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We spend a few minutes on the deck before he leads me inside the main cabin.
It’s gorgeous and modern, no question.
Despite the weird tension that still has me checking my phone every few minutes, excitement bubbles up in my chest.
Sei whales.
We’re going to be riding off into the sunset, sipping champagne, and seeing freakingsei whales.
Another dream come true, and all because of him.
The excitement must be contagious. Molly barks and spins in a circle, getting her leash wrapped around her lanky legs.
“See? She’s almost as pumped as I am,” I joke.
Shepherd smiles softly as he glances at me and then the dog, but he doesn’t make any move to hold me again.
I’m worried that kiss was an anomaly.
Something he only did because he couldn’t help himself.
Did he need it like medicine? To soothe the same melancholy that keeps eating me alive?
Sigh.
I hate goodbyes with a vengeance.
Especially when all I want is for him to hold me and kiss me just like he did after we left Adriana and Meghan stewing at the restaurant.
No one ever held me quite like that.
It made me realize it’s been so long since I truly felt safe, sure about what I’m doing with my life.
All the drama in the world doesn’t matter when I’m in his arms, anchored to his massive chest.
We can take on the entire world together.
Alone, there are cracks.
Big ones, splinters, a thousand different reasons we shouldn’t be together.
I’m desperately trying not to hurt.
I don’t even know how to enjoy the moments we still have left.
So I dig my fingers into Molly’s fur for support, counting my breaths.
This is fine.
We’re going to have fun this evening.
We’re going to see the whales.
And whatever happens next isn’t up to me.
“Is Molly holding up all right?” Shepherd asks as he joins me at the window, the husky happily watching with her tongue out. “Do you need—”
“She’s fine.” I wish I could say the same.
