“True. I take it back,” Norah teased, breaking the kiss with a grin.
“You two are adorable. How did you meet?” Hazel asked.
“Logan tried to sue my dad for wrecking his car,” Norah said casually.
“What? You’re joking.” Hazel laughed, her surprise unfiltered, then looked at me.
“No, it’s true,” I confirmed. “Although Norah could’ve done better.”
“What did you just say?” Logan shot back, grinning but ready to attack.
“Oh no, the pickled-ass boy is out to get me,” I yelled, mocking Logan as I took off running. But he was already leaping toward me, locking me in a headlock and pretending to choke me. We wrestled for a moment before he threw me to the ground. Unsurprising, considering Logan’s built like a mountain. I never stood a chance.
“Yeah, my dad caused the accident. But he was rude and stubborn about it. Logan threatened to sue, so I stepped in to smooth things over,” Norah explained, sharing the story we’d all heard a hundred times. “Logan told me he’d drop the lawsuit if I went on a date with him. I figured, sure, one date. I wasn’t going to magically fall in love or anything.”
“But she did,” Logan added, now back at Norah’s side. Hazel listened intently.
“I knew she was the one before the waiter even reached our table.”
“It almost sounds like you caused that accident on purpose,” Hazel remarked casually, biting into an apple.
Norah froze, her head snapping to Logan, searching his face for answers.
“You’ll never know,” Logan replied mysteriously. I grinned, thoroughly enjoying how this conversation had unfolded. I had to admit, they were a sweet couple. But I would never say that out loud. Where someone could hear me.
“So, do you get along with her dad now?” Hazel asked.
“Well, imagine watching every awkward sex scene in movie history with your parents in the same room. That’s how uncomfortable the first holiday season was. But now, it’s just a funny story at family gatherings,” Logan explained.
“Five years married. We’re just waiting for the next weddings now,” Norah teased, noticeably eyeing Ava and Alex.
Alex looked at me in full panic mode, his expression screaming,Danger, danger!I rolled my eyes.Relax.
“Oh, give it a rest,” I said, waving off the suggestion. “Ava needs to let him into her kitchen first before marriage can even be on the table. Let the happy couple breathe.” Ava rolled her eyes at me this time.
We finally reached the oceanarium, our last stop of the day. Hazel had suggested it during our earlier argument about how to spend the remaining time. Nobody, except Norah, wanted to see another massive building. The boys argued for a seafood restaurant. This was our compromise.
As we approached, the building’s sheer size was impressive, but once inside, it became even more stunning. It felt like walking into the ocean itself, an underwater world brought to life. Yet, my eyes kept drifting to Hazel. The shimmering blue tones danced in her hair, and the light reflected in her eyes as if she belonged here, among the graceful sea creatures. My own mermaid, walking beside me.
The group naturally divided. Some headed toward the exhibitions, while others wandered ahead.
“So, Luke.” Hazel’s curious look broke my thoughts. “Did it really happen? The chess and the naked run?”
“Why? You interested?” I teased, watching her dimples deepen as she smiled.
“Not the nakedness, particularly, the game maybe.”
“You want to play chess?”
“I want to know if you’re really that good.”Oh, I’m good, baby.
I gave her a devilish smile, and she rolled her eyes. If she kept reacting like that every time I flirted, she’d end up hurting herself. That reminded me—why was I flirting with her? I loved flirting with gorgeous women; it almost felt like second nature. That being said, I wasn’t like a sex addict. I could control myself around people. With Hazel, though, it wasn’t calculated. My body just kept finding ways to make her smile, like it had a mind of its own.
“I wouldn’t say I’m great, but I like to learn,” she said, watching the sea creatures swim by.
“So, I’ve heard.”
“Besides, you could tell me more about your college years. There’s got to be more to Luke Davis than your job and bachelor life.”
