where the water meets the moon | e.d.

fifty-two

ethan

july 15, 1:47 am

"no, stop," addy laughs, swatting my hand away as i try to grab from her bag of animal crackers.

"ow," i frown. "didn't you ever learn in kindergarten that sharing is caring?"

"exactly," she nods. "i'm sharing you."

i roll my eyes playfully and try not to think about it.

"hey," she suddenly says, popping another cookie into her mouth. "did you see how you-know-who has been acting all weird for the past week?"

it's definitely true; she'll barely look at addy, even though they were such good friends on the island. i can't read kendall's emotions anymore, though, so i have no clue why.

"do we have to call her that?" i ask, snagging the cracker from addy's hand before she can eat it.

she frowns at my chewing, then reaches for another one. "we don't have to, but every time i mention her name you get all weird."

"because i barely make it through the day with her, so when the sun goes down i can just forget about kendall and be here with you," i explain like it's obvious.

she sticks her bottom lip out and her eyes soften for a moment before going back to normal. "three months ago you wanted to murder me."

"not murder, no. let's just say i wouldn't have cried if you got stung by a jellyfish," i shrug, causing her to nudge my shoulder and let out a small giggle.

when all her animal crackers are gone, she discards the empty bag on the bench and promises that she'll pick it up before we go back inside.

"if you could start over and do everything again," she enunciates, gesturing with her hands. "what would you do?"

we're now sitting on the wooden deck of the boat, her back against my chest and our legs sprawled out in front of us. one of my arms wraps loosely around her stomach, and the other holds the rootbeer can at my side.

"umm..." i tilt my head back to think. "would i have the same interests as i do now?"

she shakes her head. "nope. totally different person that you built from the ground up."

"i think it would be really cool to be someone that travels the world and reviews food," i finally decide. "like, i could have a fake name and everything."

"like what?" she laughs.

"what about: salvatore jon crème brûlée?"

she tilts her head to look up at me and wrinkles her nose. "too long."

"so would i just go by sal crème brûlée?"

"seems good enough for me."

i smile and duck my head to place a long kiss to her lips, and when i pull away the unmistakable blush to her face can be seen in the dark night, only illuminated by the outside lights on the boat.

no moon tonight. too foggy. she was sad about that, but then i suggested she sneak inside and get animal crackers, and then it was okay again.

"i have a surprise," i reach up to the bench my back leans against and fish my hand around until it encloses on something.

"like what?" she questions, looking out at the water.

i hold the camera in both hands, wrapped around her, and stick my arms out straight. she squints to see what it is, but i click the button before she can figure it out.

the bright light makes her flinch, and i'm 99% sure my eyes were closed, but my smile was huge.

"wait, try again," she says sadly. "i wasn't ready."

"that's the point, ad. it was supposed to be candid."

"it's not candid if i look like a mole rat climbing out from its hole and seeing daylight for the first time in thirty years," she scoffs. "try again."

i laugh and reposition the camera in front of us again. she tilts her head to the little, and i can't see the smile on her face, but i'm certain it's there.

i smile as well, but instead of looking at the camera, my gaze is directed right at addison.

"take the picture," she says through clenched teeth, and i realize i haven't clicked the button yet.

and this time, i'm ready for the flash.

i set the camera back on the bench next to her empty bag of animal crackers and feel the excitement to see these pictures once they get developed.

i'll just have to do it after the entire trip and when i've broken up with kendall.

if she's sees those pictures, i'm dead.

but i forget all about that worry when addison leans her head back on me and breathes in a rhythmic pattern. our sleep schedules definitely will be messed up due to all these late nights, but i can't seem to find myself caring about my eye bags.

because at night, i have her.