AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My chest burns with a truth I don’t want to think about. She’s right. She’ll get married someday. Please for the love of all that’s holy, don’t let it be to Troy. Or to anyone even remotely like Troy.
I’ve fixated on him—I know that. I’m starting to figure out that maybe he’s just a representation of something much larger at play in my mind here.
“Well, I’m not ready to give it up quite yet,” I say. “Besides, I’ll be living here still for this year’s closing night. No worries there. And for next year’s, I’m hoping there’ll be cause for celebration since construction on our Capri resort better be underway. I’ll definitely want to come and eat a milkshake with you.”
Something simmers in her golden-flecked eyes, her irises lined with a darker brown. She’s holding back, and alarm pricks up along my neck. If she wants to be done with closing night, I…I have to respect her wishes.
There’s a shift in her expression as she leans forward and points past me. “It’s the black ibis!” She stares, and I rest the oars and turn to look. There are three, with long, spindly legs, and black and maroon feathers. They’re on the shore on the far side of the lake, which we’re nearing now.
“So that’s where they’ve gone,” she says. And then, in a whisper, she adds, “I love their gracefully pointy beaks.” Her voice is sweet, almost like a coo. It reminds me of how she talks to her dog, Wilford.
The wind picks up and her body tilts to one side. “Whoa!” She laughs, and then grips the bench on either side of her.
I take one pull of the oars before she gasps. “My bracelet!”
“Your what? What happened?”
She rotates to peer over the side of the boat. “I think my bracelet fell off when I saw the ibis.”
“Ye lost yer wristlet in the drink?” I say, giving her my best pirate captain accent. “I’ll fetch it for you, my lady.”
“Your accent is way off. It’s like Pirates of the Caribbean’s Aussie little brother.”
I laugh. “I should probably just stick to the Oliver accent from now on.”
She gazes at me, her lips curled into a lazy smile. “No, I like the stupid accents. It’s part of your charm.”
“I have charm?” I can’t help teasing her with a grin. Anytime she’s nice like this, I have to draw it out.
“About this much, yes.” She measures half an inch with her pointer finger and thumb.
I shake my head and move the oar in the water, peering in to try to find the bracelet.
“Was it gold? Silver?”
“It was diamond. Worth about twenty grand.”
I glance at her in surprise, and she laughs. “I had to try. You might have felt bad enough to offer me some compensation.”
“No way. You’re the one who lost it.”
“Or.” She lifts a finger, her smile growing. “You could have dived in after it.” She leans back on her hands, her eyes challenging me.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I remove my phone from my pocket and stow it beneath me. I take off my shirt. I’m shy for a second. Yeah, I lift weights and run on the beach on the resort side of the lake. I know I’m not bad to look at. But I’ve acknowledged to myself that I care what Sophie thinks of me.
“Wait.” She starts laughing and then covers her mouth with both hands. “I wasn’t serious, Oliver.”
“Are you laughing at my body?” I stick my belly out to make it round and rub my hand over it like I’m pregnant. That’s what I do. I make people laugh. And my favorite person to make laugh is Sophie.
She stands up carefully, widening her stance so she doesn’t fall overboard. “No.” Her expression is serious. “I’m definitely not laughing at your body.” Her gaze sweeps over me for one brief moment before landing on my face again.
Mercy me, Sophie. You can’t look at me like that.
We’re in a standoff, playing chicken, the heat from her gaze reeling me in. I hate the plank of wood that’s between us. I need to get closer to her at all costs.
I either step over this plank and kiss her, or dive in.
Without thought, I choose the safer, less confusing route and hate myself for it. I grunt as I hit the surface. The water is bone cold.
