Page 81 of Hot Saltwater Kisses

“Willing to put in all the extra hours,” Nia said because apparently, our friendship meant nothing when faced with a chance to gang up on me.

“You’re on Team Backstab now?” I asked her, and she tossed me a glittering smile as she plopped herself into Tom’s lap and stole his coffee.

“I’m with the fun parade. Come join us—we have cookies.” She leaned further into Tom, who slung a casual arm around her waist. They were taking it easy, seeing where this thing would take them, but something about the comfortable way they existed around each other told me they’d be fine.

Logan tugged me down onto the chair next to him, his fingers light around my wrist. “I’d apologize,” he said. “But Nia’s your friend, and the other two kind of come as a package deal with me.”

I knew it wasn’t how he meant it—his voice was bright andamused, green flecks dancing in the hazel blue of his impossible eyes. Still, it reminded me of Michael driving a successful wedge between my friends and me, of Logan’s ex who’d asked him to pick.

“That’s fair,” I told Logan. “I like Tom. As for Kyle…” I turned to throw Kyle a meaningful look. “You’ll keep your hands off him?”

“Dude.” Kyle’s mouth curled into an infuriatingly superior grin. “Logan’s a fine specimen, don’t get me wrong. But I’m a boobs man.”

“Classy,” Nia said, wry.

“He grows on you,” Logan said.

“Likefungus,” Kyle announced, as though it was a source of pride. It surprised a laugh out of me, and yeah, we’d be okay.

We settled into breakfast, conversation flowing around me in a happy, lazy current. The air was fresh and earthy after the recent rain, like the entire island had exhaled a deep breath, letting go of whatever had come before. Or maybe I was projecting.

Miami. Moving back yet forward. I hadn’t missed the hectic crowds or traffic at rush hour. Other things, though? There was the skyline at sunset, high-rises glistening against the bay, or the ever-present energy that carried the city along, whether it was music spilling out of bars or tourists flocking to Lincoln Road. A greasy late-night taco from a food truck. The grittiness of it all, the way life twisted and turned in unpredictable ways. Bars that openly flew the rainbow flag.

My parents.

Under the table, Logan’s knee pressed against mine. It was warm and grounding, and I thought about that, too—how he wasn’t my reason to return, no. But I’d be able to kiss him in the middle of a crowd and few would bat an eye.

Nia and I traded forks over a slice of cake, our health pact on hold for the day, while Kyle ribbed Logan and Tom about extending their stay. “Not all of us can be on permanent vacation like a bunch of unemployed schmucks. Some of us work for a living.”

“You work?” Nia sounded mildly surprised.

Kyle tossed her a smug look. “I’m a psychologist.”

I lowered my fork. “I thought you’re a dive instructor?”

“That was one year. Gets boring after a while, you know?”

No, I didn’t. For me, the way things moved below the surface, the way light cut through the water—it still amazed me, even now.

“Okay,” Nia jumped in. “But a psychologist?You?”

“Aww, girl. You wound me.” Kyle clasped a dramatic hand to his chest, amusement sparking in his tone. “Don’t need to be emotionally stable myself to dish out good advice.”

“He actually does,” Logan said, unexpectedly serious. “Kyle helped pull me out of my post-adoption identity crisis.”

Huh. Guess there was my daily reminder that I shouldn’t judge people based on first impressions. Subtle, universe.

Kyle countered my eyebrow raise with a solemn nod. “It’s true. So, if you need a good ass-kicking about something? You come straight to me.” His gaze sharpened. “Which is to say that if you hadn’t given my man Logan here another chance, I would havefoundyou.”

I weighed taking offense, but honestly, I got it. That’s what friends were for.

“I’ll keep it in mind,” I told him.

“Good.” He must have caught my underlying message because his expression mellowed, reverting to his default of smug amusement. “You wanna get naked? Logan’s your guy. But if we’re talking emotional striptease, I’ve got you covered. For friends and family, it’s half off my usual rate—partners included.”

“Generous,” I said, deadpan, while Nia leaned towards me, mouth tipped into a smile that blended affection with a hint of teasing.

“You could start with your relationship with your parents.”

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