"Oh, look what the cat dragged in," Isaac said as he waltzed into the kitchen, pulling a mug from the cupboard for a cup of coffee. "Why are you always hanging around here?" he added before taking a big sip. "Man, that's good," he muttered.

"I see you're still cocky even after I threw a ball in your face," she shot back, annoyed by his teasing.

"So that wasn't an accident, huh?"

"Wow, big brain moment," she mocked, keeping her eyes on the mug in front of her.

"You're pretty arrogant for a guest," Isaac complained, slamming his mug on the table. Her "I don't give a damn" attitude was starting to piss him off.

"Oh? Is that a threat, Isaac Ellington?" she taunted, looking in his direction. Just as he was about to respond, Ingrid walked in, and both called a truce, at least for now.

"Look at you two, getting coffee together," Ingrid said sarcastically, feeling the tension as soon as she entered. She reached into the fridge, pulling out a pack of bacon, and then gathered the ingredients to make pancake batter. The aroma of sizzling bacon filled the kitchen. Isaac, with a furrowed brow, shot Johanna a hard look before storming out.

"Seriously, what’s going on with you two? You really should get along," Ingrid said as she whisked the dry ingredients in a bowl. Johanna sighed, frustration heavy in her voice. "I am trying, but he makes it impossible. He’s always saying something so off-the-wall it makes me wonder."

"I know he can be a douche sometimes—okay, most of the time—but he’s my brother. Go easy on him," Ingrid replied, her tone soft and motherly. She continued to cook bacon and eggs to go with the pancakes. Johanna tilted her head, eyes questioning.

"Seriously? Are you taking his side?" Ingrid flashed her best friend a look before turning her attention back to her task.

"I’m not taking sides, Ann, I’m just saying." Just as Johanna was about to respond, her phone rang. She glanced down to see it was Mathew and immediately picked up. The sound of strong winds filled her ears.

"Mathew? Where on earth are you?" she asked, eyebrows knitting together in concern.

"On a dock near a party boat, hoping a certain someone would join me," he replied ruefully, a smirk evident in his voice. "We could even have a bit of private time on the water, your call." Johanna’s cheeks flamed at his suggestion. Her response was timid,

"I’ll join you in a bit. I just have to finish up some things here."

"Come on, babe, sun and booze. Your boyfriend’s lonely. Leave the work behind and get over here and give me a good time," Mathew said, trying to entice her into dropping everything and coming over immediately.

"I-" She hesitated before responding. "Alright, I’ll change and come over."

"Good girl. I’ll come pick you up then," he said before ending the call, causing Johanna to sigh in resignation. Hearing her, Ingrid turned around, concern in her eyes.

"Alright, what is it?" she asked as she placed some eggs and bacon onto a plate stacked with three golden pancakes. She pushed the plate towards Johanna before starting a plate of her own.

As Johanna indulged in the fluffy pancakes, she recounted the phone conversation with Mathew to Ingrid. Between bites, she described his playful yet insistent tone and the strong winds in the background. Ingrid listened intently, occasionally nodding as she savoured her own breakfast.

After finishing their meal, Johanna headed to her room to pack for her rendezvous with Mathew. She grabbed a small backpack and began gathering essentials: a swimsuit, a light dress, sunscreen, and her favourite pair of sunglasses. She threw in a towel and a hat for good measure, along with her phone charger and a book to read on the boat.

She took a moment to check her reflection in the mirror, smoothing down her hair and applying a touch of lip balm. Satisfied, she zipped up her bag and headed back to the kitchen where Ingrid was cleaning up.

"Ready for your little adventure?" Ingrid asked with a teasing smile.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Johanna replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Soon after, Mathew arrived, his car pulling up with a loud honk. Johanna gave Ingrid a quick hug before heading out the door. Mathew greeted her with a wide grin and a playful wink as she climbed into the passenger seat.

The drive to the dock was filled with easy chatter and laughter. Mathew's carefree attitude was infectious, and Johanna found herself relaxing more with each passing moment. The sun was high in the sky by the time they arrived, casting a warm glow over the marina. Mathew led her to the party boat, a sleek vessel bobbing gently in the water. As they boarded, Johanna took in the scene: colourful streamers fluttering in the breeze, a small group of people lounging on deck chairs, and the sound of upbeat music drifting through the air.

Mathew guided her to a quieter spot at the bow of the boat. "This is where we can have our little private time," he said with a mischievous grin.

Johanna felt a flutter of excitement as she settled into a comfortable seat. The boat began to pull away from the dock, the gentle rocking of the waves setting the stage for what promised to be a memorable afternoon. A very memorable afternoon.