“No,” Calder disagreed. “Not cheesy, because I feel the same way. I was happy to hear we’re soul mates, and that hasn’t changed. Unlike you two, I’ve never been in love, but I know this is something damn special. Never felt anything like it. I’m so glad you came around, Gio.”
Gio snorted. “Didn’t take me long. I was lying there feeling sorry for myself with you two in this bed without me.”
“We told you it would be lonely all the way over there.” Lucien laughed softly and pressed his lips to Gio’s forehead. It was a tender gesture, and Calder’s heart flipped again. Loved that they brought out this tender side of Lucien. He closed his eyes and listened to Lucien’s heart beating.
They were all quiet as they lay there, and a sort of peace filled Calder. He marveled over being able to feel it when their world was so fraught with danger, but he welcomed it. He slid his thigh along Lucien’s, his knee bumping into Gio’s. Gio reached across Lucien’s chest and lightly touched Calder’s cheek. That small gesture said more than Gio probably meant it to.
Whether they were all ready to admit it or not, they were falling in love, and that love was deep and pure and beautiful. Calder fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Chapter Eighteen
Early morning sunlight sparkled on the water for Sewee Bay. Seagulls cried out overhead, searching for breakfast. It was a beautiful day, perfect for the pretend fishing they planned to do. Gio looked for his brother, spotting his dark head near his boat. They all carried brand-new fishing poles they’d purchased earlier, and Baer had a cooler full of beer, soda, and sandwiches.
Marcello saw him and stood, waving. Gio was slightly alarmed to see him dressed for the ocean in his lucky fishing shorts and a gray sweat shirt. His brother was not supposed to be going out with them. How the fuck would they explain what they were doing?
“Gio! It’s so good to see you!” Marcello bounded over to him, his long body so similar to Gio’s. He had the same full head of black hair and the same long nose. Other than that, they didn’t have a lot in common, though Marcello also worked in furniture restoration. He was straight, for one thing, and had a long-time girlfriend. But they were close and called every couple of weeks to touch base. His brother grabbed him in a hug, nearly dislodging the fishing pole Gio carried.
He returned the hug, relaxing a little just to see him again. “Thanks for letting us use your boat today.”
“I could use a good day on the water, so I was happy to get your call.”
“What about work? It’s a Tuesday.”
Marcello made a dismissive noise in the back of his throat. “You think I don’t have vacation time stored up? It’s fine.”
Gio shared a look with Lucien, unable to figure out a way to tell his brother he wasn’t welcome. Well, it was his boat and since Gio had never shown any interest in fishing, he was probably not willing to let him take it out on his own. Lucien shrugged and twisted his lips into a grimace. Yeah, this was going to be tricky.
They made quick introductions, and Marcello walked them down to the slip where his thirty-nine-foot cabin cruiser was tied up. He was into investing, and this was his one pleasure purchase. It was a thing of beauty with a cabin, bathroom, and small kitchenette inside. He took the family on it often, so Gio wasn’t new to being out on the water.
“Whoa! When you said a boat for fishing, this was not what I was expecting!” Wiley cried. “This is a freaking yacht.”
Marcello grinned at him with a look of pride. “Not quite, but she’ll make sure you’re comfortable while you wait for a nibble.”
“Thanks again for taking us out,” Baer said with a grin.
“Not a problem. I was shocked when Gio asked.” Marcello turned to Gio, one eyebrow arched in suspicion. “Since when do you fish?”
Gio pasted a wide smile on his face, inwardly praying his brother couldn’t see right through him. “You always seem to enjoy it, so I wanted to give it a go. Plus, they’ve never been fishing around here.” He carefully stepped onto the deck behind Marcello, pausing as the boat bobbed and a big wave washed in. “In fact, we have a specific spot in mind.”
Confusion snapped Marcello’s dark brows together. “A specific spot? Where?”
Gio pulled out the map he’d stuck in his pocket and showed his brother the circled area. “Here.”
“Why there?”
He shrugged, tongue-tied and unable to come up with a plausible explanation.
“Okay then,” Marcello said, his brow still wrinkled. “Should be some good redfish fishing there. You guys can come aboard. I know the area well. It won’t take too long to get there.”