Chapter 39 Seafood and garlic butter
Seafood and garlic butter
Lucas’s chest rises and falls beneath my cheek, his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. I don’t want to move. Not yet. His fingers twitch against my spine like he is dreaming, maybe reliving the way I’d fallen apart for him last night.
Heat rises up my neck at the memory—his mouth, his hands, the way he’d looked at me like I was something holy.
I close my eyes, trying to memorize the feel of him.
I’m brought back to the present when he moans happily.
“Mm,” he murmurs, voice low and thick with sleep. His arms tighten around me. “You awake?” I don’t answer. Not with words. Just nuzzle closer. He chuckles softly and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You okay?” I nod in reply.
Because somehow, I am. For the first time in a long, long time.
“Didn’t scare you off?” he teases.
I smile against his chest. “Nope.” He rolls me onto my back and hovers over me, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
His eyes search mine, like he is looking for something deeper than just permission.
Like he is asking if I am still here. Still with him.
I am, I answer him with the curl of my fingers around his wrist and tug him down for a slow, lazy kiss.
He rubs his hardness into me and sighs into my mouth like he needs this just as much as I do.
Eventually, we make it to the kitchen, both half-dressed and trying not to get distracted. Lucas stands at the stove in just his sweatpants, looking so good it should be illegal.
“Coffee?” I ask him, and start to pull the mugs out of the cupboard.
“Heck yes.” He says, as he starts cracking some eggs on the pan.
I make our coffees, set them down and lean on the counter, watching him. Everything about this feels so normal—but in a way that terrifies me. Because I shouldn’t want this yet. But I already do.
My phone buzzes on the counter.
Danielle: We still on for lunch at the Spinnaker today?
“Danielle just texted to confirm lunch today, are you free?” I ask Lucas.
He turns around to give me an answer.
“Sure am, if you’re gonna be there.” He smiles.
“I will be. I’ll see if she wants a lift.” I send Danielle my reply.
Me: I’ll be there, and so will Lucas! I haven’t talked to Tyler, so I haven’t asked him yet, I can send him a text or ask when he gets home.
Do you need a lift?
“Tyler isn’t home yet, is he?” I look to Lucas to find out.
But he shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t think so.”
Danielle: I’m good for a lift. I saw Tyler this morning, he’s gonna drive us.
Oh, okay. I’m seriously suspicious if there is something going on with them. Next time I’m alone with her, I’ll have to find out.
“Tyler and Dani are going to meet us there, together.” I pull a face at Lucas as I say it.
He laughs. “Are they…?”
“Honestly, who knows. I can never figure out if they love or hate each other. Maybe they are just mates?”
Me: Sounds good. Will see you there at 12 xx
“I’ve never seen him chase after a woman as hard as her.” He tells me and we both laugh a little.
“Interesting…”
The Spinnaker is already busy when we arrive, sunlight gleaming off the water outside the wide windows. The smell of grilled seafood and garlic butter wafts through the air, making my stomach growl even though Lucas made us breakfast just a couple of hours ago.
Danielle and Tyler are already there, tucked into a booth by the window. Tyler’s arm is stretched across the back of the booth behind Danielle’s shoulders, and she’s laughing at something he just said. I raise my brows at Lucas, who just smirks.
“Just mates, huh?” he says under his breath.
“Shut up,” I whisper back, elbowing him as we walk over. Danielle gets up and gives me one of her signature hugs.
Tyler gets up and shakes Lucas’s hand like he usually does.
“How are you Babe?” Danielle asks me.
“I’m good. I’m really good.” I say, feeling the relaxation of the last 24 hours rolling off me.
“How about you, whatcha been up to?” I reply.
“A bit of this, and a bit of that. Just exploring and swimming. Nothing special.” She shrugs, she’s not telling me the whole story. But I won’t pry. Knowing she’ll tell me eventually.
“Sounds great. I have lots to tell you.” I whisper. “We’re going to the ladies.” I say out loud to the boys and start to pull Danielle with me.
“But you just got here.” Tyler says.
We both shush him and walk off.
Once we’re in the bathroom. Danielle says, “Okay, spill.”
“We had sex, again.” I put my hand over my mouth and Danielle squeaks with excitement.
“I knew it, I knew you would! Ahh, Cam! The way that man looks at you. You’re in love, aren’t you?”
“No, it’s too early for that. But I’m into him. A lot. He’s honestly so fucking perfect. I’ve lived with him for almost two months and there are zero alarm bells. And girl, our chemistry—especially in the bedroom—it’s nuts.” I practically swoon thinking about him.
“I love this side of you. I’ve never seen you like this. Like seriously Cam, you have a glow. You got a Lucas glow.” She winks at me and smiles proudly.
“I know. But I’m so scared. It’s too soon, I can’t like someone else yet. It’s not right. Right?”
“Cammie. Honestly, time is a fickle thing. I’ve seen people be with someone for years and never really feel true love.
And then seen others fall in love, truly and completely after only weeks spent together.
They literally redefine what it means to be happy.
Love doesn’t have to fit into a time frame for it to be right.
” Danielle tells me and man, I believe her.
She’s right. Life is too short to deny myself happiness. And that’s what Lucas makes me. Happy. I want to give this a go with him.
“I love you.” I tell her and give her a big hug.
“What’s happening with you and Ty by the way?” I ask her. She stiffens a little.
“Nothing. We’ve just been hanging out. As friends. There’s seriously no point in starting anything. Especially if I leave Coevey Bay.” She looks disappointed. I’m kind of in shock.
“What do you mean, leave Coevey?” I try not to sound upset. She can’t go.
“I was planning to tell you today. I think I’m going to leave.
My sister Freya, she’s pregnant and she really needs my help when she has the baby, the dad wants nothing to do with it.
She’s alone there. I’m thinking I’ll take the van on a trip on my way back to Sydney.
I’ll come back eventually but I just don’t know when.
I’m not someone who’s meant to stay still.
” She tells me, and as much as I hate the idea of her going, I understand it. I understand her.
“I understand Dani, as much as I’ll miss you. I get it. I don’t know what I’ll do about my living situation without you. It’s been hard enough finding a rental as it is.” I try to hide my disappointment but it’s obvious.
“I’m sorry Cammie. Maybe you could just stay with Lucas?” She suggests. And I like that idea way too much, but I really wanted to have some kind of independence.
“Yeah. Maybe…” I play with the ends of my hair. “Come on, we better get back out there.”
The rest of the lunch is relaxed—full of teasing banter, clinking glasses, and the kind of comfortable conversation that makes time slip by unnoticed.
For a while, I forget about everything else. It’s just… good.
We say goodbye to Tyler and Dani after lunch, leaving them at the table.
Lucas and I head off together and step outside, the sun bright overhead, laughter still lingering between us.
We’re halfway to the car when I see him—leaning against a nearby wall, shadows under his eyes, clothes wrinkled, jaw tight, a cigarette in his hand.
Sean.
My heart lurches. I freeze mid-step, breath catching painfully in my throat. The air thickens around me, like the heat and fear are pressing in from all sides. I don’t know what to do. I just want to run.
He sees me too. Straightens up slowly, flicking the cigarette away. Then his gaze shifts and lands on Lucas beside me.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he spits, voice low and sharp with bitterness.
Lucas doesn’t flinch. He steps in front of me protectively, like it’s instinct. Like shielding me is second nature.
“Let it go mate,” Lucas says calmly, but there’s a warning in his voice. I sense he’s holding back.
Sean’s eyes narrow on me. “So, this is it?” He points a finger at Lucas. “You’re with him now?”
The fear in my chest fizzles into anger.
Fuck him. He has no right to say anything about my life—not anymore. And he sure as hell doesn’t deserve to know the details.
I move myself beside Lucas, forcing myself to stand a little taller.
“I am not your business anymore,” I say, surprised at how steady I sound.
“I knew it.” Sean’s voice rises in accusation. “How long has this been going on?”
Lucas takes a step forward, his jaw clenched, voice low and dangerous. He practically growls, “back off, Sean. Last fucking chance to walk away.”
Sean sneers in response, but I see it—the flicker of uncertainty. The way his eyes dart between us, the way he sways slightly on his feet like he hasn’t slept in days. He’s unravelling.
“Whatever,” he mutters finally, shaking his head. “You’ll get sick of her eventually and I’ll be here, ready to watch her crawl back to me.”
Then he turns and walks away, shoulders hunched and pace uneven.
I realise I’ve been holding my breath. My whole body is trembling, adrenaline still spiking through me.
Lucas turns instantly, his eyes scanning my face.
“You okay?” he asks, voice soft now, threaded with concern.
I nod, even though my heart is still racing and my hands won’t stop shaking. “I think so.”
He steps closer and gently cups my face in his hand, his thumb brushing across my cheek.
“You never have to deal with him alone, Cam. Not anymore.”
Something inside me eases at his words, the tightness in my chest loosening. I lean into him, grounding myself in his presence. Grateful. And maybe just a little bit in love.