Page 100 of Julian

Confusion moved through me, disconcerting against the warmth wrapped around us. “What are you talking about?”

Her smile deepened. “You’re with her,” Kylie whispered.

It was an odd thing to say given the circumstances. What was she saying? “Kylie…,” I said. “You’re—”

Then she put her fingers on my lips before pushing the blankets back and sliding gracefully out of bed. “Come on,” she said over her shoulder. “Let’s go watch the sunrise.”

I followed her out through the open doors of the bedroom and onto the deck of the yacht I named after her. The ocean stretched around us, the world still basking in that blue-gray hush that comes before dawn. Then the sunrise began.

The Bahamas has the best sunrises. It’s why I chose to come here every year with her.

Kylie stepped beside the railing barefoot, one hand resting against the wood while the breeze blew strands of hair around her face. I looked at her and felt it all over again. That overwhelming love that rearranges your entire life around another person without you even realizing it’s happening.

I moved closer behind her instinctively, my chest brushing softly against her back. “I love you,” I said quietly against her hair and into her right ear.

She smiled toward the horizon. “I know.”

She turned slowly to face me then, sunlight beginning to catch warm amber inside her eyes.

“I love you more than anything,” I whispered. Emotion climbed unexpectedly into my throat.

Kylie lifted her hand and touched my cheek. “I know, Julian.”

I reached for her, wanting to pull her into me, needing to touch her… but she stepped back with a playful smile. “Wait.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise? I don’t need any surprises. I have you.”

“No, Julian. You’ll want this one. I promise.” Her smile turned mischievous now, younger somehow. “Cover your eyes.”

“Kylie…”

“Julian.”

I smiled helplessly and finally lifted both hands over my eyes. “Happy?”

“Are you actually covering them?”

“Yes.”

“No peeking.”

“I’m not peeking, babe. I promise.”

Then her voice lowered theatrically. “Abracadabra…”

I smiled.

“… and voila.”

She tapped my shoulder. “Open them,” she insisted.

I lowered my hands slowly.

At first, I didn’t understand what I was supposed to be seeing. Just the shoreline in the distance, white sand glowing beneath the rising sun, palm trees swaying in the breeze.