Page 27 of Marriage is a Shore Thing (Wilks Beach #2)

twenty-six

Geneva

Not more than ten minutes later, we’re settled around my overflowing coffee table.

An impressive charcuterie board takes up most of the left side with several printed pages of a house’s floorplan interspaced between glasses of lemonade and cans of flavored seltzer water.

Van has me closest to the food with fresh ice on my ankle.

It’s propped on his lap while Vivian, Finn, Brynn, and Noah sit in mismatched chairs around the far side of the table.

“These were on the developer’s website for the neighborhood, and based on the photos on Zillow and Google Maps, I think Henry’s house might have this same floorplan.” Brynn points a highlighter to the center of a printed page.

“Stacy told Mom that he has the ring in the desk drawer of the study off the main entry.” Noah leans forward to gesture to another page, accidentally brushing Brynn’s forearm.

The two of them snap back in their seats—his hand flexing, her rubbing the skin he inadvertently grazed. I’m genuinely surprised they’re sitting next to each other when they could have easily bookended Vivian’s and Finn’s chairs.

“And Joanna is not here because?” It feels weird leaving her out of this impromptu planning meeting when the idea of retrieving the ring brings her so much happiness.

“I asked her if she wanted to come, but she said something about plausible deniability about heist details since she’s already coordinating with Stacy for scheduling,” Noah tells me, leaning back in his chair to rub the front of his right shoulder.

The old injury was bothering him at class yesterday, so I gave him some modifications. When Noah stretches his arm back to work deeper into the joint, I don’t miss the way Brynn’s eyes trace the unintentional pop of his bicep before she looks pointedly at her tapping toes.

“And you all want to be a part of this?” I ask, still shocked that they want to help, that they’re even here.

Vivian’s grin is so bright it could power a small city. “Haven’t you watched those movies? You need a team, and there’s no one better than us.” She points to Brynn first. “The Getaway Driver since she struggles to stay under the speed limit.”

“They’re always too low,” Brynn grumbles, and the corner of my mouth twitches.

“The Distraction in case something goes wrong inside. Noah can ring the doorbell, cause a ruckus, and say he’s got a bone to pick with his dad.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Noah says, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Disguises, obviously.” She thumbs the center of her chest. “I think your workout clothes would be best for maneuverability, but I’ll sew you a custom black face and head covering in case you’re caught on an external camera.

I can also braid your hair. You should tuck it beneath your shirt and the head covering so they have one less identifier. ”

“The Backer who will get us an unmarked car to drive to and from the scene.” Vivian’s hand splays affectionately over Finn’s forearm before looking at me. “You’re The Infiltrator—the one entering the building and securing the goods.”

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me at her bubbly explanation.

“Oh, and he’s The Planner. The one that brought us all together.” Her smile widens as she gestures toward Van with a flourish.

Finn tucks his shoe around the leg of Vivian’s chair and scoots her close so he can drop a kiss over her chestnut curls. “Perfectly explained, gorgeous.”

It’s hard to believe that Vivian was the quietest person in Wilks Beach mere months ago.

“This is like something from a novel.” Vivian beams at her boyfriend. “It’s all very exciting.”

“I’ll also be running coms,” Van adds. “I’d like you to have an earbud in while on the phone to let me know if something goes south. That way I can send Noah in if need be.”

“I don’t want you anywhere near this.” My lips press into a tight line. “I thought we agreed on that.”

Van takes my other foot between his large hands and begins massaging my arch. It’s a struggle to keep my expression even, to not let my eyelashes flutter with bliss.

“I’m not letting you do this alone.”

“Isn’t that what they’re for?” I sweep my arm toward the four people in my living room.

When Van simply shakes his head at me, that darned, confident smirk tracing his distracting lips, my hands fist at my sides.

His strong fingers playfully pinch my Achilles, nearly drawing a gasp from my mouth.

Warmth snakes up the back of my leg in curling tendrils as Van’s mesmerizing gray eyes hold mine.

It’s not until Finn speaks up that I even remember everyone else is here, watching us.

“We should refresh our drinks in the kitchen,” he says before encouraging everyone else out of the room.

“Be honest with me.” Van’s words are so low I almost miss them, but it’s impossible to mistake his focused expression.

All hints of flirtation are gone as he surveys my face.

“Will you tell Vivian or Brynn or Noah if you’re in trouble?

Or will you push through, trying to protect everyone without ever thinking about yourself? ”

I swallow, wondering how a craggy boulder got lodged in my throat.

“We knew from the beginning that I would be the one to take the fall if it came to that.”

Van’s exhale is long and slow. “But if we work together, that won’t happen. If I’m the one on the phone, you’ll tell me. Won’t you?”

My mouth opens, closes, and opens again. The answer screams in my brain, but I can’t get it past my teeth. We’ve only known each other a short time, but if I needed help, Van would be the one I’d ask for.

“You can be on the phone here.”

He shakes his head. “I’d have to hang up to let Noah know he needs to go in, and you know I won’t do that.”

“You’re making this sound like it’s life and death.” I roll my eyes to avert his piercing gaze. “I’m taking a small ring from my deadbeat dad’s house. If the police show up, I’ll explain that it wasn’t his in the first place.”

A deep breath fills my lungs before I continue. “Noah got his confrontation. He got his moment to tell Henry what a jerk he’d been. I never did. I got…” I don’t say left behind. “I don’t just want to do this. I need to do this.”

“And I need to keep you safe,” Van tells me, holding my gaze.

“Fine.” I make a show of huffing, though something unlocks inside my bruised heart.

Van grins, his hands moving up my good leg and kneading my calf. “In the end, I think this could be a fun adventure for everyone. Even though it’s technically breaking and entering…and theft.”

“Justified theft,” I counter.

He bounces a shoulder. “Sure. And if you let us be there for you, this can be a victorious story we’ll tell for decades.”

I like the idea of that way too much. I want to tell this story again and again with Van at my side, offering hilarious commentary. I want my pesky brother and my newfound friends to reminisce with us too.

“We talked about it,” Vivian says, reentering the room. “And only you, Noah, Brynn, and Van need to be in the car. Finn and I will stay behind and make a celebratory dinner for us to enjoy afterward.”

“I feel like we should have a team name or something.” Finn rubs his beard scruff with one hand.

Everyone falls silent, thinking. I bite the inside of my cheek out of habit but then decide to let my instantaneous idea burst free.

“The Ring Leaders.”

Vivian chuckles first, followed by Brynn.

Soon, everyone is laughing along, holding their stomachs as we spill into another fit of mirth.

It’s wildly infectious. Each time one of us slows down, another person gets us started again.

Van laughs so hard he ends up making these high-pitched squeaky sounds that should be unattractive but are adorably endearing.

When we finally settle down, my sides hurt nearly as much as the too-full ache in my chest. I gaze at my friends, my cheeks stinging from smiling. Then I turn my head, finding Van’s gray eyes already on me, a look of absolute devotion tracing his handsome features.

Energy zips through every cell as our gazes meet, making breathing impossible.

Van’s chest shudders at the exact same time I struggle to fill my lungs with air.

I don’t even notice how strongly he’s gripping my free ankle until he pulls his hand away to rub his ear, the slightest pink gracing his cheekbones.

My heart trips and falls down three flights of stairs at that faint blush.

Brynn efficiently brings our focus back to finalizing the plan.

After that, we enjoy the delicious spread and more conversation.

At one point, someone suggests a heist-themed game of Pictionary and we use the back of the floorplans as the drawing board.

Van and I team up with Brynn while Noah joins Vivian and Finn.

I knew that my brother and Brynn were competitive—they’re both former athletes—but you’d think a gold medal was up for grabs instead of bragging rights.

Despite their thirst for glory, we all end up laughing as the game progresses.

And when our team is triumphant, Noah only sulks a little bit.

Brynn hovers beside me while everyone else finishes cleaning up.

“You said there’s nothing between you and Van, but the way you look at each other says otherwise.

” My gaze snaps from Van joking with Noah in the kitchen to Brynn raising her palms in front of her chest. “Not that it’s a bad thing.

All I’m saying is, Van seems to make you happy, and I’m here for you if you want to talk about anything.

” Her lips twist to the side, rueful. “I wasn’t supportive enough when Vivian was falling for Finn.

I thought she’d get swept off her feet and abandon me, which… looking back on it, was a stupid fear.”

My mouth opens, but only stilted air comes out. I can’t respond because my mind keeps circling on one phrase—falling for.

The rest of the group comes back into the living room, and Brynn gives my shoulder an almost too hard pat, like she’s my coach, and I’m about to go into the fight of my life.

I numbly say goodbyes, acquiesce when Van offers to carry me upstairs, and stare at my reflection in my bathroom mirror for far too long as I brush my teeth.

My molars have never been sparklier, my incisors pristine.

Am I falling for Van?

With my heart as battered as it is, am I even capable of that?

Fear, insecurity, and a looming sense of dread swirl in my stomach as I lie in my bed. As the windstorm thrashes against the house with its ghostly howl, I doubt there’ll be any chance of sleep anytime soon.