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Chapter Ten

MURPH

“Why does nobody listen to me about the tide table?” I grumble, plopping my ass on the edge of the barge.

We’re picking up barrels of crushed apples from Faraway Orchards, but Kieran’s disappeared. He said he was going to help the owner, Will load up. And then something about “getting content for the socials”.

He’d better not be enjoying a sneaky cider flight in the tasting room.

I can barely keep up with the work this time of year. People love moving stuff in the summer. From construction to moving house, you name it and they need me. But I’m noticing how much downtime there is throughout the day, now that I have Eden to daydream about.

At least I know why all my friends keep turning into dumbasses. I’ve been their emotional support pet rock, listening to them as they fall in love. And helping them out when they make stupid-ass decisions. Sometimes, I even tell them things they need to hear. I’m good at it when it’s other people.

I never planned to be the one falling hard and fast. I always figured love would be slow, steady, predictable… like me. Then I found Eden. He’s as far from “sure and steady” as you can get. God, he’s a bundle of sunny recklessness, with his heart on his sleeve and a lot of filthy innuendo on his lips. It’s enough to turn me into a certified dumbass.

“Damn it, I’m doing it again.”

My phone’s out in my hand, and I’m scrolling through my message thread with Eden. We texted all yesterday evening, after I got home from work. Then, first thing this morning, he sent me a photo of his instant coffee and instant oatmeal.

I scroll back up, smiling all over again.

EDEN:

Breakfast!!!

MURPH:

Is that edible?

And I thought I was worried about you before…

EDEN:

No no it’s good, I can run the kettle AND the fridge at the same time!

I see your point though

It’s sweet of you to worry!

The string of heart-eye emojis makes me blush all over again. I’ve been paused on this message for a few seconds now. I’m staring at them, but picturing the way Eden looked up at me after I kissed him…

“Whoa!” I yelp. My phone almost buzzes right out of my damn hand. “What’s?—”

New voice note from Eden.

I grin, impatiently swiping to scroll to the new message. I turn down the phone volume and press play, raising it to my ear.

“Hey, sexy. So, when are you taking me for another ride?”

The voice note ends with one of Eden’s perfectly-calculated giggles—the ones that make me feel like I’m the tide under his moon, pulled this way and that by nothing more than a gleam in his eye.

It’s easier to send a voice note when my upstairs brain is barely keeping its hands on the wheel. So I clear my throat, hopping to my feet to pace the barge as I press my thumb to the record button.

“How about I come by tomorrow night and put some gas in your tank?”

I pause, suddenly mortified as I stare down at my phone. Is that too cheesy? No, I don’t think so. If Eden doesn’t blush, at least he’ll laugh. I’m okay with that.

Okay, do it. I let go of the record button, shove my phone into my pocket, and pace furiously until it buzzes again—and again, before I can even grab it.

Eden’s switched back to texts—a slew of them.

EDEN

Yes, skipper!!!

Then there’s several strings of emojis: the flustered face, the pleading face, the salute emoji. As I stare at them, another text arrives.

EDEN

Can I make you dinner?

I grin, because I already know the answer to that. It doesn’t matter where we’re eating, or what we’re eating. What matters is that it was made by Eden’s own hands. Or transferred from a readymade meal container to a plate—I don’t mind.

The sweet part is how hesitant he sounds, even after his boldness moments ago. I don’t think I’m the only one who’s nervous.

He’s typing again... and there it is.

EDEN

Or are you just bringing me the booty?

I roll my eyes as he sends a pirate flag emoji, then several winking emojis, then a whole string of skulls. God help me, Eden’s trying to kill me. If not with innuendo, by an avalanche of emojis. It’s the digital equivalent of his habit of chattering, like he’s trying not to let anything too meaningful hang in the air for too long.

Fuck it, I’ll just send him a voice note.

“I’ll be back on Sunrise at, uh… six or seven? Maybe eight? No late than nine. This is why people don’t date skippers.”

I laugh sheepishly and then let go of the button to send the message.

Almost instantly, the little icon changes to “listened”, and then Eden puts a little laugh reaction on it. The moment his response arrives, I hit play—and there’s the sound of his laughter.

“That gives me more time to get the place shipshape. Get it? Ha. Anyway, I’ll let you come anytime, skipper.”

Shit. Someone’s coming.

I scramble to hit pause, but the voice note is already done, so I narrowly avoid playing it again.

Kieran is wandering down the ramp, hands in his pockets. “Will is on his way with the truck. So… what’s made you so happy? The marine forecast?” He’s grinning like the cat who got the cream.

“Hm,” I grunt, sending Eden a no-mouth emoji before shoving my phone back in my pocket to hop back down to the loading ramp. “Clear skies.”

Kieran rolls his eyes and huffs impatiently. “I want the gossip.”

“Mmm.” I squint, shielding my eyes as the orchard owner’s truck rumbles into view.

“You’ve been cheerful all day. And you were smiling like the noon sun,” Kieran persists, elbowing me. “I know something’s going on.”

I’m trying not to grin as Will turns the truck around, backing it slowly down the loading ramp. “Hm.”

“I mean, you don’t have to tell me…” Kieran fidgets with a lock of his bright-pink hair. “But I’d love to hear it. But you don’t have to. But I’ll keep asking.”

“Mmm.” I wave for Will to stop, then pull the tailgate down.

Kieran sighs with disappointment, but I don’t feel bad. It’s actually kind of fun, having my own secret. But I know it’s too soon to talk about this, and thinking too much about things ties me in knots. That’s just the way I am.

My heart tells me to act, not talk—keep Eden a secret for a little bit longer. And the one thing I always tell people is to let their hearts lead the way. So I’ll take a spoonful of my own medicine… I just hope it keeps going down this sweetly.