Page 64 of Seas the Dating Coach

I need to find a way to incorporate Vivian into my plans and hope to all that is good in the world that when she finally gets under all my layers, she’ll like what she sees.

“Dang, Vivian,” a voice calls out, tone mirthful. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

We separate enough to see two firefighters in station uniforms—Jonas and Carson, I think?—walking out of the open bay doors of the fire station. They’re both carrying folding beach chairs and energy drinks.

Carson slugs Jonas in the shoulder. “Never mind him,” he calls over the distance before saying to Jonas, “We should have just sat out front.”

“Naw. The bay view is the best perk of being at this station.” Jonas drops into his chair, stretching his legs out toward the water.

We disentangle from each other, my pulse thick in my throat when Vivian frowns at the two men. I should have thought of how we were in the eyeline of anyone outside of the fire station or, really, anyone on the road if they’d been looking between the two buildings. Heck, a fellow class attendee could have wandered out while I was distracted by the soft noises Vivian makes when my lips tug at hers.

“This is going to be all over town tomorrow,” I tell her.

I don’t love the idea of creating another secret when, for the first time in my life, I’m trying to be authentic, but if Vivianneeds me to, I’ll do it. I’m beginning to think I’ll do anything when it comes to her.

“I don’t care. This is my life, and I am finally—finally—taking control of it.” She lets out a punchy exhale with a nod, but then, those gorgeous green eyes snap to mine, and the uncertainty in them slices me open. “I mean, unless…unless you—”

“No.” My tone could cut through granite, but my thumbs are gentle over her freckled cheeks as I frame her face. “Let them talk.”

A bubble of a laugh leaves her lips open. “Tell me how you really feel about it.”

“Don’t tempt me, gorgeous.” My head tilts as I give her a seductive smile.

Vivian’s eyes go wide as she sucks in a stuttered breath. It’s not until this moment that I realize I’ve never unleashed my full flirtatious power on Vivian. What fun it would be to watch her squirm under the attention. I hover my lips an inch from hers, teasingly, when a loud whistle sounds.

Jonas takes two fingers out of his mouth. “Maybe pack it in? A lot of people walk the road in the evenings.”

Vivian drops her forehead onto my shoulder with a giggle. The sound is oddly addicting. I not only want to hear it again, I want to beits source.

“It’s not that we’re not happy for you both, but you know…” Carson points east toward the rest of town.

I nod at the two men, raising an open palm to them before setting it at the base of Vivian’s spine to steer her back to class.

Tomorrow, there will likely be some sort of small-town social payment for getting caught up in the moment, but I don’t give a single care. Vivian makes everything better by just breathing. Whatever is coming our way, I’ll handle it. I’ve already weathered this town’s cold shoulder. Let’s see them do their worst.

twenty-eight

Vivian

Pepper’s fluffy tail swats my face, waking me. I split open one eye and groan when I catch the first strands of early morning light beyond my curtains. It’s way too early for me to be awake, especially since I was up late replaying that incredible kiss. I thought embarrassment over being caught would seep into the memory and taint it, but nope. I would kiss Finn Reynolds in front of Santa and everyone during the town’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony if given the opportunity.

A happy hum harmonizes with Pepper’s purring as I turn over, burrowing deeper beneath my floral duvet. I only get two seconds of snuggly warmth before my bedroom door flies open.

“We need to talk.” Brynn plops herself on the edge of my bed, one leg tucked under her. My cat skitters to the floor and out my open door, but Brynn softens my rude awakening by extending an iced coffee in my direction.

It seems it hasn’t taken long for news of last night’s events to reach gossip central. My eyes catch the time as I push myself up against the headboard—5:55 a.m. Honestly, it’s shocking it took almost a half hour for someone to report to Brynn.

“Thanks.” I take the proffered coffee with one hand while rubbing my eyes with the other.

“Well?” Brynn prompts.

“Well, what?”

Annoyance brews in my veins because her tone and body language are giving stern-sister-talkin’-to vibes, not oh-my-gosh-you-kissed-a-hot-guy-I’m-so-excited-for-you energy. I was so happy for her when she and Noah hit it off years ago. And yeah, that ended in a dumpster fire, but it’s been her choice not to date any of the other eligible men in Wilks Beach since. If Brynn chose to, I’d be ecstatic for her. Why the heck can’t she be happy for me?

“Why the heck can’t you be happy for me?”

My twin’s face mirrors the shock resonating down my arms. I just said that out loud? Wait. You know what? Yeah. I’m leaning into this new chapter of not only speaking in general but speaking my mind.

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