Be Brave With Me

Chapter Twelve

"No time to lose, gentlemen. Let's go."

Avery was the first to jump out of the dinghy onto the wonky, wooden pier of the tiny fishing harbor. The twins followed to help Aura and Jess on land. Theo turned off the engines and came last.

This morning, they had anchored in a bay in front of some coastal village in Croatia with a lot of rustic charm and a name too hard to pronounce. Tonight, they were hosting a special candle light dinner for the Mr. and Mrs. celebrating their wedding anniversary on the top deck of the Plan B.

Hence, the foot-long shopping list in Avery hands. "Tac, you're responsible for fresh fruit and veg. Tic, check what fish you can get for us. Theo, you're on booze duty. I'll hit-"

"Oh my God, Aurelia! I have two bars! TWO FULL BARS!" Jess pushed Avery to the side on her rush down the pier, closer to the beach front with its little market square. "I've got three over here! THREE BARS! A call is getting through! Aurelia, a phone call!"

Jess pressed the phone against one ear and her hand against the other to block out the market cries of the Croatian fishermen nearby. "Yes. This is she. Hey! So great to hear from you..."

While he hung back to secure the dinghy, he turned to see where Jess had left Aura. He found her further down the pier, standing in front of a weathered blackboard next to the little harbormaster's hut. Her short denim jumpsuit revealed her long, tanned legs. A colorful scarf was wrapped around her waist, its ends tangled in her hands. Her hair was draped in two loose braids over her shoulders.

Just like she used to wear it when they were kids.

She was pouring over a map of the town, presumedly on the hunt for somewhere she and Jess could find a decent internet connection in this place.

The map looked like it predated the internet itself, though.

He should know better than to watch out for her. He had to source a bottle of local rakija they could serve as an aperitif before tonight's dinner. Plus, he wanted to make the most out of the couple of hours of free time that Rosa had granted them once they were done with their shopping. Most of all, he had no business watching out for Aura.

She had run out on him. Again.

One moment, it had been fun and warm and easy between them. Holding Aura in his arms while playing video games? Pure muscle memory.

The next moment, he had sat on that couch like the biggest fool on earth. His arms, empty. His head, back on straight.

He had remembered the ancient promise he had made to himself on a rainy Hamptons summer morning just before sunrise.

He had run after her. Once. He would never do it again.

For the past two days, he had made sure to not run into her, either. Which hadn't been easy. Eighty yards of yacht might sound like a lot. It wasn't nearly enough to avoid someone for long, though. He would have an easier time here on land with steady ground beneath his feet and an entire beach town to put between him and Aura.

Between him and the memory of her in his arms. The pink flush sitting high on her cheeks. The little hitches in her breath now and then. The shivers running down her spine and straight into his own body. Her warm, soft skin against his.

Yes, it had been fun and warm and easy between them.

And yet, at the same time, no at all like the old days.

New. And scary. But somehow exciting and scary at the same time?

At least, for him.

Maybe Aura had just been scared? Full stop?