She cackles. “Close your mouth when you chew.”
Damon rests his hand on her thigh. “You’re going to be an amazing mom, little bird,” he says low, just for her. I hear it anyway, and even my heart flutters.
Kaye simmers with a sly smile. “You better keep knocking me up if this is how sweet you get.”
Okay, kinda gross.
His hand slides higher. “One kid at a time.”
Okay, super gross.
“Speak for yourself,” she hums. “I’m hoping for twins.”
Jesus.
“Absolutely not,” Damon mutters, but the corner of his mouth pulls up.
They’re disgusting, but they’re so excited. And stupidly in love. But I’m still in the goddamn back seat like a chaperone on the world’s horniest school trip.
I groan loud. “Can we at least put some music on, so I don’t have to listen to the sound of your insane sex talks?”
Damon smirks. “You want me to put on Elle and Sterling’s wedding playlist?”
I sit back hard. “You’re amonster.”
“It’s genetics,” Damon says, shrugging one shoulder while he keeps driving the car, and drivingmeinsane.
Kaye giggles again. I cross my arms and close my eyes, letting the roar of the car and their never-ending flirting fade into background noise.
I picture the open sea. A place where I get to rewrite whatever the hell I’m even doing with my life. Because if one more person finds true love before I do, I swear I’m throwing myself off the side of that ship.
***
Some hours later, and we barely make it, because Kaye needed to take so many bathroom breaks. She blames pregnancy. I blamethemfor being bad liars, ‘cause Damon had to go with herevery single time. Her lipstick wore off while his mouth got redder and redder.Ugh, wonder why.
But Damon called ahead, said we’d be late. That got accepted without a hint of insult.
Besides, we’re here now, where the port’s an ugly gray covered in frost. Concrete color painted all over like it’ll hide the rust. Private security in black, standing around, pretending this isn’t some crime hub with an ocean view.
The ship’s in sight. There’s a few stragglers like me taken in one by one. IDs being inspected, bags being checked through.
I get out of the car and stretch my back. The sunset’s too bright for this bleak gray block. The biting wind smells like rotten fish.
Damon stays in the car, clearly not in a rush to say goodbye to his beloved baby brother.
Kaye gets out next, her long curls falling over her face.
“I was expecting a red carpet,” I say. “Maybe a band. Confetti. Something. Anything.”
Damon gets out to open the trunk. “You only have this oversized baggage.”
“I thought you were carrying that for me,” I tell him.
He drops the duffel bag at my feet. “I carried it for well over twodecades. I trust you can take it from here.”
Kaye drags me aside, her breath fogging between us. She loops her arm through mine and walks me closer to the ship.
“Don’t get all sweet on me now,” I say.
