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“Yes, to myself,” Kelsey admitted. She walked over and handed Isabella the other glass of wine. “I’m sorry things got a little strange earlier. Let’s go back to you and me and enjoy the rest of this trip.”

Isabella smiled. “I think we’re both feeling the stress and pressure from this undertaking. We can do this if we stick together.”

“To sticking together,” Kelsey said, clinking her glass to Isabella’s.

“I’ve got you, Kels,” Isabella replied.

They both took a sip and Kelsey smiled. “We’re a couple.”

Isabella chuckled. “That’s usually my line.”

“I know, but you need to hear me say it.”

“How do you do that?”

“Do what?” Kelsey asked, opening the door to the balcony.

“You’re right, I did need to hear you say it. And you knew I needed your help on the dance floor at Peaches,” Isabella said.

Kelsey shrugged. “You had a rather desperate look in your eyes.”

Isabella smiled and sat down in one of the chairs. “You know, I forget that you’re gay and someone might spark your interest at Peaches. I take up all your time.”

Kelsey sat down next to her. “No you don’t. What about you? I see heads turning in your direction wherever we go.”

“I am not interested in turning heads,” Isabella said.

Kelsey smirked. “Well, you do it quite well.”

“What makes you so sure they’re looking at me? You know who walks into those places right next to me. It’s you,” Isabella said, playfully slapping Kelsey’s arm.

Kelsey chuckled. This felt right. They were back to their playful banter. When she glanced at Isabella her face was relaxed and a soft smile lit her sparkling blue eyes.

Isabella must have felt Kelsey staring because she looked over at her, and reached for her hand. “We’re okay,” she said quietly.

Kelsey squeezed her hand and they both gazed out over the water. They stayed like that as they finished their wine and listened to the surf gently meet the sand.

“How about that dance?” Isabella said as she set her wine glass on the table.

Kelsey got up, reached for her phone, and pulled up their song. She smiled at Isabella and opened her arms.

Instead of putting her arms around Kelsey’s neck like she usually did, Isabella snaked her hands around Kelsey’s middle and smiled. “We don’t have to do everything the same way, right?”

Kelsey chuckled at her own words from the beginning of this trip and put her arms around Isabella’s shoulders. She was a little taller than Isabella and ran one hand across her back. Before she realized what she was doing, Kelsey’s other hand was gliding through Isabella’s hair where it hung down her back.

Her hand stilled at the intimate gesture and Isabella didn’t seem to notice. Kelsey took a deep breath and tried to relax in Isabella’s arms.

“It’s okay,” Isabella whispered, pulling Kelsey a little closer. “It’s just us.”

Kelsey closed her eyes and rested her cheek against Isabella’s hair as the song began to play again. They slowly moved to the music and their breaths began to come at the same time. Kelsey could feel her heart settle into a rhythm she was pretty sure matched Isabella’s. With every beat the doubts from earlier, the fear Liz mentioned, and the uncertainty of the next few months washed away.

It was just them, the music, and the waves.

20

Kelsey glanced over at Isabella as she feverishly tapped her keyboard.

“Anything else?” Isabella asked.