I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. “Yeah, me too. But it feels like it might be short-lived.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I saw something today. Something weird.” I hesitated, debating whether to tell him about Kory and Enzo. My gut twisted at the thought of dragging more drama into the night, but I couldn’t lie to him.
“What is it?” he asked, sensing the edge in my voice.
“I saw Kory with Enzo. At a hotel.” Ocean’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything. He waited, letting me speak more. “At first, I didn’t think anything of it, then I talked to Leera and she said Kory had left town for business.”
Ocean jerked his head back. “Left town?”
“Yeah, I know. That’s what makes it even more weird. Like, why would he lie about being out of town unless he was doing something he shouldn’t be doing?”
Ocean exhaled slowly. “Yeah, that shit sounds sketchy.”
“I just don’t know what to do with this information. I haven’t told Leera anything.”
He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close. “Honestly, I suggest doing nothing.”
“Nothing? Really?”
“Yep. Your sister has made it clear that she doesn’t want to hear anything about her husband. If you tell her this it’s just going to put you guys back in the space you’re trying to get out of. There’s no point in putting yourself through that headache again.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Sighing, I turned my attention back to the movie screen.
For a while, we sat quietly, eating our snacks and laughing at silly lines from the movie.
Then, he broke the silence.
“You know, I’ve been thinking...about moving to the city full-time.”
I almost choked. “What?”
“Yeah.” He tilted his head. “Would that be a problem for you? I mean, I know you want to take things slow and?—”
“Um, no that wouldn’t be a problem.”
My insides were fluttering with excitement, but I tried to keep it cute. I mean, it only made sense that he would make plans to live here. He had a whole business here. It couldn’t just be about me...right?
I wouldn’t dare ask.
He kissed my temple, whispering, “Cool.”
The movie played, the night stretched on, and we just sat there in this bubble of comfort and warmth, the snacks half-eaten, our hands intertwined.
After the movie ended, we stayed a while longer, talking about everything and nothing, promising to take things slow and enjoy each other.
As we drove back, I looked over at him, and I felt my heart swell with something tender and intense all at once. This was mine.Hewas mine. And nothing else mattered right now.
Not the past. Not Mecca.
Just him.
37
OCEAN
