"Between friends, unspoken feelings can feel like a fragile thread pulled taut; one denies its existence while the other hides behind its delicate weave, both yearning for the courage to unravel what lies beneath."
Ian and Julian, long-time best fri...
"...and I thought, "he's so pretty I could cry," pretty boy, with pretty hair and pretty eyes, and I want him to be mine, mine."
~Julian ♥
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The yacht rocked casually on the peaceful sea, with the sun's rays giving the deck a chill, warm vibe.
The Mitchells and our family have this longstanding tradition of always being together—birthdays, funerals, you name it. It's been a forever thing, and honestly, I can't even pinpoint when it all kicked off. Our families have basically been intertwined in every possible way for as long as I can remember. Dad's always bragging about how Bella's been Mom's ride-or-die for, like, half their lives, but my memory's a bit hazy on the details.
So, following Dad's spontaneous plan he whipped up yesterday, we all gathered for a day of kicking back and having a blast, ditching the everyday grind. Why? Oh, just because it's the old man's birthday. Good news, though—this year, he kept it real and didn't go all out renting a whole hotel for us and his crew. Cheers to that!
Bella and Candice were sprawled out on the lounge chairs, soaking up the sun like a pair of sunbathing lizards. Their chatter and giggles, accompanied by chilled cocktails, filled the air as they reveled in the warm vibes. Meanwhile, Heidi sat at the table surrounded by a feast, her face a delightful mess as she indulged in an endless parade of food.
Now, shifting to Harrison and Mel, they were deep-sea enthusiasts, donning snorkel gear like they were auditioning for a marine documentary. They're down there, captivated by the vibrant coral reefs and fish, surfacing only for quick breaths.
On the surface, we had thrill-seekers. Dad and Cade, grinning ear to ear, revving up the jet ski. Dad signals Cade for a race, pointing to some distant spot, and off they go, tearing through the waves, the wind tousling their hair. Laughter blends with the engine's roar as they zip around the yacht, saltwater mist on their faces.
Observing the action from the yacht's deck, I pondered my options. Should I join the race with Dad and Cade? Maybe relax with Bella—well, scratch that; Candice was in the mix. Heidi's still devouring everything in sight, and I can't help but chuckle at her gusto. My gaze shifted to Ian, leaning by the boat's rail, engaged in a video chat and laughter with Unity. A subtle eye roll ensued.
I grabbed a paddle board, nudging Ian to join me by swiping his phone mid-call with a cheeky grin on my face.
"Stealing Ian away now... you can catch up when I've conquered the waters," I teased, sticking out my tongue playfully and cutting the call. Tossing him the paddleboard, I asked, "What are you waiting for?"
"What are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? Kidnapping you for a paddle. Ready?"
