Page 88 of Dirty Martini
I throw my head back with a laugh at the indignation on his face. Settling into one of the cushioned seats toward the bow, I lounge back as he goes through all the motions. It only takes a couple of minutes and a few fumbles on his part before we’re ready.
My parents’ house is located on the water, right inside a large canal. If you want to, you could stay inside the enclosed body of water, seeing as there’s enough room to never leave thearea surrounded by the other mansions. But Rhys takes us in a direction I once again didn’t expect. He heads to the mouth of the canal, right where it feeds into the Atlantic. He steers gently, creating minimal wake, and almost like it’s not four in the morning and we just borrowed—stole—a boat.
It only takes us about ten minutes until the familiar outline of downtown Miami fills our view. We heave to and idle in the water, far enough away from the city where the lights look like dazzling stars in the backdrop.
There’s something so stunning about being here at night. There’re no other boats around and it’s silent, nothing but the rippling waves. It feels like we’re the only ones in the world, despite the millions of people just a mile in front of us. It’s calm, peaceful, and it brings me to an almost hazy, euphoric state.
“Wow,” I breathe, leaning forward and resting my chin in my hands. “It’s so beautiful.”
Rhys chuckles as he sits behind me, arranging us so his legs bracket my hips and his arms wrap around my waist. “You like it?”
“I know a lot of people don’t like big cities…” Settling my hand over his, I rub my thumb against his. “But I don’t know how anyone can hate this.”
He nods as his lips ghost the back of my neck. “It’s definitely something.”
“This is wonderful,” I whisper, turning so I can peck his cheek. “What made you think of this?”
His brow furrows. “You mean you don’t remember?”
I wrinkle my forehead, but before I can ask him what he means, it hits me. “Holy shit.”
This has happened before. I can’t believe I forgot.
It was my twelfth birthday when Rhys took me out here. I remember my parents had thrown me a whole big party that had ended in disaster when one of my “friends” told me he and theothers had only come for the chance to hang out with Elton. I didn’t tell anyone that was the reason I held back my tears and ran away, finishing up my birthday party crying in my room.
But that night, Rhys had come into my room to check on me. I was half asleep when he took me downstairs, showed me my parents’ stolen keys, and took me out on the boat. He brought soda and candy, and we idled right here in this same spot. It was obvious when I ran away that I was upset, and the next morning, my parents and Elton tried to figure out what happened, but Rhys was the one who made me feel better.
He was my hero, my knight in shining armor, and I remember thinking he was the greatest person ever.
“Rhys…” My eyes water despite how hard I try to hold it in. “I can’t believe you remembered.”
He scoffs, but there’s no malice in it. “I can’t believe you forgot.”
“This…” I trail off because I don’t have the words. “I?—”
“I figured Elton and your parents would want you for today,” he says softly, running his knuckles down my cheek. “I wanted to spend some time, just us, where we didn’t have to hide.”
This makes the guilt reappear. Guilt that I’m keeping this from Elton and guilt that I’m keeping Rhys a secret. “I’m so sorry. I know this must be hard.”
He sighs deeply, a warm smile on his lips as his brown eyes dance across my face. “It’s not. Being with you is the easiest thing in the world.”
And at this moment, I can’t believe it. I can’t believe that Rhys and I are here. Not just reliving a memory I had long forgotten, but here together in a relationship I never saw coming. I’m once again hit with the tremendous mountain we overcame, the growth we’ve both shown, and it makes me want to tell him just how much he means to me.
Twisting in his hold, I cup his face with trembling fingers. I lick my lips that suddenly feel dry and chapped, my breath stuttering as I ghost the words over his lips. “I love you, Rhys.”
I’m terrified. Now that the words are out there, they can’t be taken back. I like to think that I know Rhys better than anyone, but fear is preventing me from seeing things clearly. Putting myself out there like this is showing all the vulnerability I possess and the threat of rejection is making me shake in his arms.
Not as good as Elton.
Always second best.
Never good enough?—
“Baby, look at me,” Rhys mumbles, pressing his forehead against mine. A breathy chuckle leaves his lips, a sweet and tender sound as my eyes flutter open. “I love you too.”
Something between a choked sob and a laugh leaves me as I claw at his shoulders, gripping him tightly as if this moment will disappear. “Yeah?”
“You take up all the space,” he whispers, rubbing his nose against mine. “All the air.”
