Page 43 of Unmoored

“My, uh… well, I wasn’t sure what to call you.New frienddoesn’t quite cover it, eh?” I ask him, trying to stay cool.

Eden snorts. “I’ll kill you if you introduce me as yourfriend. No, worse.” He points at me. “I’ll sink your boat.”

“Uh oh.” My lips twitch into a smile. “I doubt my insurance will cover that. What should I call you, then?”

There’s a long pause, and I gulp as Eden tilts his head and watches me thoughtfully. Oh, god. The more seconds that tick by, the more it feels like an eternity. More than enough time has passed for Eden to laugh and come up with some kind of sassy reply.

That means he’s thinking about it seriously. And I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page about what we’re doing together… but it’s occurring to me now that perhaps we aren’t.

I’ve been in life-or-death situations, and I never sweated bullets like I am right now.

The pit of my stomach drops straight through my feet. Did I come on too strong? Maybe he really does just want something casual after all. I don’t know how to back out of this without admitting that I don’t just want to be a friendly face in his life, or a hot booty call.

I want more than that. I want alotmore than that.

Finally, Eden smiles at me, reaching across the table to lay his hand—warmed from the coffee mug—on top of mine. “Figure out what you want first,” he tells me, soft and thoughtful. “Then you can ask that question again… but with a little more romance next time.”

He winks, and despite how gentle he’s being, I want to die of mortification. I know Eden’s right. He’s a big deal to me, and he deserves to be asked properly.

“Uh, yeah—I—yeah.” I scratch the back of my neck, turning my palm over to let him trace circles into it with his fingertips. “Yeah.”

There’s a long pause as he catches my eyes and smiles, gently at first, and then brighter and brighter. I’m too mesmerized to look away. I can’t even help smiling back at him when he looks at me like the sun itself.

I feel this irresistible pull toward Eden, as sure as a rock thrown into the ocean will sink or a feather caught by the breeze will rise. And the tides never stop—which reminds me, my part-time guy isn’t covering the whole day.

As hard as it is to leave, I have to do it now, or I’m just going to be camped out on his boat for a week straight, showing him what we can tell each other with our bodies alone.

“I better head out soon,” I mumble at last.

“Wait. One more question before you go,” Eden says. “What in the everlovingfuckis a bathtub race?”

I burst out laughing, but I’ll admit it’s a fair question. Growing up here, I just take it for granted. The bathtub race is one of the most popular events of the year in Nanaimo, and has been for a lot longer than I’ve been alive.

While I’m busy laughing, Eden takes the chance to keep talking. “Followup questions: is this like a sports day where we have to participate? If so, where will we get a bathtub?”

“Eden, Eden, hold on,” I laugh. “First of all, I wouldn’t let you participate. Secondly, signups were months ago. Third, you wouldn’t be able to squeeze a kayak through the harbour if everyone in the city took part. That’s why we do a watch party on the barge.”

Eden nods slowly along with all my answers, the worried frown disappearing. “Oh. Right. Cool. So it’s basically just an excuse to meet your brothers, huh?”

I pause, shrugging as he watches me expectantly. “Mmm,” I grunt in a vaguely affirmative tone. “If you wanted to, I mean.”

“Sounds like something you’d do with a new friend,” Eden follows up, quick as a whip. I groan as I rise to my feet and gulp down the rest of my coffee, and he just bursts out with one of those raucous, unrestrained laughs. “Sorry, sorry. It’s really sweet of you. I’d like to go.”

“Yeah?” My cheeks burn as I glance slowly down at him. “I mean, thanks. That’s great. I’ll run it by them, but I know they’ll wanna meet you.” That’s an understatement. I just hope Eden’s ready for their… well, enthusiasm.

“I can’t wait,” Eden adds with a bright little smile at me, rising to his feet. “Really.”

My stomach flips with nervous excitement like butterflies trying to bust out and make for their migration grounds. I can’t help but be warm to it, though. The prospect of all my best friends meeting my potential new…

New what?

Lover? That’s not quite right. Partner? It sounds like he’s joining me in business, and barging is the last occupation I’d expect to find him in. I already know the word I mean—I just have to wrap my head around it.

Boyfriend. My new potential boyfriend.

“Me neither,” I murmur at last. I lean in to press my lips against his, closing my eyes to savour the sweetness of this moment together in the morning sun. “Me neither,” I murmur again, combing his hair gently back before I let go of him to duck into the living room.

Eden walks me through the boat to the stern, wearing that thoughtful look on his face like he’s planning something. I’d be worried, but by this point, I just know to expect trouble with him.

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