The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,326

I run a light hand down her back and brave a question.“What happened?”

She sighs wearily, like the weight of the world is on her shoulders, “Matty and I had a fight. Nothing new,”

“Are you on vacation together?” I picked up on a touch of tension between them on the shuttle.

“We were here to spread our friend’s ashes. We used to be close, and then…well, life happened, and we lost touch. But I hoped… it’s not going to happen. And I’m sad. And tired.”

She groans and sags against my chest. She gasps and leans away her wide eyes on my shirt.

“Oh for heaven’s sake, I’m sorry. I’ve cried all over you. I’m…” With another groan, she jumps off my lap.

“No, hey, it’s okay.” I stand, but she mumbles stilted “excuse me,” and rushes to the bathroom, and shuts the door with a slam.

I miss the warm weight of her in my lap, but I’m also glad for the chance to clear my head.

There’s a reason our paths are crossing now. She’s in need of someone; Like I was the night she found me in that bakery. The words she whispered that first day come back to me. “I water you, you water me.”

A light comes on and excitement gets my brain back online. I can’t do anything to bring her friend back or to mend her relationship with Matty.

But I can give her something happy to take back from this trip. I’ll have to make a few changes to some of my plans and it will mean I’ll have to forgo my annual howl at the moon.

But, if she’s game, this might be even better than that. Having another shot with the girl who hung the moon was a pipe dream. Having the chance to do something to pay her back, something more than just fuck her senseless, is a moonshot. I can’t pass up the chance to at least try.

The bathroom door opens and she strides out. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” Her voice is cordial but her smile is tight with discomfort, and she doesn’t meet my eye.

She cuts a brisk path to the mini bar. Her rigid back to me, she busies herself pouring drinks, but doesn’t say a word.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Yeah,” she says and turns to face me. Her eyes are clear and dry and the dark flush of emotion is gone, she looks like nothing happened. But her hand wobbles when she lifts one of the glasses she’s holding to her lips and down the entire thing in one sip.

“What was that?” I wince at her pained cringe as the liquid made its way down.

“Tequila.” She puts the empty glass down, grabs the bottle from the bar and walks over to sit next to me. She gulps half of the second glass and drops wearily onto the couch.

“ I never cry,” she sounds bemused.

I take the bottle of tequila and glass from her, pour myself a shot and throw it back. The burn is good and bracing.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she takes the glass back and I pour her another finger.

“Well, you’ve had a pretty shitty trip so far. Except for the parts you spent with me, of course.” I grin when she sputters on her swallow.“How long are you here?” I ask.

“I’m leaving on Sunday.”

Perfect.

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” I announce.

She stills, her eyes widen with surprise and disappointment. Maybe it’s not such a moonshot after all. “Oh, so soon?” She tries to sound casual and sits back on the couch, her hands gripped together on her lap.

“I’m going on an excursion for a few days.”

“Oh, that’s nice. To where?” She asks, her voice tinny with false cheer.

“A road trip to Isla Espiritu Santo. Stopping where we feel like between here and there.”

She blinks, frowns. “We? You’re going with someone?”

I nod. “With a woman friend.”

Her eyebrows lift in surprise and then her expression shutters. “Well, Stone it was really nice to see you. Hope you brought enough condoms to last the rest of your trip.” She gets up from the couch.

I grab her and yank her back down. “You’re gorgeous when you’re jealous.” I lean forward to kiss her.

She shoves me away. “Are you out of your mind?”she growls, her dark brows furrow and look like the wings of an avenging angel. Her eyes glitter like stars and her face is flushed with sun and emotion. She is so beautiful

I smile, all innocence. “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I don’t think I have