Chapter Twenty-Eight
Alex pickedAria up from her house and she rambled all the way to the marina. She was excited to get out on the water but didn't know what to expect, so she wore her favorite high-waisted jeans and a red plaid shirt tied at the waist with sandals.
As always, she had her favorite scarf wrapped around her wrist. She was glad to see that he wore a similar outfit of dark wash jeans, a black long-sleeved Henley, and black boots.
When they pulled up to the marina, parked and walked up to the ‘boat’, her jaw dropped.
“Alex! You said we were going on a boat. Look at how I'm dressed. This isnota boat,” Aria said as he led them onto a small yacht.
“Aria, I told you already. You never have to dress a certain way around me. I like what you have on. It’s very nautical,” he answered as he surveyed her outfit with a teasing expression. “Besides, it’s not a yacht. It’s aminiyacht.”
His eyes landed on her wrist, his hand touching the ends that hung down where the scarf was tied.
“I like this. It’s different.”
Looking down at her wrist, she shrugged and answered, “Oh, yeah, it became my ‘signature’ look when I was a teenager awkwardly trying to be fashionable. It just stuck.”
“I remember,” he said barely over a whisper, making her wonder if she had imagined it.
He took her hand and helped her navigate the metal gangplank. She was grateful for her choice of footwear.
Her jaw dropped again when she saw the gold script lettering on the side of the yacht, the reflection of the setting sun making it glow.
The Albatross.
“How—albatross?” she stuttered, thinking of her confession to him about her love of them.
He didn’t answer, but a coy smile crossed his face as they stepped onto the deck. Aria surveyed the yacht with its sleek, crisp white lines, its hull gleaming with an immaculate polish. The deck was a smooth expanse of teak, with chrome railings catching the light in silvery flashes.
Walking around the wide expanse, Aria ran her hands over the railings, breathing in the salt air deeply while Alex watched her curiously.
“Like it?”
Turning her head to face him, she answered, “Alex, it’s beautiful.”
She went to ask again about the name, but he said, “Wait here.”
She watched him walk down a few stairs that led to the cabin, then he turned off the lights. The boat was dark for a moment, making her look around, whensuddenly the whole expanse of the deck was filled with twinkling lights. She could see now that they were strewn from end to end on the vessel.
Aria gasped and stepped away from the railing and spun around in a circle taking in the glorious sight. She couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled up from inside her. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so light, so free. She raised her hands in the air, reaching for the lights as if reaching for the stars, her head flung back as she saw the last of the sunset give way to the night.
She felt his presence before she saw him, and when she bent her head down, Alex had moved closer to her. He looked at her as if captivated by the sight. The lights reflected in his eyes as she moved closer to him, his eyes filled with wonder.
“Alex. This isbreathtaking. What did you do?”
He closed the space between them and leaned in and kissed her cheeks, making her heart take off like a galloping horse.
“Welcome toThe Albatross, Aria. Ever since you told me you loved them, I thought about bringing you here. It's not a real one, but it’ll have to do for now.”
“It’s, I’m at a loss for words,” she said, her hand on her heart. He had stepped back just enough to not hover over her, but he was still close enough that she could hear his steady breath.
“You know... Enzo and Adrian have a nickname for me. It started years ago and just stuck. They’ve been calling me ‘albatross’ since I started my career.”
“Why? Because you don’t like to stay in one place for long?”
She hoped her words didn’t reveal her burgeoning fears.
Alex paused, his expression turning thoughtful. “I’ve loved traveling and meeting new people, seeing new places. I always will. But just like the sea bird that we both seem to admire, Ialsowant to find my true mate one day. Adventures happen in many different ways.”
