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“It’s a surprise”

“Is it for you to relax or for me to move forward?”

“Both,” he says, his voice way too close to ht behind me He reaches around and places his cup in the sink, and I catch a whiff of his scent All Fucking Man None of that expensive cologne for hi the dishes and throwing theet a hold ofthere’s a hot nore the way I findto act on these feelings

Since Ryan’s truck is bigger and more co In exchange, I call dibs on being in control of the rees The ride is filled withto my favorite jams while Ryan bitches that I have the worst taste in music known to man It’s a blast Since we’re up before the rest of California, the drive is s Beach ferry terminal

“Are we taking the ferry to Catalina?”

“Yep”

I clap o there” I take Ryan’s hand in o”

Once we board the ferry, we grab a couple lattes then e of the boat A few minutes later, it leaves the terminal The water is choppy, so the ferry sways I lose round

“Careful there,” hehis arms on either side of me

“Always the savior,” I joke

My back is to his front, and even though it’s a tad chilly fro ainst his chest, reveling in how good he feels

“Look over there” He points to the left at the dolphins swiical I reach intoa million pictures

When they’re gone, I flip the camera around “Say cheese” I lances down, his eyes searing into h the camera “Smile” I poke his side with my other hand, and a small smile appears I snap the picture, then take a moment to look at it I haven’t taken any pictures in the last year, the last one being when I ith Ian for Thanksgiving My face is a tad slis under my eyes from sleep deprivation, but my smile is real, and enuinely happy