“Want to head to bed?” I whisper.
Her gaze swings to mine, dazed and exhausted. “We probably should.” She mumbles, speech slurred from the slight booze intake and tiredness.
“But you want to spend more time with them, don’t you?”
She nods. “Is that okay?”
Before I can answer, Amara stands up from the table, dragging Mabel with her. “We’re calling it a night, see you bright and early.” Nadine and Bobby agree, wrestling their still babbling baby into their arms, no doubt preparing for a sleepless night ahead.
Cyrus stands to embrace Amara, saying goodnight as a hidden goodbye.
Even though we have plans to see them off in the morning, this moment has too much meaning to dare interrupt.
“Make sure you look after her, okay?” Mabel whispers to me.
I spare her a glance before training my gaze back on to my girl, still clutched against Amara. “Always.”
Everyone from the inner circle starts to filter out, not before Cyrus receives hugs from them all.
When she turns to me, eyes now misty with unshed tears, I debate whether letting her stay on the ship would have been better. The errant thought only lasts a few seconds before she’s clasping me tight. Holding me closer than she did with any of her crew mates.
“Let’s head to bed.” She whispers in my ear.
I don’t deny her, just grab her hand, entwine it with mine and take her inside.
We’re both silent as we strip off. I climb into bed first, laying with my head on a pillow, as I watch Cyrus finish undressing. There’s nothing sexual about it tonight. Just purely watching her get ready for bed.
She climbs in and instantly lays her head on my chest, wrapping her arms around my middle, laying her leg over mine and tucking her foot beneath my calf.
“Can you hold me tonight please?”
As if she even needed to ask. My arms come up around her, one hand landing in her hair as the other rests on her back. Playing with the strands of hair until she melts against me.
“How are you feeling?” Keeping my voice low, not wanting to disturb the peace of the room.
“Tired.” Is her first answer, but she isn’t finished. “Sad, excited,worried.”
My arms clench tighter with each emotion she expresses. “It’s okay to feel all of that.”
She sighs into my skin, burying her face deeper between the swells of my chest. “I know. I’m worried about this mission, if August will purposely lose Mary to enact it on her own. Sad because they’re my family, but I’m excited too. I’m so happy to finally figure out what I want. And I want you and everything that entails.”
Emotion clogs my throat, prohibiting me from responding. Her breaths fall slow and steady– she’s asleep with no expectation of an answer, I doubt she’ll even remember telling me this in the morning.
But she needs to know, even if she’s unconscious, she’s it for me too.
“I love you, dove. Always.”
Epilogue
CYRUS
The weather is too bright and sunny for how I’m feeling this morning.
Watching everyone prepare the ship for leaving, whilst I’m down on the dock doing nothing of notable value, hurts.
I’m excited to stay, Iwantto stay. I just don’t want them to leave either.
Mabel barks out orders as she walks off the ship, heading towards me with a grin. “I think I’m quite good at this first mate business.”
