Church Camp, PT. 2

“Ready,” Violet chirped.

He let out a long breath as he applied gentle pressure to the throttle. He glanced around and wasn’t surprised to see mom on her feet with her hands on hips. Isaac was reclined against the table, but he made no motion to tell him he didn’t have permission to take Violet for a ride. He held his hand up to reassure them that he would be safe before he headed out.

As they glided over the water, just the two of them, he relaxed. It had been a great weekend on the lake with friends and family. Summer was coming to a close. They would be starting school in two weeks. He was going into his junior year. Just two more years in Texas and then he would be joining the military. He stopped talking about it because every time he did, Mom got upset. She couldn’t talk him out of it. He promised dad he would enlist and follow in his footsteps. It was a done deal.

Violet smacked his stomach, ruining his moment of peace.

 “Why are you driving like a grandpa?” she demanded.

“I’m being safe.”

“Come on, Jesse. How often do we ride jet skis? What if we don’t do this again? We have this lake to ourselves. Let it rip.”

“Mom would kill me.”

“Mom isn’t around.”

He couldn’t see her face, but he knew she was pouting. She lowered her voice in the tone she knew he couldn’t resist.

“Please?”

“Just enjoy the moment, Violet.”

“Maybe I should have gone with Malcolm,” she muttered.

He half turned to look at her. “What did you say?”

Her tone hardened. “You heard me. Why have all this horsepower if you’re not going to use it?”

She barely got the last word out before he gunned the throttle. The jet ski bucked beneath them. Violet let out a hoot and tightened her hold to a death grip as they soared across the water.

“You’re the best brother ever!” Violet screamed.

He grinned despite himself. Mom had tempered Violet’s savage nature, but once in a while, her old recklessness made an appearance. It had gotten them in trouble many times. He indulged her when he could so she wouldn’t seek out someone else who may not have her back if things went south. He’d be damned if she asked Malcolm or any other guy for a ride.

As they made their way back to the pier, he slowed.

“Can I drive the rest of the way back?”

He hesitated. “You’ll go slow?”

“Yes,” she stressed.

He didn’t see it, but he knew she was rolling her eyes. “Fine.”

He stopped so they could switch places. She clambered over him and settled in front of him. He leaned over her to show her the button for the throttle.

“Just apply a little pressure,” he cautioned and bit back a curse when the jet ski jerked. “Vi!”

“I’m sorry,” she giggled and finally took his advice, so they glided forward at a nice pace. “I’m sad we’re leaving tomorrow. This has been so fun!”

“It has been,” he said, eyeing the shore as they approached their group of over forty people. “Dad’s enjoying himself.”

“He always does. I don’t know why he put up such a fight.”

“Old habits, I guess.”

“Marissa’s waiting for you,” Violet sang. “She changes her bikini twice a day. Have you noticed?”

“No.”

“Seriously? Each one she puts on is brighter than the last…” Violet’s voice dropped as she muttered, “And smaller. Her mom is so embarrassed.”

He grunted. He dated Marissa for two weeks in sixth grade, and she had been trying to get him to be her boyfriend ever since. He liked her as a friend and did his best not to lead her on.

“Lara’s also been trying to get your attention. Every time she sings, she looks right at you.”

He’d noticed and started excusing himself or making sure he could duck behind someone until she was finished. Lara was pretty, sweet, and had the voice of an angel, but when she wasn’t signing, she was painfully shy and had a stutter.

He brushed Violet’s wavy black hair out of his face. The unique smell of violets and vanilla was faint from her time in the water, but the familiar scent calmed him slightly. Remembering what had pissed him off in the first place, he gripped her waist. “You want another ride, you come to me. I don’t want you going with anyone else.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.” At the image of her legs draped over Malcolm’s shoulders came back to him, he tacked on, “And no playing chicken again either, unless I’m holding you up.”

“You’re so weird,” she muttered.

He could live with that as long as she didn’t go around sitting on other guys' shoulders or riding jet skis with them. “Promise me.”

“Fine, dad,” she drawled as she skilled the engine.

He flinched, not liking that label one bit, but before he could say anymore, she slipped off the jet ski into the water. He stayed put and helped two girls get on before he swam toward shore. Violet joined mom and dad near the grill and made herself a plate of food. He was glad they were occupied, which left him free to follow Malcolm as he made his way back to camp. He waited until they had distanced themselves from everyone else before he made his presence known.

“Hey, Malcolm,” he called.

Malcolm stopped and looked over his shoulder. Jesse saw his brows come together in a frown before he replaced it with a smile.

“Jesse, what’s up?”

“I’m just wanted to give you a friendly warning.”

He kept his voice light and pleasant so it wouldn’t betray his simmering temper. They were at a church event. He couldn’t get in a fight with the worship leader's son, but he wasn’t going to let what happened with Violet slide.

“Warning?” Malcolm echoed warily.

“Yeah.” He kept a smile on his lips as he let a little of what he was feeling to leak into his eyes. “Let your hands wander like that again, and we’re going to have problems.”

Malcom jerked. “What?”

“The way you were touching Violet at the lake, staggering so she was sliding all over your shoulders? I know it wasn’t an accident.”

He saw a flash of guilt before Malcolm puffed out his chest.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. If I see you do that with Violet or any other girl who doesn’t know what you’re really up to, you won’t like what happens. You got me?”

Malcolm stepped back with his hands up. “I’m sorry, man, if you thought I was being inappropriate. I never meant to—”

“See that you don’t,” he said shortly and turned away before he gave into the urge to put his fist in Malcom’s face and ruined everyone’s day.

**This is a raw draft of the prequel for Corrupt Idol. Please do not share or distribute.

Copyright © 2024 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.