Page 54 of Unstable

“Do you like to fish?”

“Not at all.” She shook her head. “I tried it once, but I just can’t get into it.”

“Can’t sit still that long?” he teased.

“There is that,” she said with a smile. “But really, I just hate the feel of those tiny, slippery, scaly bodies.”

Roman laughed. “I should’ve known. If it’s slimy or creepy, you want nothing to do with it.”

A grin spread over her face. “Pretty much. I’m not super girly, but that’s one thing I just can’t do.”

“It’s not for everybody,” he said easily.

Silence descended once more, and they made their way to the end of the pier. There were no lamps overhead now that they were out this far, only the moon and stars twinkling overhead, their reflection glowing on the dark water below. The waves gently lapped against the piles supporting the pier, and the slight breeze carried any sound away. Like this, it was as if Roman and Irina were out in the middle of nowhere, in their own little world. The wind picked up, and she pulled her sweater more tightly around herself. The skirt of her dress swirled around her knees, plastering the fabric to her body.

She leaned her elbows against the railing and stared out at the endless body of water in front of her. Next to her, Roman did the same. After several long moments, she broke the silence. “Sometimes I never want to go back.”

Roman slid a look her way. “The beach life seems way more fun because it’s different. But you’d miss your life back home.”

“Maybe.” But she knew better. She loved singing, but she hated the industry, having to always put on a happy face and pretend everything was perfect, even when she felt like she was dying inside. Here, with Roman, there was no pressure. “Here, I feel… free. I feel happy.”

“Nothing good can ever last.”

His words were soft, and she sighed. “I know. But I’m not ready for it to end yet.”

He nodded slowly. “I know.”

They stood there for nearly a minute, just looking up at the stars. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d just stopped and stared up at them. They were so bright, so clear, and it reminded her of how very small she was. It was humbling, reminding her to be thankful for everything good in her life. Mostly, she was grateful for the man next to her who’d made this experience so incredible. “Thank you for doing this.”

He tipped his head to one side. “Walking with you?”

“No, just… This. Everything.”

She couldn’t look at him, but she could feel the weight of his gaze as he turned toward her. “What do you mean?”

The breeze whipped a strand of hair across her face, and she brushed it away before tilting her head up to him. “We haven’t always gotten along, so I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you going along with all of this.”

He studied her for a second. “You know I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to.”

A wry smile tipped the corners of her lips. She doubted anyone could make Roman do something he didn’t want to do. But being coerced into getting married was probably a stretch, even for him. “I know you don’t really like me, but⁠—”

He straightened suddenly, turning toward her. “I don’t know why you keep saying that.”

She mimicked his actions, tipping her head slightly to one side. “What?”

Vivid blue eyes stared down at her, turned icy gray in the moonlight. “That I don’t like you. Why do you keep saying that?”

Heat climbed into her cheeks, and she shrugged. “Because it’s true.”

“It’s not true. I’ve never said that.”

“You didn’t have to,” she countered. “This whole thing was my idea, and I dragged you into it.”

“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to,” he reiterated.

She rolled her eyes. “Right, because⁠—”

Her words were immediately cut off, replaced by a gasp of surprise as his heavy palm curled around the back of her neck. Her hands flew up, bracing against his firm chest as he tugged her close. Those crystalline eyes bored into hers before dropping to her lips.