I smile. How are all of these men not taken? Zeke shouldn’t know how I like my coffee, but he does.
“Hot is fine.” I take a seat next to him and cup my hands around the coffee to warm up.
Zeke’s eyes cut down and then quickly back up. “Enzo isn’t going to like you only wearing his shirt in public.”
“Good thing I’m not in public.”
Zeke shakes his head. “You are good for him; you know that right, stingray?”
I shrug. “I guess. But I’m also very bad for him.”
We sit in silence drinking our coffee.
“What are you doing up so early?” I ask.
“I decided to stay awake after you two decided to keep the entire ship up most of the night.”
My cheeks redden, and I gasp. “You heard me?”
“Yep, the walls are usually soundproof enough. But apparently not to contain the cries of a Miller.”
“Oh my god! I’m so sorry.”
Zeke laughs. “I’m teasing. My bedroom is the closest to yours. It shares a wall. I barely heard you. I’m sure no one else heard you.”
I bite my lip. I’m not sure if he’s telling me the truth or not.
“But seriously, you can’t walk around the ship half naked. Enzo would kill me if he saw me sitting here with you.”
I roll my eyes. “Let me handle Enzo.”
“I would, but it’s my ass he’s going to hide for this, not yours.”
“You’re more of a brother than anything else. Enzo has nothing to worry about.”
“He won’t see it that way.”
I chuckle.
“You love him, don’t you?” Zeke asks.
I stop breathing. I didn’t realize anyone else could see it.
“Yes,” I breathe. It makes it more real, admitting it out loud.
He nods solemnly. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“Because Enzo will never admit he loves you back. I’ve seen it happen before. I’ve seen women spend their lives waiting for Enzo to love them back. He never does. He can’t.”
“Liesel?” I ask.
He nods. “This won’t end in happily ever after.”
“I know.”
“Enzo doesn’t know how to love anyone other than Langston and me. And I’m not even sure if he truly considers us as people he loves or just brothers and that makes it a requirement. Liesel came close, but he doesn’t love her. He just protects her. You, you might come the closest to gaining his love. But it’s a fight that isn’t worth fighting. It will only end in heartbreak for you.”