I watch as Luna and Calvin also hold hands, walking up the hill away from the beach and more towards the thick tree line behind the house.
“So, how were your speed dates today?” I ask as casually as I can.
Which, in case you were wondering, I epically failed at. Cringing to myself, I hope he doesn’t notice.
He so does, though.
“They were fine. One definitely stood out, if I’m honest,” he says with a smirk.
“Yeah?” I ask, trying to hide the hope in my tone.
Again, I fail miserably. God, it’s like I totally lost the bad bitch in me when I came to this island. I used to be cool, aloof, confident. Now, here I am like a jealous fumbling idiot.
When Noah and I turn the corner, I see a little beach picnic set up with a bottle of champagne, some light snacks and rose petals everywhere.
We both stop when we see it and share a look before smiling and walking towards it. Noah takes a seat first, gesturing for me to come sit beside him, which I gladly take him up on, nestling intohis side. He presses a kiss to the top of my head, and I can’t help but let out a little sigh of relief. Everything feels so easy with him, so natural. I mean, come on, I’m getting this hung up on a guy I’ve known for just a few days. That isn’t like me or even normal. I think I’m gonna call it “the island effect” because seriously, what else could it be?
“What about you?” Noah asks as he reaches for the bottle of champagne and begins undoing the foil around the cork.
“Hm?”
“Was your speed date with Shane so good that you wanted more?” he asks with a quirked brow.
“Oh, um… If I’m being honest, I didn’t know who to choose besides you for the mini dates… so, yeah.” I laugh awkwardly, ducking my head because my God, did I really just admit that out loud?
Noah chuckles, popping the champagne and pouring it into the two waiting glasses before handing me one.
“I wish I could say I was sorry, but I really like hearing that,” he admits.
I smirk. “Yeah?”
He gives me a look that says he doesn’t buy my brush-off for a moment before smiling. His glass clinks against mine as we both take a sip.
Holy hell. That has to be the best champagne I’ve ever tasted. Glancing at the bottle, I notice that it actually doesn’t have a label. It’s just a black bottle. Weird but delicious.
“I feel like we haven’t gotten to talk much since getting here,” I say.
He nods. “I agree. Tell me something, anything?”
I think for a moment. “In the fifth grade, I burped the ABCs forward and backward for the school talent show, and I won.”
Noah lets out a surprised laugh that seems to consume his entire body. “What? That was the last thing I was expecting.”
I shrug. “Hey, you said tell you anything. I did.”
He tries to smother his laughter but doesn’t do a great job by any means.
“You’re right. Next time, I’ll be more specific like, do you have any animals, what are your parents’ names and so on.”
I laugh too, but it doesn’t carry the same carefree tone.
“What about you?” I ask him. “Do you have any animals?”
“Not right now. I work a lot, but one day I want a couple of dogs. I grew up having several, and I loved it. It’s good for a kid, I think.”
I nod in agreement. “I’ve never had a pet, but I have heard people say that. I mean, unless you count the time I stole the class gerbil because I wanted a friend.”
“What?” Noah snickers, shaking his head in disbelief.
