Page 13 of His Curvy Ocean Maiden

“I love you, Zariah. I’ve loved you since the moment my luggage cart almost ran you over. We’ll find a way. We have to.”

“I love you, too,” I said. I meant those words. For the first time in my life, I truly meant those words. I loved Pierce. Yet I wasn’t so sure we would find a way. So I tried to remember the promise I made to myself—to not forget it was all in good fun. But as much as I repeated those words, my heart didn’t listen.

“Please come back to bed?” Pierce asked as he tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear.

I shook my head. “I think you should go.” I choked out the words and hoped he didn’t hear the sob behind them.

“What? What are you talking about?” Pierce rubbed his hands up and down my arms.

“Why prolong this further? If we’re going to end up separating, then we might as well do it now. I can’t…I can’t bear the thought of losing you. I’d rather lose you now and get through the pain than anticipate one second more.”

“Z…that’s…no, no. I won’t let you do this. I told you we’d find a way. You’re mine, and I’m yours. There’s no one else in this world I want.”

“But you…you live in Boston, your life is there. Mine is in Appleridge. Not to mention, the age thing. You want children. What if I have a hard time because of my age? And then there’s your family. They prob aren’t happy you’ve been spending so much time with me. There’s so much to think about and…”

“So what? We’ll figure it out.”

“How can you be so sure?” I cried.

“Because I love you. I want you as mine. And I’m never letting you go.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Pierce

“I’m gettingoff the boat with Zariah. I’m flying to Vermont with her, and we’re going to make a life together,” I said to my parents and sisters during our last breakfast on the ship. My leg bounced uncontrollably under the table, and Zariah rested her hand on top of my knee and squeezed gently.

I offered her a smile and took a deep breath.

“Don’t be silly, Pierce. Do you hear yourself? Too much sunshine and salty air, I think,” my mother retorted as she proceeded to glare at me and my father.

“I’m not being silly. I love her. We want to make a life together. You can accept it or not. Either way, my mind is made up.” I clasped Zariah’s hand in my lap. I loved the strength she gave me to say what I needed to.

“What’s gotten into you? Ever since you boarded this ship, you’ve been under some spell. You have a life in Boston, a job, an apartment, family, andsecurity.You’re coming home with us.” My mother looked at my father for confirmation and scowled when all she received was a shrug of his shoulders.

“Maybe he should make his own decisions.” My sister Tracy spoke up, and Leah nodded along with her.

“I agree, Mom. Pierce isn’t a kid anymore. Let him decide, let him learn from his own mistakes, and figure life out.”

I looked at both of my sisters in shock. I never expected them to vouch for me.

“Besides, you can’t deny how cute they are. Or how in love they look. You’d be blind not to see it,” Leah added, and when she smiled at me, I smiled back, happy to see my sisters having my back.

“She’s right, Mom,” Annie added before reaching across the table and squeezing both mine and Zariah’s hand. “I’m sorry we met in a crappy way, Zariah. I hope we can still be friends.”

“Of course.”

Tracy and Leah chimed in, both with their own apologies and promises of friendship. Everyone except my parents. They didn’t budge. So when it was time to say our goodbyes, we exchanged a quick hug and went our separate ways. I promised my sisters I would keep in touch, and I knew I’d be back in Boston soon enough. I’d need more of my stuff, and I suspected my mother wouldn’t remain quiet for too long. I knew how she operated, and one of her favorite things was meddling in her children’s lives.

“We’re really doing this thing, aren’t we?” Zariah asked as we made our way toward the exit and onto the gangway. The boat docked a couple of hours ago, and after packing up our things, speaking with my family, and having one last celebration cocktail, we were ready to exit the boat and board a plane to Vermont.

“We sure are, baby. I’m excited to see where you live.”

“It’s a small town, so trust me when I say everyone knows everyone else’s business. There’ll be some questions swirling about you. Zariah, the quiet loner has finally found a life partner,a mysterious younger man from Boston with an accent so thick and sexy, how did she score a catch like him?” I pictured the gossip at Ruby’s bakery or the town diner where people loved to gab about everyone else’s lives but their own.

“I’m used to the city, so this shall be interesting. Please tell me you have the small-town staples like a diner.” My eyes lit up.

“Of course. Would it be a small town without one?”

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