The Perfect Boy

by Hailey Abbott

  “I think so,” Kevin said, leaning toward her across the table. “AJ and I went to Denny’s after the party boat last night and I drilled him about his dance floor grinding routine with Heidi. The way he told it, he made it sound like they were just goofing around.”

  “What else did he say?” Ciara asked eagerly.

  Kevin sighed. “Not much to report on the Woo-ha front. But he did mention that you looked really cute in that skirt and he was surprised when you suddenly disappeared from the dance floor. Mostly he just wanted to talk about the set list for the Coup show.”

  “Sounds like AJ,” Ciara said. “I love that his music means so much to him. It’s like I’ve finally met someone as passionate about achieving his goals as I am. We’d be so perfect together…if only he’d realize it.”

  “Hey, that’s what I’m here for, right?” Kevin reminded her. “Trust me, I’m talking up Ciara the hip-hop freak slash music-marketing whiz every chance I get.”

  “You’re awesome,” Ciara said. Just knowing she had Kevin on her side made her feel safer and more positive, like she really could make everything work out despite all the setbacks the night before. “And trust me, Heidi’s going to get an earful about your amazing DJ skills the next time I see her.”

  “Woo-ha!” Kevin whooped. At that moment, their food arrived and they busied themselves with scarfing down the fluffiest scrambled eggs, crispiest bacon, and greasiest hash browns Ciara had ever eaten. When she was finished, she stood up and wandered over to the jukebox, and flipped through the CDs. She was expecting more of the old doo-wop and rock that had been playing ever since she’d entered the diner but was surprised to find a variety of musical genres, even hip-hop.

  In a compilation CD titled Rap Hits from the ’90s, she found Big Pun’s “Still Not a Player.” On a whim, she reached into her pocket, found a quarter, and selected the number for the song. The first chords were belting out over the juke’s tinny speakers as she returned to her seat.

  “Big Pun?” Kevin asked as she sat back down.

  She nodded.

  “Haven’t heard this song in a while.”

  Ciara shrugged. “They were playing it on the radio a lot for some reason. I’ve been kind of into it lately.”

  “Trying to stop being a player?” Kevin joked. Ciara felt her hands go cold and clammy, but she kept her tone of voice light.

  “Nah. Just like the song.”

  “That’s cool.” Kevin shrugged.

  “Player no mo-o-ore!” sang the jukebox.

  Player no more, thought Ciara. That’s what Operation Woo-ha was really about to her. Once she had AJ, she could truly stop being a player forever. She stared out at the boats rocking gently on the small waves lapping the dilapidated dock, remembering when her dad used to take her kayaking in the bay. Those were some of the happiest afternoons of her life—just her and her dad out on the ocean. With the right person, it could even be romantic….

  “Hey!” she cried suddenly. “I have an idea for Operation Woo-ha. Have you ever been kayaking before?”

  “No…,” Kevin said slowly.

  “Does the idea of being alone in a boat with Heidi appeal to you?”

  “Um…duh?” Kevin asked.

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about,” Ciara said. “See where I’m going?”

  “Not really,” Kevin admitted.

  “Okay, let me break it down.” Her gestures became more animated, the way they always did when she formulated a good idea. “I’m an expert kayaker. It’s not that hard—I could teach you the basics. Then we lure AJ and Heidi out here, get them alone with us in the boats—since, after all, we are more experienced—and work our magic.”

  Kevin’s eyes gleamed. “I’ve actually always wanted to learn how to kayak. It looks really cool.”

  “Well, come on.” Ciara was already digging money out of her pocket to pay the bill. “Your first lesson starts in ten minutes!”

  Later that afternoon, they were back at the dock, this time with AJ and Heidi in tow. Ciara had changed into a pair of newly cut off cutoffs (extra short for AJ’s benefit) and a skimpy green jungle-print bikini top, and she was feeling lively and confident. She had already rented a pair of two-person sea kayaks, which bobbed gently in the water at their feet.

  “You really want me to go in a boat with no motor?” AJ asked skeptically. His shoulders bent inward, and he looked nervous. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

  “Kevin and I are both experienced kayakers,” Ciara assured him. She was only stretching the truth slightly—after all, she had given Kevin his first lesson earlier that day. That counted as experience, right? “Stick with us and you’ll be fine.”

  “Although…” Kevin trailed off like he was manufacturing a thought for the first time. As if he and Ciara hadn’t already rehearsed what they were going to say. “You know, since we’re both experienced and neither of you are, it might make sense to put one of us in each boat. Like, Heidi could come with me. And AJ, you could go with Ciara, you know? That way if something happens, there’s at least one person in each boat who knows what they’re doing.”

  “That’s a great idea!” Ciara jumped in enthusiastically. “And then we can teach you guys so you know for next time.”

  “All I know is, if I’m going in one of those crazy little boats, it better be with someone who knows what she’s doing,” AJ said. “I mean, the party boat was one thing, but…look how close those things are to the water.”

  “Well, you should definitely stick with me, then,” Ciara said, wondering why AJ was acting so weird. He couldn’t actually be scared, could he? “I’ve been kayaking since I was a kid.”

  “What do you think?” Kevin asked Heidi. “You want to let me take you for a spin?”

  Ciara applauded inwardly. In his new sunglasses, black tank top, and flip-flops, he looked like the picture of confidence—the little pep talk she’d given him while they waited for AJ and Heidi to show up must have worked. If there was one thing Ciara knew from her past, it was how to boost a guy’s ego: she’d complimented Kevin on the way his arms looked with their new summer tan and laughed even harder than usual at all his jokes. Plus, she hadn’t mentioned Star Wars since they left the diner.

  “Sure,” Heidi said brightly. Ciara felt bad for a moment—she could tell that under her sunny exterior, Heidi was struggling to hide her disappointment at not getting to go with AJ. But she quickly regained her composure and chirped, “Sounds good to me!” Good ol’ Heidi. Always enthusiastic. Ciara hoped she’d be feeling more enthusiastic about Kevin by the time their little expedition was done. It would be up to Kevin to turn up the charm like she knew he could.

  Ciara instructed AJ to get in the front of the kayak—being in the back would give her the power to steer, which made sense since she’d done this before. “Hey, Kev-lar,” AJ called as Ciara slowly paddled their boat away from the dock. “If I die out there, make sure you cash in on my death by producing a lot of posthumous albums like Biggie and Tupac, okay?”

  “No prob, bro.” Kevin laughed. “But I think you’ll be all right. That big orange life vest on your shoulders isn’t for looks, you know.”

  Heidi was giggling from the front of the blue kayak she was sharing with Kevin, and Ciara took that as a good sign. She threw Kevin a covert wink as they glided away from the dock side by side, their paddles making comforting splashing sounds as they dipped into the water and rose dripping from its sparkling surface. The ocean that afternoon was a brilliant blue, and the sun was warm on her back. Seagulls circled high above them, keening into the clean ocean air, and the repetitive rowing motion propelling the boat forward made Ciara feel strong and sure. But the most magnificent thing about the day was the gleaming muscles of AJ’s biceps and shoulders peeking out from under his life vest. They were so beautiful that she completely forgot all the witty conversation she’d rehearsed in her head.

  “Hey, I think I see some sea otters out that way,” Kevin said, turning his boat to th
e left.

  “Oh, really?” Heidi sounded excited. “I’d love to see some up close. Like, not in an aquarium or whatever.”

  “Let’s go. See you guys!” Kevin called over his shoulder, paddling away from them.

  “I think there’s a cool little cove over this way,” Ciara told AJ, heading in the opposite direction. “It’s got a sand strip where we can get out and tan for a while if you’re into that.”

  “As long as you keep this thing upright until we get there,” AJ joked.

  “I told you, I know what I’m doing,” Ciara said, her confidence returning. She let silence settle over the boat for three long strokes of the paddle, savoring their quiet, perfect moment alone together. “So did you have fun on the party boat last night?” she asked after a while.

  “Yeah,” AJ said, not turning to look at her. “Kevin’s getting really good on the decks.”

  “You looked like you were having a good time dancing with Heidi,” Ciara probed.

  “She got kinda wild, yeah,” AJ said.

  “How are things going with her?” Ciara asked, going for broke. She didn’t get a lot of time alone with AJ, and now was her chance to find out how he really felt.

  “Whatever.” AJ shook his head. His voice sounded cold and distant. “I’m really not all about that right now. The last time I was really into someone, it didn’t work out, so I’m just focusing on my music for now.”

  Ciara fought to contain her happiness. Every time Heidi talked about AJ, it sounded like he couldn’t get enough of her, but now he was acting like he barely knew she existed. Ciara’s chances were totally better than she’d imagined.

  “What if you met someone who cared about the music as much as you do?” she asked quietly.

  AJ finally turned to look at her, his head cocked in a half grin. Her heart nearly did a swan dive out of her chest and into the water. “Thanks, but I don’t really like Kevin like that,” he said.

  Ciara laughed. She was glad that her heart had decided to stay put. She decided it was time to change the subject. “Speaking of your career, how are the new songs coming for the Coup show?” she asked.

  AJ had already returned his attention to the water ahead, but she could see him warming to the topic just from the way his head sat a little higher on his shoulders. “Pretty good,” he said. “I’m trying for real simple, strong stuff—the kind of songs you can’t get out of your head, like D4L and Nelly. Just drumbeats, maybe a synth line, and a really catchy hook. I’d love to get some backup singers.”

  “That would be great,” Ciara said. “I was reading on Billboard’s website that visual appeal is half of what makes or breaks a band, and having girls onstage would really add complexity to the picture you create as a group.”

  “I never thought of that,” AJ said admiringly. Then, even more admiringly: “Hey, you sit around reading the Billboard website?”

  “I think the music business is fascinating,” Ciara said. “I want to be an entertainment lawyer, remember?”

  “Oh, right,” AJ said. “Damn, that’s so cool.”

  “Actually,” Ciara continued, “I have some plans for the B-Dizzy Crew. I’ve been researching underground hip-hop websites, and if you guys mix a demo, we can pretend to leak it as an official sneak preview. That’s how a lot of major unrepresented groups are getting their start now. If you create Internet buzz, you eventually catch the attention of the A and R people from the major labels who are trolling those sites looking for the next big thing.”

  “Wow.” AJ had swiveled 180 degrees in his seat to look at her, a big, crooked smile on his face. Ciara’s heart stood up and took a bow. “You’re a genius, you know that? You and me together, we could make a great team.”

  It was hard to tell if he was talking about a business team or a romantic one, but a girl could always hope. Ciara was so busy staring into his gorgeous almond-shaped eyes that she didn’t even notice the large wave rolling toward their kayak. Turning back to resume paddling, AJ caught the swell approaching their side and cried, “Oh, crap!”

  The wave crashed over their heads even as Ciara dug her paddle frantically into the water, trying unsuccessfully to keep the boat upright.

  And then she was surrounded by water, the ocean rushing in her ears, her eyes closing themselves instinctively against the salt. Abruptly, she felt her head breaking the surface, her body buoyed up by the life vest. Shaking the water from her hair and opening her eyes, she looked around wildly, blinking against the suddenly too-bright sunlight.

  She realized with relief that she was still clutching her paddle tightly in both hands—getting back to shore would be almost impossible without it. The boat was a few feet away, floating upside down, but she couldn’t find AJ. Ciara thrashed her arms frantically, propelling herself in a circle and looking all around. Her heart jack-hammered in her chest.

  “AJ!” she called, her voice sounding wild and lost.

  “What the…” His voice came from the other side of the capsized kayak. She swam quickly around it, and relief washed through her when she saw his head bobbing up and down on the water.

  His eyes narrowed as she approached. “I thought you said you knew how to drive this thing!”

  Ciara suddenly wished she had just gone ahead and drowned. No matter what she did to win AJ, nothing worked. It seemed like the more she tried, the more she ended up looking like a jerk.

  “Look, I didn’t see the wave, okay?” she said. “Now you can either keep chewing me out, or you can help me get this thing upright again.”

  She looked past AJ and noticed his paddle floating several yards away, the motion of the tide gently drawing it out to sea.

  “Quick, get your paddle!” she said. “We don’t want it to float away.”

  “You want me to swim all the way over there?” AJ squawked, his voice rising in panic.

  Her exasperation swelled higher than the wave that had knocked them over. “The sooner you get your paddle, the sooner we can get upright and moving again,” she explained.

  “I’m not sure I want to go any farther out than this,” AJ said. His eyes jerked sharply from side to side, his jaw twitching.

  “Fine,” Ciara said. AJ was obviously panicking, and since she hadn’t already died of embarrassment, she figured she might as well try and get them out of there. She thrust her paddle toward AJ. “Hold on to this,” she said, already swimming away. She could almost feel AJ’s eyes boring into her back.

  “Okay,” she said, returning a moment later with his paddle in her hand. “All we have to do is flip the boat over and get into it, and we’ll be fine.”

  “What if we can’t?” AJ asked. His voice was very small.

  “Of course we can,” Ciara snapped. Why did AJ have to choose this moment, of all times, to channel his inner whiny toddler? “And even if we can’t, see the shoreline? It’s less than half a mile away. We can swim if we have to.”

  “You never told me you have to be on the Olympic breaststroke team to go in one of these things,” AJ muttered.

  Ciara held out the paddles. “Hold these,” she commanded, shoving them at him before approaching the boat’s side. The first time her dad had taken her out kayaking, they’d gone through a short safety course on how to right the boat if it flipped. But that was years ago. If only she could remember what they’d said…

  Ciara contemplated the boat from all angles. Approaching the side, she got one shoulder under it and gave it a good shove. To her surprise, the boat rocked easily back into an upright position.

  “Step one,” she said pointedly to AJ. He wouldn’t meet her gaze.

  Getting into the boat was more difficult. First, she grasped its side and attempted to haul herself over the edge, the way you’d pull yourself up out of a swimming pool. The boat rocked back and forth slightly before flipping over on top of her, and she found herself having to wedge her shoulder back under the edge to right it. Swimming around the front, she tried bracing herself on the bow so that her weight was
evenly balanced across both sides. She had almost managed to climb in when she lost her grip on the slippery Plexiglas front and went flying back into the water.

  “I’m gonna need your help,” she cried to AJ, who was morosely treading water a few feet away. “Can you hold one side while I climb in the other?”

  “Whatever,” AJ grumbled. But he did what she asked, swimming toward her with the paddles trailing awkwardly behind.

  With AJ steadying the side of the boat, Ciara was able to climb in pretty easily. Once she was resettled, she leaned way to the side and placed the ends of both paddles in the water, redistributing the weight so AJ could climb in.

  “Man,” he said, flopping into his seat and resting his forehead on the bow for a moment in mock prayer. “I thought we were going to die out there.” There was no joking tone to his voice now. His relief was palpable. He had really, truly been scared—and worse, he knew she knew it.

  The paddle felt twice as heavy in Ciara’s hands as she steered the boat back to the dock. With each dip of the blades into the water, her mood sank lower and lower. Instead of ratcheting up the flirt factor with AJ, she’d scared him half to death and nearly drowned him. Worse, she’d taken charge of the situation and made him feel incompetent and unmanly. Guys liked for girls to pretend to rely on them in desperate situations, and she’d gone barreling ahead and righted the boat while he was still flashing back to the first time he saw Jaws.

  She recalled the fantasy she’d had earlier that day of her and AJ chilling on the small sandbar in the deserted, romantic cove, their hands inching gingerly closer and closer until their fingers were intertwined, whispering secrets as the sun made its long, lazy journey westward through the sky. The vision popped as she felt her soaked hair clinging to the back of her neck, and the brisk sea breeze against her damp skin felt cold and unwelcoming.

  “Hey, stop frowning!” AJ said from the boat’s bow. He had turned and was looking at her from under his long, perfect black lashes. “You look cute when you’re wet.”