Page 63 of Taming Waves

I shake my head. “I don’t want more.”

“You sure about that?” she asks.

Am I?

If someone had asked me five weeks ago, I would have said absolutely.

“I can see you’re on the fence. You obviously need more time to figure it out,” Avie says.

“You should come to his party next weekend,” Amiya declares.

“Party?”

“Didn’t he tell you? It’s his birthday, and we’re having a bonfire and oyster roast on the beach. He was supposed to ask for Sunday off,” Amiya says.

“He did ask for the day off, but he didn’t mention a party.”

“He probably didn’t want to make a huge deal out of his birthday, but as I told you, this one,” Avie says, gesturing to Amiya, “she’ll find any reason to play hostess.”

“It’s a big one. You have to celebrate it,” Amiya insists.

Avie rolls her eyes. “He’s turning twenty-nine.”

“Exactly. He only has one year left in his twenties,” Amiya presses. “You’ll come, right? Can the bar be without you both?”

“I guess. Leonard and Leena can handle a Sunday night,” I say.

“Yes!”

Eden waddles over to us after her seventh bathroom trip. “Ugh, I swear this baby is playing soccer with my bladder,” she says as she carefully takes a seat. “What did I miss?”

“Not much. We questioned Audrey about her relationship with Parker, and all we got was a lie about beingjust friends,” Amiya fills her in.

“Why would you lie? Parker is a sweetheart,” Eden asks.

“He’s an arrogant ass who seems to have snowed all of you,” I reply.

“Impossible to fool us,” Amiya says. “We can sniff out a jerk from miles away.”

Sebastian texts that they are on their way back, so we toss our trash and gather the blankets.

Eden groans and lays her hand on her belly as they approach.

“Is she kicking again?” Wade asks as he hurries to her side.

“Like a Rockette.”

“What does it feel like?” I ask her.

“Come here,” she says, reaching for my hand.

Hesitantly, I step closer, and she guides my hand to rest gently on her bump.

“Give it a minute.”

A few seconds pass, and all I feel is the steady rhythm of her breathing beneath my palm. Then, it happens—a teeny, unmistakable jolt. It’s so quick, like a little tap from inside, and I freeze, my heart skipping at the sensation.

“Oh, wow,” I gasp.

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