Her expression remained stiff and unyielding. “Across the sand and straight through Laura’s hut?”
“Across the water.” I lowered my lips to hers, letting the kiss linger. “It’s you I love. It’s you I’m going to marry. You know that, don’t you?”
Her lips grew thin with a grim expression as she gave a stilted nod. “I love you, too.”
“I’ve actually been thinking.” I lifted my hand to hers, sliding my palm under her fingers. “What do you think about me asking Laura to work three days a week and then I could work the opposite three?”
Her eyes lit up. “Could you do that?”
“Of course I can.”
“Nick, I don’t want you to do that for me. I trust you, you know that.”
“I do,” I confirmed, rubbing my nose against hers. “But I don’t want you to have to worry. Laura is my best friend, but you are going to be my wife.” She was unable to conceal her smile then. “And I’m going to ask Andy to be my best man, I think.”
She raised a brow. “You are?”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and…I can’t not invite Laura—”
“I’d never ask you to do that—”
I put up a hand to interrupt her. “I know. Because you’re perfect.” I kissed her again, unable to stop. “You’re perfect, and you deserve for that day to be everything you have dreamed, so I understand why given my feelings in the past you wouldn’t feel comfortable with her being in the wedding. Plus, Andy will throw me a killer bachelor party.” I winked.
She groaned, slapping my chest playfully. “Are you sure about all of this? I promised you that I wouldn’t cause issues with you and Laura. I love her. I love you. I don’t want you to lose your best friend.”
I squeezed her thigh. “You’re my best friend now. It’s time I started proving it.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, looking up at me with hopeful eyes.
“I love you, Nick London.”
“I love you, too, Megan Graham. More than you know.” I kissed her nose, then her lips, ending the conversation.
It was a conversation we’d had before, but one that I never grew comfortable with. Megan came from a family of talkers, of lovers, people who flourished under good communication and soft tones. I was raised in a family of chaos, three older brothers, cats and dogs running around, a mother who was a teacher and worked at the local grocery store three nights a week to help make ends meet. My father was a dentist, too, starting the practice I eventually took over, but in those days, the profit was less and the hours were longer. There was love in my house, sure, but we expressed it differently. We didn’t talk much, unless it was an argument, and everyone had a short temper. Blame it on our fiery Greek blood.
When we broke apart, the worry was all but gone from her face. “Are you serious about splitting up days with Laura?”
I nodded, though I hadn’t thought of it until that exact moment. “It wouldn’t hurt the business, and it would give me more time with you. Maybe I could even help you with the bakery.”
“As long as you don’t go near the ovens.” She laughed. “Lord knows you burn water.”
“I’m not that bad.” I ran a hand over my forehead, relieved the argument had been avoided.
When she spoke again, her voice was soft. Hesitant. “I never want you to do anything you aren’t comfortable with. I trust you, Nicky. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”
It felt as if my heart squeezed in my chest at her words. Physical pain radiated through me at her trusting, hopeful expression. How in the world had I gotten so lucky? Why hadn’t the angel in front of me kicked me to the curb already, to be with someone much more deserving than I? “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. I had feelings for Laura once, like I’ve admitted to you, but Brad’s a great guy. They’re my friends. I’d never do anything to jeopardize that, or this.” I rested my hands on her hips. “I love you, Megan. More than anything or anyone else.” She leaned forward to kiss my lips, and I saw a glint of tears in her eyes.
“I love you, too,” she whispered, her voice holding no power. When we broke apart, she lifted the bag back to her lap, digging inside. As she discovered her phone, she pulled it up and turned it on. I ran a hand through her wavy blonde hair and tucked it behind her ear. She smelled of warm sunscreen and coconuts, her skin glowing from the tanning oil she’d applied. I ran a hand over the bathing suit cover she was wearing, white with purple, pink, and blue flowers across it. It was see-through, just enough that I could see the bright orange bikini top and black shorts underneath.
“There may be a problem…” Megan said, looking up at me. I glanced at her phone screen as she hit the button to place the call, a call we’d paid the phone company fifty extra dollars this month to be able to make without roaming charges. A black box filled the screen.
No Service.
Call Disconnected.
Chapter Eight
Andy
I jogged up the stairs to the top floor of the hut as soon as our steward left us. “Babe, you’ve got to see it up here!” I looked out the window in front of me, checking out the awesome view of the ocean. It was like paradise here, straight out of a movie. I’d never seen anything so perfect.
Below me, Emily was taking advantage of the scenery by placing her camera on the shelf, propped up on her favorite of her phone holders. She was always so inventive with ways to use the self-timer on her phone and creative with her photo ideas. It was what made her rocket
