Always Alone | ✓

Chapter Twenty-One

STANDING PROUDLY ON the horizon is a one-story beach cottage. The with white trimming around the windows accentuates the sky kissed structure. A colorful arrangement of flowers gives the home a beautiful curb appeal. Swinging from the porch hangs a two-person yellow swing that rocks like a boat on the ocean.

"Woah," I say in awe as I carefully step over the cobblestone circling what will be our home for the next three days.

"It looks even better in the daylight," Devin says as he rounds the car and gathers our bags and fishing poles.

"Remind me again who we're spending the weekend with."

"Mason is the one who owns the house with his wife, Ava. Ernesto and Alexa, you already know, and then there's Chloe and Luis."

"Chloe's the teacher, right?" I ask, remembering our chat while we drove by the Seven Mile Bridge.

"Yep."

At least I have something in common with one of his friends. If things get awkward, I can always talk about work with her and hopefully bond over how much we love our jobs.

Devin grabs our bags, stepping on the vast porch before running his knuckles on the red door. Soon after the third knock, the door spreads wide.

"My man! About time." A man wearing swimming shorts with water dripping over his naked chest is on the other side of the threshold. His arms outstretch as he welcomes Devin with a hug. The beer he's holding almost drops to the floor at his excitement.

"Traffic was a nightmare," Devin mutters, turning to me. "This is Genevieve, my girlfriend."

He says the word girlfriend with such vigor that my tummy instantly somersaults. I allow the words to simmer as I know I'll never forget the first time he introduced me as his girlfriend.

The tan man gives me a warm smile and shakes my hand.

"The famous Genevieve. I've heard lots about you. I'm Mason, it's good to meet you." He goes on to tell us where our room is and to meet him out in the back where the party is taking shape.

I don't get a chance to admire the décor inside the house before something on the far side of the living room grabs my attention. Stepping over the threshold, I robotically walk to the source and ballet my fingers over the white and baby-blue wooden skids on the wall.

I face Devin, seeing his hand on this masterpiece. "Did you make this?"

"Yeah. Ava wanted to have an accent wall, but she didn't want to use wallpaper. Mason knows how much I like to make things out of wood and he asked me to make it for her. It was a surprise. She says it's her favorite thing in the house."

These are the moments with him that make me swoon. These are the moments when I wonder how in the world did I become so lucky to have such a giving man in my life. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him close to me until our lips seal.

The open windows and light ocean breeze give flavor to our kiss as our tongues dance as one. Devin pulls me to the kitchen, almost tripping over our discarded bags and sits me on the massive granite island. I open my legs as he settles closed to me and swipes an errant curl behind my ear.