Page 23 of Adrift

I’m nervous.

I don’t knowwhyI’m so damn nervous, considering how we’re obviously into each other. But I gotta get my shit together. I was already in danger of tenting inside my cabin. Now I’m about to pitch a tent in my sweatpants, too.

“Come here,” I grunt, scattering my stuff across the counter as I yank my tightest undies out of the very bottom of my backpack. But… wait a sec. I heard my camping lantern rolling across the counter. That’ll make the place look at least a bit more welcoming, right?

I flick the lantern on and set it down for a look around.

Oh. Maybe not.

There’s a little bubble of light in the kitchen, illuminating the old cabinets and dusty countertops. Any further than five feet away, it seems even more pitch-black now. And in the living room, farm tools are eerily looming out of the blackness.

It just looks like a haunted house now.

“Gonna invite me inside?” Kieran calls from outside, his voice growing closer. “Or are you blowdrying each bollock?”

His footsteps echo on the porch steps, and for a moment my heart skips a beat like we’re playing hide-or-seek. But this time, I want to be found.

Ready or not, here he comes.

“Blowdrying?” I snort, hastily wrapping the towel around my waist again to greet him at the door. “You’re overestimating the facilities.”

“You’re underestimating my desire to get out of the rain,” Kieran counters, turning to the steps to shake off the umbrella. “Here. You hold dinner.”

My lips twitch as he shoves the plastic bag he’s carrying at me.

He’s got a point. Keeping him out in the rain until he gets soaked is the only way I can make this first impression any worse, really.

“God, that smells good, though,” I groan before I can stop myself. There’s nothing like hot, homemade food when you’re chilled to the bone. The neighbours in every direction probably just heard my stomach growl.

Kieran sure did, judging by his giggle. He sets down the umbrella on the porch to dry off and beams up at me. “So, that’s a yes to a nice candlelit dinner? You know, to make you feel welcome here,” he teases, batting his lashes at me.

Yeah. Definitely a neighbourly gesture, and not him coming on to me so fast it makes my head spin.

“Uh…” I blink at him.

God. He’s smiling with so much earnest hope that it makes me feel just atinybit better, and also so much worse about totally screwing my chances with him. Because there’s rustic, and then there’s… this. One look inside and he’s not gonna be back.

“I mean… th-that’s really sweet of you,” I stutter. “But I… I don’t have much light.” I turn to gesture at the feeble camp lantern glowing on the countertop. “Or much furniture—” I turn back, blinking at thin air.

“That’s okay!” Kieran says from behind me as his footsteps creak against the floorboards. “I can make do. Oooh. Cute little kitchen!”

He’s already slipped past me and straight inside.

What just happened?

It’s hard to scowl when Kieran’s being so sunny, but I wanted at least another few seconds to prepare myself for the letdown when he realizes where he is.

“I guess you might as well come in out of the rain,” I grumble, closing the door behind us.

Kieran laughs. “Come on,” he clicks his tongue impatiently, patting the kitchen counter. “Let’s get a better look in the light.”

I blush and grunt, and then I clear my throat as I approach the light

“At the food, of course,” Kieran says, way too innocently, his eyes skimming down my body as I step into the light. He’s glancing down to the food bag—or at least, something on that level. “And dessert.”

I’m not normally the chattiest guy, but Kieran leaves me just about tongue-tied. I feel like I’m at an unfair disadvantage when he’s on a charm offensive. I bet the only way to keep up with him is to grab him and shove my mouth against his?—

Nope, nope, nope. Get your pants on now, Gage. Or dinner is going to be served very cold and very late.

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