Max to go at the back. I’m not sure if you heard Derek explain that usually the more experienced paddler is at the back because they’re responsible for steering. Remember the J-stroke Derek showed you?”

Uh oh. If there’s one thing Maya hates, it’s people underestimating her. Or making assumptions.

She’s been judged her whole life. Judged for her size. Judged for who her parents are. Judged because she’s a woman.

I don’t need to turn around to know the expression on Maya’s face. I’d bet money that I’d see Maya’s jaw clench and her eyes narrow. That look could melt glaciers. It’s the same look she used to have in high school when someone underestimated her on the soccer field.

I decide to intervene, partly because I naturally want to defend Maya, but also because I don’t want Maya to show how annoyed she really is with Skye. We’ve got to spend three days with these people. We don’t want to start on the wrong foot.

“Don’t worry. Maya is definitely the more experienced of the two of us. The only beginner around here is me.”

Skye’s smile brightens.

“Oh, really? I never would have guessed. You look quite athletic Max. Those arms look like they have heaps of power.”

Maya coughs again and Skye moves onto the next pair.

I guess I should be thankful that it was just a cough and not an eyeroll. I wonder what has her in such a bad mood today. Maya is normally a ray of sunshine.

Occasionally a hurricane, but mostly a ray of sunshine.

Speaking of sun…

“Remind me to get the sunscreen out when we stop for the picnic,” I say, as we push ourselves further into the wide river.

Derek is in the front boat, leading the way, and Skye is in a boat at the back, making sure there are no stragglers.

“Max, do you not remember shoving the SPF one-million sunscreen into my hands this morning and supervising the application to make sure I didn’t miss any spots? I think I’m a few shades lighter thanks to the thick layer of sunscreen you made me slather on. I won’t need to use any for weeks.”

She does love to exaggerate. But I’d be lying if I said my assistance with the application of said sunscreen wasn’t selfish. It totally was.

“Firstly, it was SPF100, and secondly, it wasn’t a thick layer, it was the recommended amount for ultimate protection.”

“I didn’t even know they made SPF100. What happened to good ol’ SPF30? And I’m sure they didn’t intend for me to apply it where the sun isn’t even going to shine! I suppose I should consider myself lucky that you didn’t make me put it on my boobs and my butt.”

Don’t think about Maya’s boobs and butt. Don’t think about Maya’s boobs and butt.

The more I try to tell myself that, the more I can’t help thinking about them. I need to think of something else, quick. Work is a safe bet.

Identify bottlenecks and adjust configurations to optimize network traffic flows. Set up Multiprotocol Label Switching. Create a more efficient subnetting scheme.

“What are you mumbling about Max?”

“Uh…nothing! Just thinking about some things on my to-do list at work.”

“Right…” Maya sounds skeptical, and that’s not good.

My brothers have been on the receiving end of her interrogative skills plenty of times as kids. Even though they’re older than her, all it took was a little psychological warfare to get a full confession.

Even when she was just a pint-size seven-year-old, we were a teeny bit scared of her.

All I can say is, America’s enemies should be thankful Maya didn’t join the CIA.

I’m pretty sure that if Maya were to interrogate me, I’d crack like a cheap vase, so it’s time to change the subject.

“Isn’t the view incredible? It’s so peaceful out here.”

I’m not lying. The scenery here really is amazing.

The paddle dips into the cool, flowing water, and I feel the gentle resistance as I pull it back, pushing the canoe forward. The wide river stretches out before us, flanked by trees just starting to turn gold and amber.

Maya’s strokes are strong and steady, keeping us on track. “See? I told you canoeing wouldn’t be as bad as you thought.”

I chuckle, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, I’ll admit it’s not terrible. It’s actually kind of nice and peaceful.”

The sun glimmers off the water, casting dappled light onto the trees along the banks.

“So, does that mean you’ll join me the next time I go camping and canoeing?”

I can hear the smile in her voice, and can imagine her eyes sparkling with that familiar adventurous glint.

I pretend to consider it, tilting my head as if weighing the options.

“Maybe,” I say, feigning nonchalance. “But perhaps you should wait until we’ve survived sleeping in the same tent before deciding if you really want that.”

Maya laughs, the sound bright and infectious. “Fair point. You might snore.”

“Or worse,” I add, “ you might snore.”

“Never. I sleep like a princess.” She laughs, and for a moment, everything feels right—just us, the river, and the wild New Hampshire landscape around us.