The pool boy, whose actual name is Collin takes my hand, leading me down the wharf, closer to the party boat bopping in the water, loud music and laughter wafting from inside and below.

I hesitate at the end of the pier, looking out over the black water and grey skies. Did I mention I hate the ocean? I mean yeah sure, I like the sand and the sun and the waves, but the actual deep water? No, thank you.

"You're on holiday, Arden." Collin grins, squeezing my hand. "Live a little." He jumps onto the rocking boat, holding out both hands for mine. I sigh and hand them over, squeezing his tightly as he helps me on. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me into his side.

Almost instantly two men walk up, clapping Collin on the back and talking animatedly with him.

I stand beside him awkwardly, having no idea what to say or what to do. Why did I agree to this again?

Oh right, because I'm a stubborn asshole and I'll be damned if I let Jason win.

Collin's arm tightens and he turns to me, "Drinks are over there." He flicks his chin to a crowd of people. "Help yourself." He lets me go and I start walking over, "It'll be fun, Arden. Don't worry."

I glance back at him, nodding before making my way into the rapidly growing pile of bodies.

Blowing a strand of hair from my face, I pull my shoulders back and stalk for the table, grabbing two cans of whatever is closest and turn back for Collin.

Except he's nowhere in sight and neither is the wharf I was just standing on.

I blink, staring towards the sky in exasperation as exhaustion begins pulling at my limbs.

I do not want to be here right now, why did I even agree to this?

Cracking the can open, I take a sip of the liquid inside, hissing at the rancid taste of beer on my tongue.

I place the can on a nearby surface, pushing through the gyrating bodies, gaze flicking from one face to another as I search for Collin's familiar head of blonde hair.

I scan the faces twice more as the water rushes by, spraying up and hitting my back when the boat hits a particularly big wave. I stumble backwards, heel hitting the edge of the boat before an arm circles my waist, steadying me.

"Oh, thank god." I mutter turning to Collin as another wave crashes against us, causing me to stumble more, "I thought I'd lost you."

I blink at the face that most definitely doesn't belong to Collin, the rugged features too manly to belong to his boyish charm. A five o'clock shadow lining his jawline, laughing emerald eyes on my face.

"You couldn't lose me if you tried." Jason mutters through a smile, lifting a drink to his lips and sipping from the long-necked bottle. Saltwater sprays up beside us, misting overhead.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I hiss, pushing at his arm that's still around me. He doesn't budge an inch, his arm tightening if anything, forcing my chest close to his.

For a second I forgot what I'm doing before I come back to myself.

I scowl, shoving once more for good measure before giving up and staring over his shoulder for an avenue of escape.

He lifts his shoulders in a shrug, arms out wide to encompass the partying people around us. "Trying to have a good time." He leans down, tipping his beer to me. "You're ruining the vibe, Arden. What happened to the girl who used to follow her brother to our high school parties and steal her parents' liquor? What happened to the girl from the wedding?" He leans forward, "the one who spilt her wine down a woman's dress just for talking to me." He raises a challenging brow.

"That wasn't-" I cut off with a hiss. "Stuff your vibes up your ass." I mutter as his brows raise incredulously. "You followed me."

"Where's your proof?"

"I don't need any. I know you."

"Objection, Your honour, hearsay!" He gasps dramatically but his eyes don't leave mine, brow raised as if to say, 'Do you?'

"You're incorrigible." I mutter through clenched teeth, stumbling to the side and out of his arms when the boat rocks over another harsh wave. He reaches an arm out to steady me, but I swat it away.

Jason grins despite my attitude, "You love me that way."

I shake my head, rubbing my temples before spotting that familiar head of blonde hair. I turn back to Jason, "Just leave me alone tonight." I mutter, walking past him towards where Collin stands. And every night that follows.

• • •

The music is thumping under my feet, pounding in time with my growing headache. People sway side to side, hips bumping as they laugh drunkenly, and I can't tell if they're dancing or the ocean is pulling them with its lulling melody and possessive waves.

I stumble as one of those waves hits the side of the boat, my hands dropping my drink to latch onto the rail to steady myself, watching as the alcohol spills at my feet. Gritting my teeth, I wait for the chaos to calm before bending to grab the can, walking briskly through the crowd and away from the dangerous edge.

I lost Collin about twenty minutes after finding him again, his body getting swallowed by the partygoers.

I push myself between a tight gap of dancers, holding my breath to the smell of sweat as I wonder what possessed me to think I could do this.

I'm not a partier, not anymore and not with people I don't know. I don't party, I find a willing body and take them home. At least I used to before Jason fucking Wilde ruined everything, again.

The alcohol in my system has dulled nothing and each passing second just feels like another wasted breath when I could be sleeping – or doing literally anything else.

I shove the almost empty can on the closest surface, manoeuvring myself close to the boats cabin to find somewhere peaceful even as the concept seems entirely foreign in such a packed place.

Ducking under the doorway, I walk gently through the throngs of people before stopping, rolling my eyes.

Found Collin, and he seems to be looking for treasure down that woman's throat – with his tongue.

I blow out a breath and turn away, trying to find someone who may know when this boat is going back to the island.

"He's really going at it isn't he?" Jason's familiar voice murmurs beside me and I whip my head to him. He grins cheekily, "That could've been you tonight."

"Argh." I screw my face up and look back at the boy slobbering on the girl lips as he vacuums them in. "No thank you. Not my style."

"I know." Jason murmurs lowly. "He can't make you moan like I do."

I narrow my eyes on him and stalk out of the cabin, trying to stay away from the dancers moving dramatically, not wanting to be hit and thrown overboard.

"Hey!" A hand curls around my elbow gently, forcing me to a stop. "You know I only followed you out here because I couldn't let you go by yourself." Jason says, tugging me to face him fully. I pull my arm from his grip, fist clenching as I glare at the obnoxious man. "Matt would kill me if he knew I let you get on a boat with a stranger in a different country. Your brother is not the type of man that will listen to reason."

Don't I know it. Probably one of the reasons I'd never told anyone I'd given my virginity to my brother's best friend.

"Stop caring!" I hiss. "I'm not going to be a plaything you can just keep on a leash for whenever you fancy. I'm not one of your fangirls." I wave a hand to encompass him.

His eyes narrow dangerously, "You're not a play thing-"

"Right, I'm Matt's little sister. You came out here on some half arsed attempt to what? Act like a brother?"

He scowls. "I'm not your brother."

"Exactly." I spit, "so stop acting like one, I don't need it." I huff, "besides, I'm allowed to go on dates with strangers if I want to. Matt isn't the boss of me and you can't talk."

"What's the supposed to mean?"

I roll my eyes. "You know-"

"No. I don't. So, tell me."

I roll my eyes, "you're a professional hockey player Jason, don't preach your virginal status now."

He laughs but the sounds holds little mirth. "I can assure you, Arden. We both know I'm not a virgin." The way he says the words seem to have a hidden meaning but for the life of me I can't figure out what it could be besides the obvious - that wild night two years ago definitely showed he was not a virgin.

I don't reply.

"What's my career choice have to do with anything?"

"Really?" I stare at him dumbly. "You're a player, on and off the ice, even when we were in high school you were the biggest player." And I still fell for it is what I don't say. "You don't do relationships." I mutter.

"Correction." He mutters lowly. "I didn't do relationships." He looks me up and down, his eyes dragging down my body lazily, like he has all the time in the world.

"So, what, you're dating now?" I cross my arms, fingers tapping a useless rhythm against my side.

"Maybe." He shrugs. "Why, Arden, jealous?"

"Hardly." I scoff, looking him up and down. "If you have a girlfriend then why are you out here following me?"

"I told you; Matt would kill me if he knew I let you do this. If he knew I let his sister go on a date with a stranger, onto a boat of all things. You hate the water." Rain begins falling in droplets, splattering my cheeks and he reaches forward as if to swipe his thumb under my eye, but I pull back. His hand drops. "I didn't want you to be alone in case anything happened."

I huff a laugh. "What's going to go wrong?"

Famous last words.

It's at that second that a wave knocks harshly into the boat, causing a rush of people to slide to the side, knocking into me and ripping me away from Jason.

I gasp as my hip slams into the railing, pain instantly lighting up the area. I latch my hands on to the rail, holding tightly as the rain begins to fall hard and lightning flashes across the sky like a whip, illuminating the rough seas surrounding us, no island in sight.

"Arden!" I faintly hear his voice over the ruckus, my head whipping over my shoulder to search for him when I feel another wave crash into the boat. My eyes find Jason's just as the water crashes over the side, wraps me in its cold arms and pulls me into the ocean.