Chapter 28
B arrett played with my hair, the sun glinting off his fingertips when I awoke again.
I glanced around and realized it was just us in the room.
Where is everyone else? A lot of strands escaped my braid, proving I hadn’t made it tight enough the previous night.
My head felt clearer, and I yawned and stretched.
“What time is it?” My voice sounded scratchy even to my own ears.
“One in the afternoon.” He kissed my neck, his lips dragging a trail of heat toward my ear. “Good afternoon, lovely. Was I snoring? Is that why you left the bed?”
It took me a second to figure out what he meant. “No, I couldn’t turn my head off. I just wanted to read and not wake anyone.”
“Wake me next time. We’ll read together, and I’ll hold you.” He hugged me tightly against him. “I’m sorry for waking you, but I want you to eat something. Did you eat at all yesterday?”
I remembered chewing down a protein bar during my hair session. “Probably not enough. I’m not trying to starve. I just didn’t think about it.”
“Right, so let’s have eggs. Afterward, we’re all going swimming in the ocean.
We never do it, but it’s right there. Phoenix left, said he had things to do.
” I figured that meant he probably left to use drugs.
I knew he avoided it yesterday, but I wondered how long he could hold out. “The twins are making the eggs now.”
They’re cooking? “Do they even know how?”
“Well, they looked up videos. If they can’t manage something, they’ll probably hit up the chef eventually. Oh, Phoenix really wanted me to remind you not to forget your sunscreen.”
I rubbed at my eyes. “I won’t. Can’t believe I slept through all that talking and movement.”
“Minimal talking.” He wiggled his phone.
“We texted; we’re not animals. I’ve never seen you so deeply asleep, and none of us wanted to wake you.
It felt like you finally decided to trust you were safe with us.
I loved it. Also” —he grinned, tapping his pec— “your head was right on my chest, sprawled over me, for most of the night. It was heaven, so I didn’t want to move you.
I would stay with you all day, but I want us all to get into the water.
It’s a beautiful day, and all of the bad shit is behind us. ”
I wished he hadn’t said that. “Don’t jinx it.” I kissed his cheek. “You must have been an awesome pillow. I wish I could remember rolling on top of you. I do remember you picking me up from the couch.”
He frowned. “I woke up and found you gone. I panicked for a second, had to find you. When I did, you looked so beautiful, lying there. I just stood and watched you for a second. I hope that’s not creepy. I didn’t want to wake you up, and I tried to get you to bed as gently as I could. I’m sorry.”
I kissed him again on the cheek and then on his mouth.
It felt like someone might come in at any time with a buzzer, to tell me it wasn’t okay to kiss them.
Once I tasted his lips, though, I lingered before admitting, “I was having a bad dream when you woke me up. My nearly nightly assault by my unconscious mind, you could say. So thank you for waking me and rescuing me from my nightmares. I can’t believe I fell back to sleep in your arms. I never imagined such a thing could be possible.
Now I need to try to find a way to work my head around the fact I’m allowed to kiss you, without worrying someone is going to get angry with me for doing it. ”
Barrett took my cheeks in his hands. “Sweetheart, I love your kisses.”
As if to prove the point, he kissed me again. I smiled against his lips, a little drunk on the taste of him. Already, I love today.
After cleaning up a little bit, I found all three of the guys still in their boxers plus t-shirts in the main part of the house.
Yawning again, I wondered which of them had the sense to rummage around in the laundry basket to find the t-shirts?
Julian stood over a frying pan with sizzling eggs, while Jeremy watched over his shoulder.
Barrett sipped coffee, watching his brothers from a safe distance.
“Want some help?” I asked, shocked to see them actually trying.
It might be okay to wake up like this every morning for the rest of my life . Eggs with the Lents. It could be an event.
As the sun glared off the water, I couldn’t help but mentally thank Phoenix for the sunblock reminder and appreciate my sunglasses.
Gentle waves lapped at my thighs as we waded into the water together.
It was cool against my skin and I gasped when it made contact with my belly in the black bikini.
Compared to the hot sand, the difference jarred me.
A glance around again proved it seemed to be an entirely private beach, as though the stretch of perfection belonged specifically to the Lents, but I got to play in it today.
The waves became rougher as we got deeper, every wave taking me slightly off my feet before gently allowing me to touch my toes to the pristine sand.
Julian splashed Jeremy, their laughter a beautiful sound.
As water polo players, they were great swimmers.
They showed off that strength as they dived under the water then arched above it, their abdomens sparkling in the sunshine.
Barrett swam ahead, cutting through the water like a seal, reminding me how Jeremy admitted all rich, trust fund kids were good at water sports.
I tried to remember his choice sport … crew?
Regardless, he could swim, too. I didn’t try to keep up.
I could stand when the waves weren’t moving me, and I enjoyed the weightless sensation.
The ocean felt so different from a lake or a pool.
A noise caught my attention, so I turned to see Phoenix wading toward me. The vacancy in his gaze told me he wasn’t entirely there. I quickly got to his side, not wanting him to drown.
As soon as I got to him, I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he grabbed my waist. He lifted me, hugging my body against him. I sighed, loving the sensation of his warmth after the chilled water.
“Missed you,” I admitted while Jeremy yelled something to Julian. “You missed out on your brothers cooking eggs.”
He smirked at me. “Did they burn down the house?”
“No, they managed.” A seagull flew overhead, calling out as it circled over us once, checking for something to eat. I glanced out, thinking of all the things that lived in oceans, and decided perhaps it might be better to remain in blissful ignorance.
Phoenix laughed a little bit too loud, but I tucked my nose against his neck.
“Did any of them remember?” he asked.
I didn’t follow his question, so I shot in the dark. “About the sunblock? Yes, thanks to you I have it on.”
“That’s good. But no, I meant did any of them remember that today is the anniversary?”
No one had mentioned anything of significance to me. “If they know, they didn’t tell me. What are we talking about?”
He spun me around, like we danced in the waves. “Today is the anniversary of the day I was taken. It’s the last day that Walt and River were ever seen alive.”
My smile crumpled, my hold on him going a bit tighter. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
“I’m the only one who remembers anymore. I think the rest of them jumble it up as a general it happened in June. Better than my parents, who like to pretend it never even happened. I wondered if anyone else thought about it, is all.”
I kissed his chin. “I won’t forget. I’ll always remember.”
He put his forehead against my shoulder. “Thank you. I can’t feel any pain right now. Just the sun and the sea and you.”
I held him tighter.
After I showered and with a smile on my face, I found Dina waiting on my patio. She and Barrett apparently had decided on food and were discussing which place we would visit.
Barrett wanted pie. When was the last time I ate pie?
Dina smiled at me. “I’m planning to be out for the rest of the day, as I was telling Barrett.
Jo?o’s mother’s taken very ill, and the poor dear is almost ninety now.
Anyway, I’m going to see her, bring her some flowers, cheer her up.
I’ll expect to be in Manorville the rest of the day, then return quite late tonight, because I’m meeting some of my favorites at the diner.
Oh, and Alatheia, there will be punishment. Count on it.”
For a second, I thought she meant she intended to punish me. The night before rushed back, and I swallowed hard. Did the ocean just wash away my memory?
I shook my head, reaching out a single hand toward her. “Dina, it might be best to leave it.”
“No, dear, you’re wrong. There needs to be a response. Sometime soon, your family will be reminded who they tried to hurt.” She whirled around. “ Ciao , my darlings.”
Barrett shook his head. “Did she just say ciao ?”
“Her mother loved Italy,” I said then blinked. I bit my lip, hoping none of them noticed the slip.
“Let’s go collect the twins and Phoenix from the main house,” Barrett said.
I walked with him, pressed against his side. The sun ducked behind a cloud, and a breeze sweetened by some kind of floral note tempered the humidity. “You guys don’t love the beach, but it was great today.”
“We loved being there today.” He kissed my temple.
“Also, we’re alone, so if you want to kiss or hug any or all of us anywhere you want, you should.
We’re certainly going to touch you whenever we can.
There’s such a relief to be able to say that out loud.
I’ve told my mom you know, so they can give up pretending around you and just be themselves. ”
I hoped they could, but my brain remembered the words charity case .
We nearly collided with Rosalind as we turned a corner inside the house and found her holding a vase. She grinned and set it down carefully. The house returned to normal, appearing as it had before the event. Since I didn’t believe in magic, it must have happened when I’d been asleep.