Gabe took a deep breath and gently placed my hands on the jet ski’s handlebars. Then he tightened the life jacket straps firmly around me.

“If you fell in the water, this wouldn’t protect you. It’d float, and you’d have no stability—it wasn’t adjusted. You could’ve drowned. Now you’re safe. Not just because I’m here and wouldn’t let anything happen to you, but because I care about your safety. Got it, Pumpkin?”

“Why do you care about my safety, Gabe?” ...