Page 60 of Hot Saltwater Kisses

“Yeah.” Nia hummed. “I figured.”

“Thought you considered love a Hollywood special?”

“I said most of the time. Like, nine out of ten. Also, interesting discussions need strong opinions.” She raised her hand to greet a passing fishing boat.

“And you think…” I wasn’t sure how to continue, too many questions bumping up against each other. The sun was iridescent in my eyes, the sea a band of white gold that melted into the horizon.

“I think so many things,” Nia said. “Take your pick.”

“How did you know?” I asked.

She was quiet for a second. “You don’t let people in easily. Once you do, you’re all in—but for me, it took a year to sneak past those walls you built. And being a woman, that probably helped. Because I’m safe, you know.”

My thoughts were in a tangled heap, blurred around the edges. I settled on the most important. “You’re also my best friend.”

“There’s that, yeah.” She pressed a smile against my cheek. “But, to answer your question: Logan’s different. It’s like something about him just clicked for you. You trust him. You tell him things you haven’t told anyone here other than me—like about your parents. Also, you look at him like the sun shines out of his arse.”

“It’s a nice ass,” I said because that part… That part was easy.

“I won’t argue with the truth.”

We were silent for a moment, the engine rumbling gently under our feet.

“I haven’t told him about Michael,” I said then.

“Do you want to?” Nia asked.

“I…” I trailed off because yeah, maybe. But also, what if it changed things? What if Logan saw me differently once he knew—as weaker, as naive and stupid, easily manipulated?

God, if only I’d approached him back then, the first time I’d seen him. I’d been painfully insecure, sure, but something might have clicked anyway, we might have made plans to meet up in Miami, too young to really stand a chance. But what if we’d lasted long enough for my life to take a better turn? What if we’dlasted?

If and when and might have—just guideposts to avoiding reality.

“I think he cares.” I hesitated, grappling for words that proved capricious. “Logan, I mean. About me. Like… He told me he wouldn’t hook up with anyone else, that thereisno one else. That’s… something. Right?”

“That’s a lot.” Nia snorted. “And for the record, he looks at you like he’ll buy whatever you’re willing to sell.”

“Yeah?” I didn’t love the uncertainty coloring my tone, but there it was.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

I licked salty sea air off my lips and inhaled, brightness filling my eyes. “Then I’ll tell him. If he reacts badly?—”

“He won’t,” she cut in.

“—then at least I tried, you know? To be honest. Because if I’m not…” I paused, my stupid heart thumping against my ribs. “Like, if I want to hold on to him somehow—and I don’t even know how—but I gotta be honest, right? It’s part of who I am. And he lives in Miami, so if I ever visit him…”

“Deep breath, babe. One step at a time.”

Right. Okay. I closed my eyes and leaned into her, the familiar thrum of the boat vibrating from the soles of my feet all the way up to my stomach and collarbones. The gentle sway of the waves was grounding.

“There you go,” Nia murmured. “That’s a good boy.”

I hitched up one corner of my mouth. “Don’t patronize me.”

“It would never even occur to me.” The words carried a smile. I blinked my eyes open to return it, my stomach a little light with the idea of it all—opening myself up, trying for a future. But I would. Iwould.

“What about you?” I asked Nia.

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