Chapter 9
chapter nine
The prize was a tumbler with the cruise line’s name on it. Not even one of the nice ones either. Nate holds it like it’s his most prized possession nonetheless.
“We earned this,” he says as we leave the game. “With our blood, sweat, and tears. And that last question—you killed it, berry.”
“That was my goal,” I say with a laugh. Ever since we’d left the event, I’d felt off, as if my world was tilting.
I’m trying my best not to let it show.
I’ve never been confused about Nate before. We always were ... us. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less. But both of us picking the lunch table as the day we fell in love has me thinking things I shouldn’t.
“Wow, you guys really know each other.” We turn to see that Aaron and Trixie have caught up to us.
Trixie gives me the same smile she has ever since I met her.
Aaron is eyeing us carefully. When his gaze drifts to my left hand, which has been bare ever since the night of Rob’s bachelor party, I hide it. I’m not sure why.
“I told you,” Nate says. “This is what happens when you hang around someone for over a decade and a half. ”
“So, are you a nonconventional couple or something?” Aaron’s still watching us. “You’re not wearing rings.”
“Honey, leave them alone.” Trixie rolls her eyes. “Don’t mind him. He’s a sore loser. I was just happy he picked the right coffee order.” As she pats her husband on the chest, I’m prepared to take my leave.
Nate is not on the same page, though. “We’re not a couple at all, actually. We’re just friends.” When he says it, I freeze. I’m not sure if it’s because I know Aaron isn’t going to like that, or if it’s a sore reminder of where Nate and I stand.
But it’s never bothered me before. Why is it now? Why is so much on this vacation bothering me?
“What?” Aaron asks. “How? But you’re in the honeymoon area!”
Nate looks at me with a raised eyebrow, silently asking what I want to tell them.
“It was just a last-second decision.”
“What sort of friends go on a honeymoon cruise together?”
“And why did I never have any like that?” Trixie laughs. Aaron levels her with a glare.
“This is just how we are.” Nate shrugs. “And apparently we know each other more than married couples.”
“And the whole ‘when did you fall in love’ question?” Aaron’s pressing us in ways I’m not sure I like.
“A lucky guess,” Nate answers. I look to the floor.
“I can’t believe this!” Aaron says. “And here I was, thinking you two would be easy to beat because you’re weird with each other.”
That snaps me out of my thoughts. “Hey!” Nate and I say at the same time.
“Go get a drink,” Trixie demands. “You’re being rude about things again.” Aaron huffs and leaves, but she gives us a near-catlike smile. “You two have fun. Within reason of friends, of course.” She winks before following her husband .
“Did that ... seem weird to you?” Nate asks.
“Everything about this is weird to me.”
Nate stares in their direction before shaking his head and turning to me. “Oh man. Aaron’s face . He was so mad.”
“They shouldn’t have challenged me.” I shrug.
“God, I can’t wait to tell your parents. They’ll get a kick out of it.”
It might get a huff of laughter out of Dad. Nate always manages to get those somehow. I just hope he doesn’t mention the last question.
Pushing all thoughts of strawberries and lunch tables out of my mind, we head to the room. I use the silence to come up with a plan to get the couch for the night. I know the competition is stiff.
“Hey, Nate. Could you not go into the room?”
“Why?” he asks slowly.
“I need to ... handle things. And it’ll need to air out.”
“Oh, God. Why would you say it like that?” He winces. “But fine. Have fun. Text me if you need an air freshener.”
“Thanks!” I call. He’s heading to the pool deck, and I know I’ll have time to do what I need to.
I do have to use the bathroom and freshen up, but then I grab a blanket and pillow and make myself comfortable on the couch. When I sit, I realize that he’ll find any reason not to let me stay, so I also grab my suitcase and charger to really settle in.
Nate must not have gone far, because when I text him, he comes back almost immediately.
“It better not be a biohaz—” He pauses when he sees me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Sitting,” I say innocently.
“You did not just kick me out to take over the couch.”
I shrug. “You said you would think about taking turns. I’m making sure you think correctly.”
A noise erupts out of him that I’ve never heard before. It sounds like a growl .
My skin erupts in gooseflesh as another memory bursts forth.
Back when we were kids, we would chase each other around to get something. He would steal my water bottle or I would take his lunch when he had one, and then chaos would ensue.
It continued until we graduated.
As I stare at Nate’s obvious annoyance, I wonder if I’ve done enough to push him to start it up again. A tiny cabin on a boat isn’t the best place to do it, but those days of us laughing like kids as we messed around with each other were some of the best I’d had.
It hits me that I want him to. Sure, I would laugh and fight back if he tries to drag me off the couch, but it would be something lost to time that we resumed.
Instead, Nate stalks to the bed and I feel disappointment hit hard. “Clever,” he mutters. “You got me.”
I give myself a moment to feel it. Just a single one, because despite the moments we used to have that are no more, he does know me. He’ll know if I’m upset.
I force out a laugh. Smug. I need to be smug about this.
“The couch is much more suited to me,” I say as I snuggle down. I can’t stretch out, but I don’t have to be curled into a ball like he had to be the night before. “It’s like a normal bed.”
“You’re lying,” he says. “And you’ll regret that when we’re walking all day for our first excursion.”
I bristle. Tomorrow, we’re stopping at Cozumel. I’ve not done nearly enough to prepare for that. I’ve barely grown used to the cabin on the boat. Now I have to explore somewhere else.
“We should have a plan,” I manage to say.
“That’s the berry I know and love.” My breath hitches as he says it. The gooseflesh is back, and I’m glad I’m under the blanket. “But there’s nothing to worry about. I got it.”
“You do?”
“Yep. All you need to handle is sleeping on that thing.” His lips curve upward. “Unless you wanna give up.”
I immediately pull my blanket up higher. “Fuck you. I’m not giving up anything.”
“You’ll regret that.”
“You’ll need all the energy you can get tomorrow anyway.”
He hums. “Yeah, for when your back hurts and I have to carry you.”
“You couldn’t if you tried.”
Nate’s gaze cuts to me and it’s heated with challenge. I want to push even harder and make him throw me over his shoulder.
“Get some sleep,” he says instead. “Or try to.”
The moment’s gone and I fight against disappointment.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll sleep like a baby.” My voice comes out quiet and stilted, but I cut the lights before he can say anything else.
Sleep is definitely what I need. And once I get it, I’m sure all of this will be just an awkward memory.