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Moving closer to her, I brought my hands up to her face, gently holding her within my grasp. Her breath hitched and she lifted her chin, her lips only a breath away.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’ll be there.”
Without thinking, I pressed my lips to hers, her body melting into mine. Her lips were soft and warm, and I couldn’t help but lose myself in the moment. Kissing her felt like I was home, that a life without her in it was no life at all. When we parted, I looked deep into her eyes, knowing she could see the longing in mine.
“I’ve missed you,” I said, my voice filled with emotion.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling with a mix of happiness and desire. “I’ve missed you, too. I’m curious to see where this goes.”
I kissed her again. “Me too. Goodnight, Everleigh.”
She murmured goodnight to me and I left, feeling more determined than before. I hopped in my Bronco and looked up at the house; Everleigh was still on the back deck, watching me. She waved and I smiled.
One way or another, I wanted her to be mine. I didn’t care how long it took or how hard it would be. I was up for the challenge. All I had to do was make her see that no distance between us could break apart what we had.
20
EVERLEIGH
Ispent the morning showing Nyla my most beloved spots in Oak Island: the pier, the lighthouse, and downtown Southport where we visited my parents at their clinic. Then, to wrap up our day, we got manicures.
It was almost two o’clock now, and I was heading to Jensen’s house. I had a feeling I knew what we were going to do; I’d wanted to go to this specific place for years but never took the time due to the memories it evoked.
When I parked, Jensen emerged from his house dressed in jeans and a form-fitting dark gray T-shirt. He walked over to me, gently placed his hand on my hip, and kissed me without a thought—it felt so natural.
“Did you have a good day with Nyla?” he asked, smelling like he’d just showered.
“I did,” I answered before he took my hand and lead me to his Bronco where he opened the passenger’s door for me. “Where are we going?” I inquired.
A knowing smirk spread across his face. “I think you already know. If not, you’ll figure it out in just a few minutes.”
He got in the driver’s seat, and we headed down the road. A few minutes later, we arrived at the ferry entrance where the boat was about to depart for Ft. Fisher.
“Any guesses?” Jensen asked, grinning mischievously.
Excitement rushed through me and I laughed. “We’re going to the aquarium.”
He reached over and grabbed my hand. “I know you love it there. Then, when we get back, I’m cooking you dinner.”
I squeezed his hand and smiled, feeling my cheeks flush with desire and anticipation. As we boarded the ferry, I couldn’t help but feel relieved that I let go of the past. So much time had been wasted, but now, Jensen was here . . . with me. We could do things differently this time. All I knew was I was happy and didn’t want to let it go.
The ride to Ft. Fisher was short, and soon we were walking through the aquarium’s cool and dimly lit halls. I could feel Jensen’s eyes on me as I marveled at the colorful sea creatures swimming around us.
We made our way through the different exhibits, holding hands and taking our time to admire the beauty of the ocean. The aquarium had expanded over the years, and seeing all the new additions was nice.
Finally, we reached the main attraction, a massive tank filled with sharks of all sizes. I stood in awe as I watched them glide through the water, their powerful bodies moving with grace and ease.
Jensen stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he whispered in my ear.
I nodded, feeling a shiver run down my spine as his warm breath tickled my neck. “Yes, it is,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
His touch was gentle, his body warm against mine. I turned in his arms and looked up at him, the desire in his eyes making my heart skip a beat. There was no one else around . . . it was just us. Without saying a word, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. We were lost in each other, and I melted into his kiss. But the spell was broken when his cell started to ring.
Groaning, Jensen broke away and reached into his back pocket for his phone. It was probably for the best, considering we weren’t alone anymore. A young couple with three small kids ventured into the shark exhibit, their gazes lit with wonder at all the sharks. Jensen and I moved over to a corner so we wouldn’t be in the way of the family.
“It’s Seth,” Jensen said, accepting the call. He put the phone to his ear and smiled. “Hey, brother. What’s up?”
Seth was Jensen’s best friend growing up besides me; we always hung out together. I had yet to see him since I’ve been back. I moved closer to Jensen and leaned against him while he talked to Seth. It just so happened that I could hear him through the phone.
