“Better,” I smile at him. “Such a gorgeous face.”
He smiles back. “Thank you, Liz.”
“You’re welcome. I think you needed to get that stuff off your chest as much as I needed to hear it. Thank you for trusting me enough to let me in. I’m sorry that you have had to live with that for the past year. Promise me that if you ever start to feel that guilt again, come talk to me first. Don’t allow it to fester and rot inside of you.”
He nods his head again. “So. You and Ryder, huh?”
“Yes. Me and Ryder.”
“Lucky bastard.”
“Honestly? I think I’m the lucky one.”
“Do you think he would mind if I kissed you one last time?”
“I don’t think he would. He would understand the reason behind it. I think Elijah would too.”
“Wouldyoumind if I kissed you one last time?”
I look back down the beach. Ryder, Elijah, and Jayson are just specks on the horizon. We must have walked over half a mile down the shoreline. Julien turns my face back toward his and tips mine up. He’s a good six inches taller than I am. He bends down, and his lips meet mine in a soft barely-there airbrush of the lips. It’s simple yet beautiful. We clasp hands once again and make our way back to the group.
“Jay isn’t going to be happy about you and Ryder.”
“I had a feeling he wouldn’t, but it’s not his choice. Are you okay with me being with Ryder?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I love my brother. But Ry is one of the best men I have ever known. The sacrifices he made to allow you to find your happiness with Jayson — his capacity for loving you is boundless, Liz. There is no other person I would be happier that you are with than him.”
“Wow. That was really eloquently put.”
“I have my moments.”
I splash his feet with the fringes of a dissipating wave that rolls ashore at our feet. Julien splashes me back, making me giggle.
“I really do love him, Julien.”
“Then that’s all that matters. I won’t tell E or Jay until you give me the go-ahead. You kept my secret about Elijah, so I can keep yours.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Ry was with you last night, wasn’t he?”
My eyes widen. “Are we being that obvious?”
Julien chuckles. “Not at all. You guys have played some good poker faces all day. I kind of figured out something was up when Jay said Ry spent the night at Fallon’s. He hates that place.”
“What is it with this Fallon guy? I’ve heard stuff from passing conversations on campus. I know he and Ryder hang out. What’s the big deal about him?”
“Where do I begin? Actually, ask Ry about him since he knows him best. All I can say is that I think Fallon had a thing for you, but you never gave him the time of day. I could be wrong, though.”
We’re almost back to where we laid down our towels. I look for Ryder but it’s hard to make out shapes as the sun has almost set, the sky growing ever darker with each passing minute. Jayson and Elijah are sitting down on the sand near the cooler. Where’s my man? Julien notices me looking and points to the ocean. Ryder is laying on his back, floating and bobbing with the ocean swells.
“Go on,” Julien tells me. I give him a quick kiss to his stubbled cheek and run off to join Ryder.
As soon as Jayson sees me enter the breakers, he runs over and dives into an oncoming wave. I watch his graceful movements as he slices easily through the water. He must have been one hell of a swimmer at school. Within seconds, he’s popping up beside me as I reach Ryder who’s now upright watching me approach, a knowing smirk plastered across his gorgeous face. I cock my eyebrow up at him and he winks at me. I look beyond Jayson’s shoulder to watch Julien take Elijah’s outstretched hand. Julien kisses Elijah and lays his head on his shoulder.
“They are so damn cute,” I say to no one. Jayson turns to look at his brother.
“E wants to ask Jules to marry him. He asked me to help him pick out an engagement ring.”
