Page 35 of Unmoored
I grin. “Kieran and Alph, huh? You’ve already met two of my brothers.”
Eden stares at me, and then he groans and puts his face in his hands. “There goes my first impression… as usual.”
I laugh, reaching across the table to rest my hand on his forearm. “It’s okay,” I promise him. “They’ll like you for who you are. I do, too.”
Eden glances up and pauses, looking at me with this painful mix of hopeful excitement and… I don’t know what else, but it feels like he’s trying to hold himself in check, just in case.
“I mean it,” I add softly. “In every way.”
A smile creeps over Eden’s face as he blushes. Then he lays his hand on top of mine. “I like you, too.”
Whoa.
A pleasurable shockwave vibrates through me as I glance down at his hand, then catch his eyes again. “I—uh—” I break off, clearing my throat. “Well. Yeah. I’m glad.”
“Yeah.”
It’s impossible to ignore the air thickening around us, like the world is wrapping us up in our own private cocoon. We’re even breathing quicker now, nervous yet excited for what’s coming.
It’s just him and me right now. The rest of the world can pass by at whatever pace it likes—and, for once, I don’t care.
At last, I pull my hand away with a smile. “You see over there?” I point with my fork before I polish off the last couple of bites of risotto. “When you’ve got your license, make sure you go around that spot. Especially at low tide. There’s a reef underneath. A couple times a year, the tide gets so low that you can even stand on it.”
“Whoa,” Eden breathes out, his eyes going huge. “Like, do you have island parties on it? Or would that ruin the biodiversity? How big is it?”
“It—no, Eden—” I burst out laughing, almost choking on the last bite of risotto. I drop my fork again and take the glass of water Eden hands me, giving him theI’m finewave.
I just know he’s imagining a Pacific atoll, all white sand and sunshine. The reality is murky, knee-deep water, only worth it for the bragging rights.
When I finally catch my breath, I shake my head. “It might be big enough for three people, if they have a conjugal relationship—or they’re willing to start one.”
Just as Eden bursts out in a surprised, raucous laugh, the sun finally dips beneath the horizon and the colours in the sky turn into these dark golds and reds.
I can’t think of a single reason this moment isn’t perfect.
My cheeks hurt from smiling as I watch him trying to stop giggling at a joke that wasn’t eventhatfunny. But I know exactly how he feels. When we’re together, everything feels ten timesmore. The funny things are that much funnier, the joy that much brighter.
I can’t believe something could feel so good, and also be this much fun. When I said I like him… shit, I hope he knew what I meant: Ireallylike him.
Eden giggles. “You’re staring again.”
“What else am I supposed to do when the view’s this good?” I wink at Eden.
Eden pauses meaningfully.
My nostrils flare as I sit up a little straighter, my heart pounding against my ribs. The nervous, crackling tension is back in the air—and I think we can both feel which way it’s heading.
“I’ve got a long list of suggestions,” Eden finally says. He swipes his tongue over his lower lip, then glances up through his lashes.
“I bet you do.”
Eden doesn’t miss a beat. He just leans in to prop his chin on his fist, batting his lashes at me. “Trust me, you’ll like how vocal I am.”
“And you’ll like my plan to make you sing for me,” I counter in a low rumble. “Now, finish up and show me your aft, sailor.”
Eden’s lips slowly part. He turns the colour of a tomato, and then he shovels the last bites of salad into his mouth at lightning speed. Then he tosses down his fork, and we both get to our feet.
I know when the tide has me beat… and there’s no fighting this pull between us.
