Page 47 of Unmoored

Murph raises his eyes to the sky. “Unlucky me,” he says.

“I can help with that—” Kieran tries to swipe the best kind—the ketchup-flavoured Lay’s chips—and I bat him away as the rest of them laugh. “Damn. Okay. How about we trade for gossip nuggets?”

“You already gave me all the gossip nuggets,” I tell him.

“Damn it! Okay, I’ll find more.”

“We can talk about anything other than me today, you know,” Murph tells us all, sighing wearily.

“Fine. Alph, you were talking about harbour restrictions this weekend?” I prompt him, but before he can say anything, I grin at Murph. “There. You’re welcome. I accept thanks in monetary or sexual favours, but I guess the latter is off the table now that you’ve got your new flame…”

Murph looks like he wants to cuss me out as I grin, flopping onto my back to shove more ketchup chips in my mouth.

I’m pretty sure I know why I’ll be the last single one in the group. But I’m okay with that. If it everismy turn, I’ll just have to take all the ribbing I’ve earned.

Despite my ribbing, I really am glad for Murph. He deserves this kind of happiness. And I’m taking my pleasures where I can get them, because my chances to tease him are few and far between.

True love takes its sweet time coming.

ChapterSeventeen

EDEN

“I can’t readanother word of this,” I sigh, shoving the boater’s handbook to the side of the bed as I push myself to my feet and pace back and forth, up and down the boat.

I have a call to make, and I can’t avoid it any longer.

Murph and I texted for hours yesterday evening, planning the boat party while I prepped hors d’oeuvres. I know the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And now that I’ve found a guy who’s willing to let me in when I get there… I’m willing to tie my boat to his.

And not just metaphorically. It was my idea to tie up his barge to my boat. That way we’ll have amegaparty boat: space to spread out, a kitchen… and most important of all, a working bathroom.

I don’t even want to imagine how the guys usually cope, but I’d sooner give up hot showers. And I can say that from personal experience.

He keeps trying to reassure me that I don’t have to go over-the-top, but it’s way too late. I’m too excited not to show off what I learned from George’s stupid parties. It used to be hard enough to cope with George in his high-stress mode, let alone our guests.

God, I’m glad not to have that problem anymore. It’s just so easy to be around Murph. He’s easy to like, easy to talk to, easy to have fun with. I just… I trust him. I didn’t think that was possible before. And with hardly even a word said… in a thousand little ways, he makes me feel like I’m easy to love.

And there’s no bigger sign than this: inviting me to meet his brothers, even letting me co-host the party, for what sounds like one of the most important events of the year for all of them. I know what I’m being given—and I’m taking this opportunity with both hands.

Murph just believes in me. And that makes it a little easier to remember that I’m worth it—and remember that he’s not the only one.

There are other people out there who believed in me, throughout all these years. Even when I doubted myself. Even when that made me start to doubt them, too.

I’ve waited long enough. Murph is right.

It’s time to tell my parents about me and George—tell them I woke up, smelled the pile of shit, and ran for the hills. There’s no better time than now. Things are changing so fast that if I don’t keep them in the loop… well, I’m scared that I might leave them behind, too.

“Let’s do this,” I breathe out, ducking onto the bow and sinking onto the bench there. I hit Dial and wait, a smile touching my lips despite my nervousness. And a few seconds later, my mom’s voice floats through the line.

“Eden! Hi, darling. It’s so good to hear from you.”

Everything suddenly feels so much better.

My smile grows so much bigger. “Hi, Mom. I’m sorry it took so long to call. Things have been… pretty wild.”

“Yeah? Wild in… a good way?” Mom hesitates, like she doesn’t want to ask, but she can’t help herself. “You sound good, honey.”

“I am. And you’ll never guess why.”

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