Page 25 of Adrift

There’s no time to think about it. There’s only time to do what comes naturally?—

Plop.

Cold water drips on the back of my neck, and the moment shatters. I’m never going to admit to the sound that just escaped me, but Kieran is laughing his ass off as I pull us both to safety.

“That’s fucking cold!” I’m still clutching Kieran tightly against me, shuddering until the neck of my T-shirt soaks up the droplet.

“No shite.” Kieran snorts. “What did youthinkI was screaming about?”

“A spider!”

Kieran suddenly leaps onto me, flinging his arms around my neck. He locks his legs around my waist, and I have to grab him by the ass so I don’t drop him. “Where?” Kieran yelps. “Is it on me?”

It’s my turn to start laughing. “No!” I laugh. “Shit. I thought that’s what you felt!”

Kieran goes still in my arms and leans back to look at me. His ass is still deliciously firm and distracting in my palms. “Wait. There’s no spider?”

“There’s no spider,” I tell him, my lips twitching. Considering all the stuff in storage, and what a cozy spot this is… there must be spiders in here. But I don’t mind sharing the little white lie I was telling myself to get to sleep tonight.

“Just water,” Kieran breathes out, slowly thumping his forehead against my shoulder two or three times. “Duh.”

I snort and then clear my throat, reluctantly letting go of Kieran as he climbs off me. Both of us are blushing furiously, and neither of us seems to know what to say.

If it hadn’t been for that raindrop, we would have kissed.

Wait a minute. A raindrop… inside. The roof is leaking.

“Shit.”

I grab the camping lantern and raise it to the ceiling, but I can’t quite make out where the water’s coming in. The rain is too loud on the roof to hear it land on the floor, either.

But at least nothing in here is important?—

“Fuck.”

I turn on my heel and sprint toward the little hallway, still clutching the lantern.

“Don’t even think about leaving me in the dark with the not-spiders,” Kieran calls out as he chases after me to the bedroom.

“Sorry. Give me a minute.”

Kieran watches from the doorway as I bend over to sweep the lantern back and forth, looking for any puddles of water.

Nothing.

“Phew. I can set up my sleeping bag in here?—”

I turn to find Kieran walking toward the wooden crates. He stops in front of them and runs a hand across the swoops and swirls of my grandma’s writing—Sunrise Cider—and then he looks up at me.

“Don’t be a dumbass. You live with me now. Grab your stuff,” Kieran tells me. I stare at him and he just winks at me.

“Uh…” I freeze on the spot, trying to sort through all the clashing impulses in my brain

I want more excuses to be around him. There’s a spark. I can’t deny it. But… we barely even know each other. I definitely can’t impose on him. And for how long? I don’t know how much time it’ll take to fix up the roof…

“That doesn’t look like packing up.” Kieran drums his fingertips against the crates.

I scowl at him. “No, I’m fine. It’s… mostly dry.”

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