Page 43 of Until You Say Stay
“So I hear,” I say, glancing over at Lark, who’s now talking animatedly with Maren about something on her phone, both of them laughing.
“Uncle Jack!”
I turn just in time to see Chloe racing toward me at full speed, markers and paper clutched in her little hands. I catch her easily as she launches herself at me, swinging her up onto my hip.
“Hey, monster,” I say, tapping her nose gently. “What are you drawing?”
“A race car,” she says proudly, shoving the paper directly toward my face. “It’s for you! See the flames? It’s super fast. The fastest car ever.”
“My favorite kind of car!” I examine the blue scribble with orange flames shooting out the back with complete seriousness, like I’m studying technical blueprints. “You know, monster, you’re so good at art, you might have to be both a Formula One driverandan artist. You’re just too talented for one career.”
She nods seriously. “Yes, it’s very stressful to be so good at too many things.”
I throw my head back laughing, caught completely off guard by her deadpan delivery. “That’s a tough cross to bear, kiddo.”
Chloe wiggles to be put down and returns immediately to her artwork, tongue sticking out in concentration. Lark returns from what must have been a quick tour of the house with Maren and our eyes meet across the room. Something electric passes between us that makes my breath catch.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Theo announces. “Everyone to the table.”
The dining room is a large, solid table Theo built himself, positioned perfectly to capture the stunning view of the Sound through floor-to-ceiling windows.
“This is beautiful,” Lark says, taking it all in. “You guys really know how to do family dinner right.”
“Alex is the culinary mastermind,” Calvin says, pulling out Maren’s chair. “Theo the front of the house genius. The rest of us just show up and eat whatever they put in front of us.”
“That’s not true,” Dominic protests. “I brought wine.”
“Buying a box on the way over doesn’t count as contributing,” Calvin teases.
“It’s the thought that counts,” Dominic insists, and everyone laughs.
Theo and Alex bring out platters of food—arugula salad with roasted beets and creamy goat cheese, perfectly cooked halibut with some kind of herb crust, and roasted root vegetables that remind me that fall is on its way. Alex insists we open his special wine instead of drinking “Dominic’s corner store selection” with his carefully prepared halibut.
As soon as the first piece of fish is served, Theo’s gray-and-white cat, Nala, makes her entrance like she owns the place, tail high, circling the table with slow, deliberate steps. She pauses at each chair, taking stock of the guests, the laughter, but mostly the scent of halibut drifting through the air. When she reaches the spot closest to the platter, she glances up at it—just once—then looks away as if she couldn’t care less. Theo always said she acts like a queen above mortal things, and now I see why.
As Nala settles onto the couch, dinner flows easily, conversation bouncing around the table—stories about the honeymoon, Chloe’s upcoming first day of school, Dominic’s plans to expand the gym, Alex’s new restaurant menu. Lark fits in seamlessly, laughing at inside jokes, asking questions, charming every person at the table without even trying.
After dinner, we move out to the back deck. The sun has set, but the sky still holds a faint glow, turning everything a soft, hazy blue. String lights crisscross overhead, creating a warm, intimate atmosphere. From here, the view of the Sound is impressive, but I know there’s an even better spot.
“Want to see something cool?” I ask Lark as the others settle into comfortable conversation around the deck.
She nods, and I gesture toward a winding stone path that leads down toward the water’s edge, disappearing into the trees that line the property. “Theo built a gazebo down by the water. It’s got the best view.”
“Lead the way,” she says, stepping away from the railing.
We head down the path, out of sight from the deck above. The stepping stones wind through Theo’s immaculate landscaping, each one lit by small solar lights guiding our way down the gentle slope toward the shoreline. The sounds of conversation fade gradually behind us, replaced by the gentle lapping of water against the shore and the distant hum of boat engines on the Sound.
The gazebo sits at the edge of the property, through the trees, giving way to the natural rocky shoreline.
“Wow,” Lark breathes, stepping inside the gazebo and moving to the railing. “This view…”
“Yeah, Theo built this thing a few years back,” I say, joining her at the rail, close enough to smell her perfume. “After hisdivorce, actually. I think he needed something else to focus on after his marriage fell apart.”
We stand there quietly, both looking out at the water. She shifts slightly closer and suddenly I’m hyperaware of everything. The minimal space between us. The soft curve of her lips that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
Before I can think better of it, before I can stop myself, I reach out and touch her face, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. But instead of pulling back like I should, my hand lingers, tracing the line of her jaw slowly, feeling her pulse quicken under my touch.
She looks up at me, those big brown eyes dark with something that makes my cock stir behind my zipper. I should stop. I should step back. This isn’t part of our deal, our arrangement.
