I finish off the last of my now lukewarm tea and put down my mug. “It was amazing, actually. I met some great people, like Kate and Lindy, the couple next door to my cabin. They really encouraged me to get out there and explore.”
Her smile is wide. “That’s wonderful! What kind of things did you end up doing?”
“Well, as the cruise went on, I started going to bars and seeing shows.” I give her a rundown of the same things I’ve already told John on the car ride home.
She reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. “Sounds like you had quite the adventure. I’m so happy you had the chance to try new things.”
“The South Pacific Islands were amazing. You should see them!”
Her eyes light up. “Ooh, I’d love to see some photos from your trip! You have some on your phone?”
I nod, pulling out my iPhone and handing it to her. As she scrolls through the images, a grin spreads across her face. “Look at you, Kyle! You look so handsome and relaxed in your swimwear, and look, you’re getting a proper tan. John, come take a look at these.”
John leans over, peering at the screen. He chuckles, shaking his head. “Hey now, don’t be perving on your brother-in-law, Sarah!” he says to a burst of laughter.
Sarah continues scrolling, her eyes growing wide as she lands on a photo of Axel and me, our arms draped around each other, our faces mere inches apart.
“Wait a minute… is that Zelman?” Sarah gasps, her gaze darting between the photo and my face. “Kyle, you met Zelman on the cruise?”
“How the hell do you all know who he is?” I say.
Sarah rolls her eyes. “Unless you’ve been living under a rock”—I nudge her with my elbow—“oh yeah, right. Anyway, you actually met him? You have photos with him!”
My cheeks flush as I nod. “Yeah, but I knew him as Axel. We became friends during the trip.”
Sarah raises an eyebrow. “Friends, huh? These selfies look pretty intimate to me. Maybe more than friends?”
I duck my head, unable to hide the smile that tugs the corners of my mouth at the thought of the things we got up to, but they’re not the sort of things I want to be talking about with my sister-in-law.
Thankfully Mia and Leo come bounding over, the farm dogs trailing behind them. They are a welcome distraction and Sarah drops the subject as she turns her attention to her kids, and John gets up to clear the table.
Everything seems to be normal on the surface, but something’s changed, and as I sit there, lost in thought, I wonder what the future holds. Suddenly my phone dings. I reach for it and my heart races when I see a message from Axel.
Axel:
Hey, Kyle. Wanted to check you made it back home safely. Already missing the sound of the ocean and you. Don’t be a stranger, okay?
A smile spreads across my face, warmth flooding my chest at the fact that he took the time to reach out, that he’s thinking of me.
I quickly type out a reply, my thumbs flying across the screen.
Kyle:
It’s good to hear from you. The fam are pleased to have me back. Hope all goes well with Rick. Keep in touch. – Kyle
As I hit send, something clicks into place, and I grin at the screen.
Chapter Eighteen
Axel
“Ha,takethat!”Rickshouts as his avatar blasts mine to pieces on the giant flatscreen TV.
He grins at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief just like when he was a kid. Hell, he’s not much more than a kid now, having turned nineteen recently.
I chuckle and toss the PlayStation controller aside. “Okay, you got me. I’m out of practice.”
“Excuses, excuses.” He smirks and runs a hand through his messy hair. He needs a cut, but I have to admit he looks good—healthier and happier than he has in a long time. He’s still seeing a therapist, but the stint at the clinic seems to have done him some good.
