Page 72 of Deep Waters
“I love you.”
I arched, brushing his mouth with mine. Reveling in the freedom to share my feelings with him.
“I’m going to miss Tae and Hana,” I admitted.
Zach dropped a teasing kiss on the corner of my mouth. “Give me a minute, and we can start on our own family.”
I snorted, laughing. “Hold up, Fenwick. Jia and the kids are downstairs.”
His devilish grin did wicked things to my insides. “We can be quiet.”
“No, we can’t. We’re supposed to bepacking.”
“And I’ll be packing you with my—”
“Enough. Let’s get back to the boats.”
“Only if you promise to stay with me tonight.”
“I’ll stay with youeverynight.”
“Fine,” he huffed. He helped me from the bed, holding on to my hand a beat longer than necessary.
“We’re packing,” I said, uneasy with the glint in his gaze. It said he was tempted to tumble me back onto the sheets, and my willpower was fading quickly.
We were moving in together. Talking about babies. Who even were we? But the air crackled with possibilities. Anticipation roared beneath my skin.
Once upon a time, I’d viewed Simon as the answer to my problems, denying myself other wants. Other needs. It may have taken almost ten years, but I’d finally learned that I didn’t want that kind of solution. One that left me lonely. I wanted a partner. Someone I could laugh with, could love. Together, Zach and I had already proven that we could tackle uncertainty. Fear. Misunderstandings. Through it all, he’d been there for me. Seen me. Even when my own family hadn’t.
I couldn’t pinpoint the moment when friendship turned to love, but it didn’t make it any less strong, sure, or lasting.
“That soft look in your eyes is too seductive, Captain. I want to get you back to my boat so I can plunder you.”
“Are we pirates now?” I teased.
“If it means you’re going to shiver my timbers later?Yes.”
***
Arriving at Violet’s house hand-in-hand with Zach had a surreal quality to it, but he squeezed gently, as if to reassure me of our welcome. Just a few weeks ago, I was involved with Simon. Now, I was dating her brother. Vi and I had barely seen each other since the family dinner with her parents, and we’d had no private time to talk. She’d said she forgave me. But that was before Zach and I started dating.
A sudden awkwardness caught me off guard. Slowly, our relationship dynamic was shifting. First, Anya and Drew became a couple. Now, Zach and I were together.
“There are our conquering heroes,” Vi called out as Zach and I removed our shoes at the back door. “Welcome.”
My friend smiled at us, emerging from the kitchen. Her house was perfect for our group, with an open floor plan between the living room, kitchen, and postage-stamp dining area. Vi seemed driven to feed everyone, and we took ruthless advantage, gathering at her house whenever she put out the invitation.
“Thanks, but I don’t know about heroes,” I said.
“You’re my hero,” Zach retorted with a gentle smile. “You took Brandon down single-handedly.”
“You guys are cute, but no one wants to hear you argue about who did it best,” Lucy said from the couch. She, Anya, and Lee were tucked in on the sofa, with Drew and Anya snuggled in the chair opposite.
Seeing gruff Drew, his expression downright moony over Anya as he stroked her hand, still threw me. He’d always seemed so self-contained, but he acted as if they’d been a couple forever. Anya appeared similarly peaceful, the shadow of fear that used to shade her features in unguarded moments gone.
“Yeah, we’re curious about the important stuff, like when you decided to finally give in to the sparks between you.”
“Suit yourself, honey. I do not want to hear about my brother’s romantic prowess.”
