“Love you too, sis. Did you have a good time today?”
I nodded. “I had a blast. The snorkeling was so much fun.” But it was the fact that I’d shared the experience with Frasier that I cherished more than anything.
“I didn’t realize you were such a daredevil.” She nudged me.
“I don’t know that I’m a daredevil,” I said, thinking back on what it felt like to jump from the cliff in Little Bay. Terrifying. Exhilarating. Liberating.
“You’re a badass. You jumped off a cliff.”
It wasn’t about jumping off the cliff, not really. It was about what it had represented—pushing myself outside my comfort zone. Taking a leap of faith.
And yet, I hadn’t done it alone. Frasier had been there with me every step of the way. Just as he was always there with me—encouraging me, supporting me, loving me.
His words kept floating through my mind, as did the way he’d looked at me. As if he’d never wanted anything more.
“The next time I kiss you…there will be no doubts about me wanting you.”
And my reply,“I’m looking forward to it.”
I still couldn’t believe he’d said it. Or that I’d been so brazen in response. But I’d meant what I’d said at the edge of the cliff. Life was meant to be lived, and I was done letting my head call all the shots.
I was ready to listen to my heart. And my heart led me to Frasier.
My dress blew about my legs, and I extricated some strands of hair from my lip gloss. “I’m surprised you didn’t jump. You and your friends are definitely more daring than I am.”
“Girl, you have no idea.” She pressed her lips together as if trying to hold in a secret, which only piqued my curiosity.
I arched my brow. “What does that mean?”
Allie opened her mouth to tell me when Mom approached, effectively ending the conversation—at least for now. “Everyone’s here now. Ready to start?”
“Promise to tell me later?” I asked Allie, and she nodded.
Allie headed up the beach to join Dad, while I hung back to walk with Mom. She draped her arm around my shoulder. “How are you holding up, sweetheart?”
“I’m…” I considered it a moment then said, “Good.”
Apart from the fact that I’d been a bundle of excitement and anticipation all day. Ever since Frasier had essentially promised to kiss me again, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Wondering when it would happen.
I’d wondered about it all through lunch, when he’d smiled and flirted with me. All through the ride back to the resort, his arm draped around me, lips pressed to my temple. And I’d still been wondering about it as we’d gotten ready and joined everyone for the rehearsal.
Even now, my mind was on Frasier and the promise of another kiss. Because if it was anything like that first one, I was going to combust.
“You know it would be okay if you weren’t, though, right?” Mom asked. “I’m sure this isn’t easy for you.”
I appreciated her saying that more than she could know. She’d given me space to feel my emotions without judgment. Without making me feel as if I needed to mask my pain for the sake of anyone else.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I’m having a lot of fun.”
She smiled, giving me a quick squeeze before releasing me. “I’m glad, Bryn. It’s okay to be sad, but you deserve to be happy too.”
“I know,” I said, and I found that for the first time in a while I actually believed it. More than believing it, I felt it was true. “Thanks, Mom.”
We joined the rest of the party, and Frasier was waiting for me with a smile on his face. He greeted my mom then escorted her to a chair before sinking down beside her. The wedding planner herded all the bridesmaids and Allie to the hotel since we’d exit from the resort and onto the beach for the wedding tomorrow.
“Tell me now,” I whispered to Allie once we were alone in the bathroom. She’d wanted to refresh her lipstick, and the other bridesmaids had stayed behind with Brooke, the flower girl.
Allie had barely finished telling me when someone else entered the bathroom. My eyes went wide, and we both tried to bite back our smiles and act normal as we headed back out to join the others.
