Page 19 of The Cruise Back to You

“Wait,” Robin says. “You love me?”

“You love me?” I echo.

“I asked first.”

“We said it at the same time!”

“Yes,” Robin says, his voice cracking. “Yes, I love you. I tried not loving you but … I didn’t do it very well. I thought … I thought you didn’t feel the same way anymore.”

I stare at him and shake my head. “Robin, I’ve been in love with you since the day we met. Breaking up nearly destroyed me.”

“But you never talked about the future. Every time I brought up marriage or kids, you changed the subject. I thought you were happy with things the way they were. I thought I wanted more than you could give.”

“I wanted to give you everything,” I say, stepping closer. “A house, a wedding, kids—all of it. I was trying to build financial security first. I wanted to do it right. I wanted to be able to provide for our family.” I run a hand through my hair, frustration and regret clawing at my chest. “I thought you knew how I felt. I thought it was obvious. But I never actually told you, and I lost you, and I’ve regretted it every single day since.”

Robin’s Adam’s apple bobs. His green eyes are shining.

“I thought you didn’t want to marry me,” he whispers.

“I wanted to marry you more than anything.” My voice breaks on the words.

“But last night when I said we should keep it casual, you didn’t argue.”

“Yeah.” I laugh softly, but there’s no humor in it. “I would agree to anything if it meant having you in my arms, baby.”

“I only said it because I was scared.” The confession tumbles out of him. “I was terrified this was just vacation brain. That we’d go back to Pine Ridge and you’d realize it was a mistake. I couldn’t survive losing you twice, Colter. It would break me.”

“It’s not vacation brain.” I close the distance between us until we’re inches apart. I cup his face, thumb brushing across his cheekbone, tracing the freckles I’ve missed so much. “I want you, Robin. It’s always been just you.”

“I want you too,” he breathes. “I never stopped wanting you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

A sharp slapping sound comes from behind us. I turn to see Jules and Marc high-fiving each other, matching grins stretching across their faces.

“We knew it,” Jules says triumphantly. “We knew you two were still in love.”

“This is incredibly satisfying,” Marc adds, practically bouncing in the pod. “Just so you know, all that scheming? Worth it.”

“Glad our emotional breakthrough is entertaining for you,” I say dryly. But I’m smiling, and my hand finds Robin’s, our fingers intertwining like they belong there. Like they were always meant to be linked.

Then Robin’s tongue darts out to wet his lips, and every thought except one flies out of my head. “I need to spend time alone with you,” I say, my voice low. “Right now.”

A shiver runs through him. I feel it where our hands are joined. “I’m very on board with that.”

I start pulling him toward the exit. But halfway there, I stop and turn back to Marc.

“You’re kicked out,” I announce. “I have a new roommate.”

Marc’s jaw drops.

Jules reaches over and takes Marc’s hand, tugging him close until Marc is practically in his lap again. “I’ll take you in, sweet cheeks,” Jules says, his voice warm and impossibly fond.

Marc melts into Jules’s side, and the look they share is so tender, so intimate, that something loosens in my chest. My best friend is in love. Really, truly in love.

And so am I.