“If you say so.”
I have a feeling she has more she wants to say, but she presses her lips together, signifying the end of the conversation. I get to my feet and busy myself by packing my woven tote bag. Sunscreen. Tinted chapstick. Water bottle.
“I’m just saying,” Elise continues. “Kate needs to learn to share the love. Support others. Especially her sister.”
“That’s what I have you for.” I boop her on the nose. She startles before playfully swatting my hand away.
“Iwill always support you, but if you do that again, I will have second thoughts.”
I laugh as I set a tan sunhat with a cornflower blue ribbon on my head and sling the bag over my shoulder. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’d hate to lose familial support over a nose boop.
Chapter 19
If I thought Positano was gorgeous from our villa, it’s even more spectacular from the water. The boat rocks under us as it floats in the center of a swimming area. I’m relaxing on the net on the front of the boat feeling while everyone else floats in the water around me, loud cheers and laughter ringing through the air as the sun warms my skin. It’s so peaceful I feel every ounce of stress I’ve ever felt just leaving my body, never to return.
I could totally get used to this.
The net dips beside me and I crack open an eye. I’m met with a full plastic champagne flute and a perfect grin that melts my insides.
“I think you should burn every piece of clothing that isn’t this shade of blue,” Reid says as he settles beside me, pressing the glass into my hand.
“What about the things I own that are red?”
He pretends to consider it for a moment. “Fine. You can keep the red, too. But this,” he gestures a hand at my light blue bikini, then brings his fist to his mouth and bites his knuckles. “Phenomenal.”
“I could say the same about you.” I prop myself up onto my elbow and lower my sunglasses with my free hand. Unabashedly, I drag my gaze down his tanned chest and his toned abs. “I mean, I won’t, but I could.”
He laughs. “And why not?”
“Gotta keep that ego in check.”
“When you’re ready to offer the compliment, I’m ready to accept.”
“We’ll see.” I sip my champagne, but the smile on my face betrays me. I look over at him again and find his eyes still on me. My face flushes. My heartbeat skips. “I’m happy to see you,” I finally offer.
“Likewise. Makes my day a little brighter when I get to see that smile.” My lips turn up even higher of their own accord, and when he smiles back I realize I could stare at him all day. “There it is. Gorgeous.”
I nudge him with a shoulder. He wraps an arm around me in response and pulls me to his chest. “This right here,” he says, “is heaven. A beautiful view, a beautiful girl, a beautiful view of a beautiful girl.”
“Okay, now it’s getting to be overkill. Take it down a notch.”
“Sorry this is my first time in a relationship. I don’t know how to act.”
That one word—relationship—has my face flushing, my heart jumping, my hope swelling deep in my chest.
I tip my head back to look at him. “Are we in a relationship?”
“I’d love to know too,” a voice says behind us. All the warm fuzzy feelings from before disappear, leaving my body frozen and cold. I turn, tragically falling out of Reid’s embrace in the process, and face Jessica.
Her hands are on her hips, her jaw is clenched, and her wide eyes are filled with rage as they bounce between me and Reid. I’m overcome with theneed to deny it, to apologize, to turn to Reid and ask “what exactly are we?” But no words come out, so I turn to Reid, mouth open, silently begging him for help.
“Well?” Jessica asks. I can hear the impatience in her voice, and I know that tone means she’s about six seconds from having an absolute catastrophic meltdown if she doesn’t get an answer from one of us.
“No,” I say quickly.
“No?” Reid asks. The pain in his voice has me feeling immediate regret, but I still power through. I can explain this to him later, but for right now I need Jessica to think there isn’t anything happening until I can tell my sister myself. Preferably after her wedding. I look in his direction again, hoping the expression on my face is moreplease trust methanoh crap.
“No,” I double down. Jessica narrows her eyes at me. “We are spending a lot of time together, though, for the wedding, of course. And we will likely continue to spend a lot of time together. But no, we aren’t dating.”
