Gordon invites Lady Penelope out for a rise on his birthday.
Gordon is nineteen years old and living with Lady Penelope on his periphery has become almost normal. Sure, his breath still catches whenever their eyes met unexpectedly and he still trips over his words whenever she giggles in his general vicinity, but his vicious crush has been dampened somewhat by the presence of his older brother being so damn, selfishly happy around her. John’s even stopped protesting when Scott and Virgil tease him about his girlfriend and the family has absorbed Lady Penelope into the line-up as though she had always been there.
Between his time in Australia, and John and Penelope off living in England, he hardly sees her at any rate. The distance is just enough for him to forget the strength of his feelings as he plays the role of ‘just friends’ over the holonet.
They’re all together again for Gordon’s birthday. Gordon doesn’t see much more than a rush of blond hair and small arms grabbing at him as Alan shrieks happily at the sight of his brother. He’s abandoned quickly when John enters the room, but Gordon just laughs from the floor. The memory of his older brothers always leaving, with never quite enough time to call, is still too fresh for him to begrudge Alan a hug or be too upset to be abandoned just as quickly for another brother.
“How are you, Gordon?” asked Lady Penelope, leaning over him with a smile.
“Flat out,” he replied. He’s being honest, his suitcase is packed with assignments and his tablet full of readings to get through despite his birthday celebrations calling him away from his studies. He still appreciates the way her smile widens as she takes in his prone figure. “And yourself?”
“Vertical,” she said, reaching out to help him back up.
“You’re finally here!” said Alan, butting in without a second thought. “Come on, Dad got you a gift.”
“Alan, that was my surprise,” said Jeff in mild disapproval.
“Couldn’t wait Dad!” called Alan, as he tugged on Gordon’s arm. “Come and see, come and see!”
Alan raced ahead to the deck and gestured down at the wharf, waving his arm excitably.
“Oh wow, is that a jet ski?” said Gordon, leaning over the railing to get a better look.
“YES!” said Alan, jumping up and down beside him. “Can you try it out now, please?”
Gordon laughed and reached out to ruffle his brother’s hair before turning back to their dad.
“Is it really for me?” he asked, trying to keep the hopeful delight out of his voice.
“Sure is,” said Jeff with a grin. He fished the keys out of his pocket and placed them in Gordon’s hand. “Now, you must wear lifejackets when on this thing,” he said firmly, holding up a hand to stop the protests before they began. “I don’t care how good a swimmer you are Gordon, I see you or anyone else on there without lifejackets and I’ll give the whole thing to Brains to pull apart and use in his next project.”
“Sure thing, Dad.” said Gordon, rolling his eyes slightly even as he nodded. “Alan, want a ride?”
“You need to ask?!”
The two ran down to the wharf, filling the island air with shouts of laughter as they went. The loud revving of the engine drew family members from the villa, the breathless joy born of high velocity and water spray too infectious to ignore.
The shadows were lengthening and the sky was beginning to burn a brilliant orange when Gordon finally plucked up the courage to ask her.
“Hey, Lady P, do you want a go?”
“Hmm?” Lady Penelope lazily opened an eye and peered up at him. Her skin was infused with the golden light of the late afternoon and Gordon grinned at her, hopefully.
“On the jet ski?” he said. “You can drive if you like?”
“No, I prefer to let others drive,” she said, sitting up.
“Oh,” said Gordon. He turned away, trying to hide his disappointment.
“Gordon?” she called after him. “I just said I didn’t want to drive. Not that I didn’t want to try it out.”
“Oh!”
And that was how Gordon found himself seated, a powerful engine underneath him, Lady Penelope nestled behind him, and a racing pulse that had nothing to do with the impending adrenaline rush. He’s suddenly grateful his dad had insisted on lifejackets, the thick material forming a barrier between her arms and his flushed skin. Goosebumps break out where her bare thighs press against his. He’s certain everyone can see right through him with his burning ears, certain they can hear the thumping of his heart in his throat.
Steadying his breath, he revs the engine and they fly across the waves towards the sunset. She shrieks in his ear and grabs him closer, pressing into him torturously, and Gordon silently offers an apology to John.
He spins them sharply to the left and suddenly there’s water everywhere and they’re both laughing and yelling with excitement, not a care in the world.
He chanced a glimpse back at her as they made their way back to shore. In the burnished light of sunset, her hair glowed golden and the pink of her cheeks deepened further as she caught his gaze.
In any other circumstance, he might have thought she was blushing. He looked over at the family gathered on the wharf, the way John responded to her exhilarated wave with two thumbs up. Gordon didn’t miss the way he glanced at him with a barely contained look of amusement, and his heart sank.
They were just friends after all.
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