AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t believe you even a little bit.” Avery’s eyebrows raise. “The kiss you had on stage with Nico yesterday was something special.”
“You know I like to be flashy.” I attempt to dodge the topic.
“Mhmm,” she says, seemingly unconvinced. “You also don’t like wearing your heart on your sleeve.”
“I don’t think putting vital organs on display is advised by medical professionals.”
“Sure, lover girl, you can try keeping up thismade of stoneact as long as you want, but I know you better than that.” Avery shrugs, but she doesn’t pry any further.
A beat passes between us, and I clear my throat. “Tell me about what newlyweds do on their honeymoon and all about Molly’s yacht.”
“Well, there’s been a lot of yoga, like the session you won yesterday, and plenty of stretching off of the mat.” Avery giggles. “Honestly, I still can’t believe I’m gonna be a mom.”
“Well, as long as you had sex in the captain’s quarters, you’ll be the coolest mom I know.”
Chapter35
Nico
“Why didyou think this was a good idea?” Luca sits on the front bench of the kayak, rowing us deeper into the ocean as if we’re racing against another boat.
Except there’s no one else out here.
My back is tired from trying to keep up with his swift pace.
“This is fun!” I yell.
Confessing my feelings about Lily to my uptight brother, right in the middle of open water, may not have been my best-laid plan ever. But there’s no way he’d litter the ocean with my strangled body when he’s the CEO of an ocean conservation firm.
Right?
“We couldn’t each have our own kayak?” Luca complains.
“Much more fun than kayaking alone.” My biceps burn, and I regret not going to the resort spa with Lily and Avery instead.
Although, the lavender incident may keep me off skincare for a bit longer.
“Just admit you missed me, bro.” I use one of the paddles to send a splash of water at him.
“Missed you? Look, I don’t want this to come off harsh, but I just married the love of my life, and now we’re expecting a child. I’ve barely had time to think about anything else.”
There’s no use trying to argue.
After a few more rounds of paddling through the water and a painfully heavy silence crushing me in my seat, it’s time to rip off the Band-Aid.
“I’m moving back to New York.”
The ferocious rowing stops.
Luca doesn’t turn to face me. Instead, he sits perfectly still until he clears his throat. “Does that decision have anything to do with a certain woman named Lily?”
Duh.
After last night’s kiss and, well, this entire summer, there’s no use denying Lily and I are a hell of a lot more than friends. I don’t need Luca’s approval to pursue her, but I want it. I need him to understand this matters to me in so many more ways than a random hookup or a finicky relationship ever did.
I’m not eighteen anymore.
I’m not the irresponsible little brother who fucks everything up.
