No. The visions dancing through my mind are of two other people. One is myself, a version of me who’s published my first book and happily celebrating. Next to me is Ronin, pulling me in for a hug and brushing his lips across mine in the faintest of kisses.
My fingers drift to my mouth of their own accord, and I have to shake myself out of my daydream to remind myself that it’s just that—a dream.
Chapter Twenty-Three
RONIN
“You want to go camping? In April?”
My voice comes out as incredulous as I feel. Evan has just invited me on a camping trip with him and Cat, Bree and Brooklyn, and Mel. In April. When it’s still fucking cold as hell outside.
“Dude, it’ll be fine! I’ve done spring camping trips plenty of times. Where we’re going, it won’t be that bad. The falls won’t even be frozen.”
“Won’t even be frozen—do you hear yourself?”
Evan scoffs. “You’ll barely feel it.” He looks to our other drinking companion, Kian. “You in, bro? Don’t be lame like Ronin. Come have fun and see some fucking nature!” He places a card down on my dining table before leaning back in his chair, relaxed.
Kian chuckles, lifting his beer to his lips. “Oh, how I wish I could join you on what sounds like an incredibly promising weekend, but I’m afraid I cannot.”
Evan quirks an eyebrow at his friend. “What could be more important than bonding time with us?” He gestures between him and I.
“I have to work this weekend, man. We’ve been slammed atthe restaurant. Tourists are out early this year, I swear.” Kian shakes his head. “We’ve had to hire four new employees already, and it’s not even May.”
“Ouch,” I wince. Double Shot hasn’t seen that large of an uptick in business yet.
Kian works at a very gimmicky tourist attraction nearby called Parlay. It’s exactly what one would envision when thinking of a pirate-themed seafood place. It draws in crowds year-round. I’ve gotten to know Kian over the last couple of years, and now that we’re both in the wedding party, we’ve been spending more time together, along with the other groomsmen Luke, Chris, and Ishaan.
“Alright, alright. But I’m holding you to the next one, then,” Evan relents. “Ro, you in, man?”
I sip my beer, considering. “Mellie already said she’s going?” I try to keep my tone casual, but I can tell Evan sees right through that bullshit.
“Yes, my very single and available sister is coming with us,” he digs. “Something tells me this trip could be one of those perfectorganicopportunities you’ve been sitting on your ass waiting for.”
My heart clenches. “Alright, I’m in.”
Kian laughs lightly. “That didn’t take much, huh?” he teases.
“When you’re old and wise like me, my friend, you know what you want and refuse to settle for anything less. You’ll get there one day, once you leave puberty.” I stand from my dining room table just in time to dodge a punch in the arm from Kian. I love to tease them both about being younger than me. “Let’s deal a new hand. I’ll get refills.”
Kian takes over as dealer, shuffling the deck of cards as I enter my kitchen. My heart beats in my chest as a rush of adrenaline floods my body, the warmth coming from more than just the alcohol. I briefly consider texting Mellie, using the camping trip as yet another excuse to reach out, and I even go so far as pulling my phone out of my pocket. But I hesitate—I don’t need to drunk-text her tonight. She’s probably busy. Or sleeping.
OrdoI?
Damn it. This is why I hate drinking. I shove my phone in my back pocket and grab three more beers from the fridge before heading back to the table.
Kian is dealing a new hand as I take my seat once more, handing out fresh drinks.
“So, is this when you finally make your move, Ro?” Kian smirks. “It’s been like, what, ten years that you’ve been pining away?”
“More than that, but who’s counting?” I pick up my cards. “I don’t know yet. It’s hard to plan something like this. I want it to feel natural, not like I’m coming on to her out of nowhere.”
“I don’t think a single person in Blue Fields would say it’sout of nowhere,” Evan quips. “You two haven’t exactly been subtle. You’ve been flirting all over town for months.”
I concede Evan’s point with a laugh, and we play out the hand. Evan curses as he loses yet again to Kian, who lays his cards down on the table and takes a drink, raising an eyebrow at me over the rim of the bottle. “So, you gonna profess your love, or just pull her in for a romantic kiss, or what?”
“I guess I’ll just feel it out in the moment,” I reply, tossing my own cards down. I take a swig of beer. My stomach clenches with nerves at the thought of telling Mellie how I feel. Of kissing her, holding her.
Finally.
