Page 116 of Shift Change

Beneath us, the water was clear as glass, and the ocean floor shimmered in shades of gold and blue. Our linked silhouettes stretched across the sand in long, rippling shadows. It felt like a dream except better because I was awake, floating above the reef while Nate’s thumb traced slow, steady circles against the back of my hand.

It seemed like only a few minutes had passed when we broke the surface and swam for the boat, still quiet and still holding on. When we climbed back on board, I was grinning so hard my mask nearly popped off my face.

Nate smiled while he pulled off his flippers. “Have a good time, babe?”

“The fucking best. This might be the most romantic I’ve ever felt while covered in sea salt and wearing a too-tight life vest.”

He laughed, tipping his head back and treating me to a view of his irresistible throat. When he quieted, he rested his hand on my arm. “So, you’re saying you’d like to do this again?”

“Every chance we get.” I grabbed his vest and tugged him close enough for a kiss.

We took our time and made it the kind of moment that stole my breath and had my heart careening down a reckless road. The other passengers were too polite to stare, but when we finally had to breathe, there were a lot of smiles. Nate and I leaned against each other, shoulder to shoulder, enjoying the sea breeze as the boat hummed toward shore.

After a while, I turned to look at him, and it hit me all over again—that gut-punch of love, ofhow the hell did I get this lucky. His hair was a mess from the wind and salt water, his tan was deeper, and his soft expression reflected the kind of peace I’d love to give him every day. He looked like Achilles on vacation, if Achilles had brown hair, a lazy smile, and a habit of kissing his dumbass boyfriend senseless on snorkeling boats.

And me? I’d have let him conquer the world if it meant I got to keep looking at him like this.

He caught me staring and broke into a curious grin. “What?”

“I think I’m in trouble.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m already thinking about how to tell our kids this story someday. You, me, the sea turtles, and a kiss that made every other kiss in my life feel like a warm-up.”

My stomach clenched.What the fuck did I say? Holy shit, please don’t let him pull away.

He blinked, and then his lips began a slow upward curve, ending in a grin that plumped his cheeks and brought out smile lines I’d never seen.

We gazed into each other’s eyes until he nodded. “I guess we’re both in trouble, then. You, our kids, sea turtles, and magic kisses? I could never resist that.”

We didn’t talk much after that. I was holding back tears because I was too damn happy to let them fall.

“Look at how the water’s sparkling,” he said, pointing over the side of the boat. “It’s as happy as we are.”

Leaning against Nate, holding his hand, I felt whole. For the first time in my life, I didn’t need to look ahead or behind. I focused on being in the present with him.

That was everything.

epilogue

Two Years Later: Sunday of Labor Day Weekend

Holky

The kitchen smelledlike roasted garlic, caramelized onions, and whatever witchy blend of herbs Nana had snuck into the potato salad. Afternoon sun spilled across the counter in hazy gold ribbons, and the heat rolling off the oven made everything shimmer. Frank Sinatra, Nana’s favorite, crooned softly in the background, and the only other sounds were the rhythm of Nana’s knife against the cutting board and the occasional clink of ceramic bowls as she worked her magic.

Chuck stood a few feet from her, pretending he wasn’t eyeing the coleslaw like a starving bear. He edged half a step closer, trying to be casual, and Nana snapped her fingers without even turning around.

“Don’t even think about it, Charles Madison.”

He flinched like she’d tased him. “You weren’t even looking. How do you always know?”

“I’ve known you all your life.” Her knife glided through a tomato like it owed her money. “I don’t need to look.”

I leaned against the opposite counter with my arms crossed, trying to appear innocent. My hair was damp from my post-yardwork shower, and I couldn’t stop smiling at the two of them. “Would now be a bad time to mention I already stole one of the little tomatoes?” I asked, popping the last half into my mouth with no shame at all.

Nana turned, knife still in hand, and narrowed her eyes. “I know. I let it slide.”

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