15. Chapter 15
My phone buzzes in the pocket of my sweats. Leo’s name glows across the screen as if I had summoned him with pure thought.
Why? And aren’t you downstairs with Eli?
Wait, isn’t it off limits right now?
Pls tell me you checked in with him at least? I can’t hear his mouth today
All taken care of. Just meet me this last time before the wedding. Who knows when we’ll have time after this?
“Shit,” I say as it hisses between my teeth. Carmin appears over my shoulder, making me jump as I shove my phone back into my pocket. “Girl, the hell are you doing?”
“Me? What the hell are you doing?” Carmin points to my pocket, her brows arched with mock concern. “Go meet him.”
Lowering my voice, I shake my head. “No way. Melody is already freaking out.”
“So I’ll cover for you.”
“How?”
Carmin rolls her eyes and shoves me toward the elevators. “Oh my god, will you just shut up and do something for yourself without being told for once?”
My head cocks back as I pull up the sleeve of my hoodie. “Damn, okay. But I swear, you better cover my ass.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She waves me off. “I’ll call if I can’t hold it down here. Now go.”
While Melody has her back turned, I make a break for the elevators, pressing the button several times as if it would make it come any faster.
The way up is short compared to the chaos of previous mornings.
A few dozen passengers occupied the Lido Deck, but the problem was getting up to the Sky Deck without being seen as workers dash back and forth to ensure the debarkation runs smoothly.
I wait for an opportunity to head for the stairs, quietly climbing as fast as I can as to not alert anyone to my presence.
Luckily, it’s still dark enough that no one can really see me unless they’re trying to find me. I duck across the deck to the loungers, hoping that that’s where Leo is, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“Leo?” I call in a harsh whisper. “Hello?”
A strong arm wraps around my waist from behind before pulling me against its large, muscular frame. “Hello, beautiful.”
Swatting at Leo, trying my best to hide the smile on my face, I turn to face him. “Don’t do that. You scared me.”
“Sorry, sorry.” His lips brush over mine in a sultry kiss as I drink him in slowly.
I pull back from him, not allowing the lust that builds in my core to distract me. “Now tell me why we’re up here?”
Sucking in a deep breath, Leo looks over the water.
The sun is coming up just over the horizon.
The orange, yellow, and blue hues paint a picture of perfection.
His eyes meet mine again with assurance.
“Right. So, there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.
Nothing bad, but with everything today, I feel like now’s the time. ”
I begin to pick at my nails as I try my best to maintain a cool demeanor. “Okay? What is it?”
Leo grabs my hands, holding them tightly as he redirects the focus to him. “I’m thinking that we should tell Tee about us today.”??“Oh.” I let out a heavy sigh, my shoulders dropping the tension I hadn’t realized I was carrying.
“Now I know it’s sudden, and it is the man’s wedding day, so this really isn’t the best time, but it’s a wedding.
I want to celebrate it together as more than just bridesmaid and groomsman.
” Leo moves in closer to me, his words covering me like a blanket.
“I want more than these past seven days. I want a future with you, and I want the world to know. I don’t want to hide or sneak around tonight.
Enough waiting in the shadows. I want to know what it is to be with you, where the light exposes all we have to give to each other. Please, Gina.”
My chest rises and falls with heaving breaths as my mind races against itself. Leo cups my cheek, rubbing his thumb over me as he holds me closer to him—rocking me slowly from side to side as if in a rhythmic dance. He lays a kiss on my forehead, and I melt into it effortlessly.
“I’m here,” he whispers. “I don’t mean to worry you.”
I focus on the steady beating of his heart under me to match my own. “It’s not that. I want to tell him too—I really do—I’m just afraid of his reaction. He hasn’t been the most understanding person lately, or ever really.”
“I understand, and we can hold off as long as we need.”
“No,” I say. “You’re right. I’ve stayed in the background long enough, and I can’t keep you there with me, but you will have to help guide me.”
“Always.” Leo grins, and my heart flutters as he studies my face. “You know you look so beautiful in this lighting—radiant.”
“Is that how you’d describe me?”
Leo chuckles as if I should know better.
“Radiant is too simple a word for someone like you, Gina. It doesn’t capture the curve of your lip when you smile shyly, or the way your every curve rises and falls in abundance with your laughter.
You are a living masterpiece of everything worth loving.
One I could spend a lifetime learning as long as I get to explore every line and shape down to its fragmented ink.
Radiant is just one word that barely touches the surface of how I see you. ”
My whole body softens as his words wrap around me, shattering past insecurities in one fell swoop.
Filling my chest with warmth that expands and reclaims my nerves to a state of calm.
I am falling hard, and I don’t want to be stopped.
I rise to my toes, eager for the feel of his mouth on mine, and he returns to the gesture with quiet passion.
I want to stay like this forever, but I know my time is running short and we need to get back downstairs.
Leo takes my hand as he guides us quickly down the stairs and to the elevators.
When it’s clear it will only be us on the ride down, Leo wastes no time taking me back into his arms, his hands coming to my ass as he pulls me into yet another burning kiss through my giggles and playful nips at his bottom lip.
I couldn’t be happier, and nothing could ruin this moment until the elevator door opens and a sharp voice causes me to jump back.
“Aye, the fuck are you doing?” Elijah stands on the other side of the open doors, fists clenched at his sides. We don’t get a chance to speak or move before he’s rushing in toward Leo, slamming him back against the wall, holding him by the collar of his shirt.
“Elijah, stop!” I exclaim, trying my best to pull him back.
“Is this what you’ve been doing this whole time? Lying, saying you left something in your cabin, whole time you fucking around with my sister? Speak up!”
“Elijah!” I shout. “Let him go.”
Leo’s eyes dart to me, the first time I’ve seen genuine panic in his eyes. “It’s not like that, Tee—”
“Man, bullshit. That’s my little sister.
” Before Elijah can do any worse, a few of the groomsmen flow into the elevator to pull my brother away from Leo, but it does nothing to ease the heated tension between them or to stop the gathering of other passengers who watch the scene as if it’s the best thing to happen all week.
My head spins as the groomsmen try to calm Elijah, and Leo stands on the other side debating whether to console me or not. Leo moves toward me, and I shake my head for him to stay back. “You need to leave.”
“I can’t leave you—”
“Please go,” I say with a frustrated whine. “Eli isn’t going to calm down until you do; I need to do this myself.”
Leo hesitates as he looks between me and Elijah before nodding and walking off in the other direction.
Some sense of relief washes over me, but quickly turns to anger as I turn back to Elijah, still popping off at the mouth as I make my way over to him.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I question as I shove him backward.
His brows furrow in confusion. “Me? What the fuck is wrong with him? He’s my best friend, and you’re my little sister. What’s gotten into you? You should know better than to be messing around with him. You’re better than that, Gina.”
“Cut the shit, Elijah.” My voice carries through the small hall. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to treat me like our parents. I’m not a child.”
Elijah stills, his expression softening. “That’s not what I meant, Gina.”
“And yet, that’s exactly how you treat me.
I’m more than capable of making my own decisions, and I sure as hell don’t need your approval.
” My nails bite into my palms as I stand steady and hold to my claim.
“Elijah, I’m sorry we hid it from you, but I just found out myself.
He never made a move on me without my consent, and it’s not a mistake.
I’m so tired of feeling like I need to live up to the standards you, Ma, and Dad have of me.
They’re a reflection of you, but I’m not you.
I’m happy, and if you really loved me, you’d be just as happy for me. ”
Elijah doesn’t move; no one does besides the few strangers who make a show of us. I would be embarrassed, ashamed even, if it weren’t for the overwhelming sense of pride that swells within me. I wasn’t shutting down this time or giving in; I’m soaring.
Elijah moves in toward me. At first, I think he’s going to tell me how wrong I am, confirming that I can’t trust him. Instead, he wraps me in a hug. I stiffen slightly before wrapping my arms around him tightly, trying to swallow the lump forming in my throat.
“I am happy for you, Ginny. I’m so sorry that I ever made you feel as if you didn’t deserve that,” Elijah confesses in a hushed tone.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice cracking slightly. “I understand why you’re upset. I would be too, but I promise you I’m being safe and Leo has never done anything to pressure me into this.”
“I know. I’m just stressed and shocked. I had no idea, and I’m still processing.”
“Processing an apology?” I challenge, eliciting a laugh from Elijah.
He lets me go, noticing the tears forming in my eyes before using the hem of his shirt to stop them from flowing over. “Of course, I love you both. I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”
“We all fuck up, but you might have to practice your apology on the way to the shuttle because they just called us to disembark.”
He nods. “Yeah, let’s just keep this from Melody for now?”
I giggle. “You scared of her?”
“A little.” We share a laugh as we make our way to our respective parties. Melody is still pacing, but she doesn’t even seem to notice my disappearance as she rushes everyone along while arguing with someone on the phone.
I handled it. You’re good… for now
Good, I was nervous
Yeah well let’s try to keep the PDA to a minimum from now on
Idk if I can do that but I’ll try
My smile widens stupidly. Despite that minor setback, I’d say that was a success.