Page 80 of Tide Over

“Problem?” I ask.

His eyes snap back to me, then he rolls them gently and looks out the window. “No,” he mumbles.

I try not to smile as he shifts his gaze back to me.

And I just stare back at him, waiting.

“Fuck off,” he mutters, lifting his beer to his lips and taking a sip.

But as a smile spreads across my lips, one forms on his as well.

I lean in close and lower my voice. “She’s harmless.” Then I tap my chest. “Gay, remember?”

His eyes flick between mine as they soften, and his lips tilt up in a soft smile.

“Hey guys!”

We both look up to see Sarah approaching our table with a big smile. “Finish your job in time, Theo?”

I nod, leaning back in my chair, keeping my eyes on Liam. “Made great progress.”

Liam smiles shyly, dropping his eyes to his beer before him.

“I assume Mitch let you know it was a good haul today?” Sarah says, then turns and waves at Allison behind the bar where she’s holding up a glass. “Hey, Allie! Yeah, I’ll take one, thanks.”

“Yeah, he did.” I nod. “That’s great.”

She then turns to Liam with a warm smile. “Good to see you again, by the way! When do you head back to work?”

“End of the week,” he says, quickly glancing at me. And disappointment settles at that reminder.

“Aw,” she furrows her brow. “That’s too bad. We never even got to hang.” She glances at her table where her husband and son are looking over the menu, then turns back to us, with a curious expression. “Hey. Liam, why haven’t you been out on the boat with us yet?”

My eyes slide to Liam, as I wonder the same thing. I guess I never thought to invite him since he’s here to relax after working for three weeks straight, and I get up at 4:00AM every morning.

Liam raises an eyebrow, looking at me with a playful challenge. “I don’t know… Captain?”

I chuckle. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes!” Sarah says, squeezing Liam’s shoulder. “Amazing. Ok, I gotta go, but see you both in the morning!”

As she heads to her table, I bring my full attention back to Liam. He’s looking back at me with sparkling eyes, and a genuine smile.

And I can’t help but grin back at him. “Well, this will be fun.”

THIRTY

A hand lands softlyon my shoulder, gently shaking me awake. My eyes open slowly, and I look up at warm brown eyes, illuminated by the soft glow from the bedside lamp.

“Time to get to work,” Theo says in a low, soothing voice.

I breathe out a soft laugh, the blankets slipping off as I sit up so the cool early morning air nips at my skin. Miss Bobber stretches lazily beside me, in the spot she claimed between me and Theo through the night. At 4:00AM, she clearly has no plans to get up, and I don’t blame her.

I pull on my clothes and head downstairs to join Theo, where he’s making coffee. The house is still and quiet, wrapped in predawn darkness which brings a sense of peace and calm. The smell of coffee urges me to take a deep breath in as I enter the kitchen, and Theo turns to look at me with a slow once-over, and a soft smile. He hands me a travel mug full of coffee, and I take it, slipping an arm around his waist at the same time to pull him close. The kiss I give him is as gentle as the morning, as I take a moment to appreciate him for everything he is.

When I reluctantly pull away, his hand cups my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. “Ready?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

---