“It’s okay,” Cole assured her. “Apparently, sleeping on a boat agrees with you. Here, come get some food before it’s gone.” He eyed Seb as he heaped another helping of everything onto his plate.
“What?” Seb mumbled through his mouthful of waffle. “I’m a growing boy!”
Cole just shook his head and slid in next to Bri. Sharon handed Bri a plate, and Bri helped herself to some breakfast.
“So, now that Bri’s finally awake,” Claire chimed in. “What are we going to do today?”
“I vote for fishing,” Jimmy said.
“Me, too,” Seb agreed.
“I heard some guys talking yesterday about a great spot,” Scott leaned in excitedly.
“No! Fishing’s boring!” Claire pouted. “I know, let’s go shopping! What do you think, Bri?”
“No, shopping’s boring!” Seb mimicked Claire’s pout. Claire smacked his arm.
“How about we drop you girls off on shore to shop, and the guys can go fishing?” Scott looked around the table for approval.
“That works,” Sharon replied. “Then we could all meet back together in a couple hours for a late lunch.”
“Done!” Scott nodded. “You ladies better hurry, we’re leaving in ten minutes.”
“Hey,” Bri protested. “I haven’t even finished my breakfast!”
“Okay, thirty minutes,” Scott winked. “But anyone not in the dinghy gets left behind!”
Thirty minutes later everyone piled into the small boat. It was a bit of a tight fit with all the extra fishing equipment, but everyone managed to find a seat.
“Sure you don’t want to come with us?” Bri teased Cole as they pulled up to the dock..
“Um, no offense, but absolutely not!”
“Your loss,” she smiled. He jumped out and helped her onto the dock.
“I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too. Have fun.”
“Good luck,” he laughed with a pointed glance at Claire.
Cole’s warning was wholly unnecessary. Bri had a great time shopping with Claire and Sharon. And while Claire did keep up a steady stream of chatter, Bri found her boundless excitement endearing. It was fun spending time with her and Sharon, and getting to know them better.
“Oh, we have to go in here!” Claire led them into a swimwear shop. She and Bri pulled out a few suits to try on. “You have to show me your suits. We’ll do a fashion show!” She pushed Bri into a dressing room before she could argue.
“Oh, Bri, you have to get that one!” Claire bounced, as Bri came out in a white bikini. “It’s perfect on you! Plus it’s super sexy.” She lowered her voice so her mom wouldn’t hear. “It’ll drive Cole wild!”
Bri turned around and checked herself out in the mirror. The bikini was a little skimpier than she was used to wearing, especially the bottom. Apparently those Brazilians had no qualms about showing some cheek.
“You think?” Bri kind of liked the idea of driving Cole wild.
“Definitely.”
So she bought the suit. Claire picked herself out a pink ruffle bikini and they moved on to the next store. A couple hours, and countless stores later, the girls met the guys for lunch.
“Hey there.” Cole pulled Bri in for a deep kiss. Despite their audience, Bri couldn’t help but wrap her arms around him and melt into him. He seemed to be able to affect her like no one else.
“Seriously guys, how much more of that do you expect us to watch?” Seb moaned. “Do the rest of us a favor and get a room already.”
Cole gave Seb a rude gesture behind Bri’s back, that caused the others to laugh.
They enjoyed lunch and then returned to the boat, where Cole proudly showed Bri his fishing spoils.
“Mmm,” Sharon looked over Bri’s shoulder at the cooler full of fish. “We’ll be eating good tonight! Thanks men!” Shar smacked Scott on the butt and gave him a kiss.
They all settled in the living room, and Jimmy found a bowl game on TV.
“Ugh, not football,” Claire grumbled. “Cole, will you play a game with me? Please, please, please, please, please?”
“Okay, okay! Anything to shut you up,” he winked at her. “Want to play, Bri?”
“Um, actually, I think I’m going to grab my book and go up top and read for a bit.”
Claire was about to protest, but Cole clamped a hand over her mouth before she could say anything.
“Maybe I’ll come up and join you in a while,” he smiled
“That’d be great.” She nodded, and headed up to the bridge with her book. She had been reading for about twenty minutes, when she heard someone come up the stairs. She was surprised when she looked up and saw Sebastian sit down on the other padded bench, and pull out a book of his own. Her shock must’ve been plain on her face because Seb smirked at her.
“Didn’t think I knew how to read, did you?” he joked.
“No, of course not! I mean,” Bri stammered, “Of course I know you can read. I just thought you’d be more interested in the football game.”
“As shocking as this sounds, sometimes I prefer a little peace and quiet,” Seb smiled.
“I know exactly what you mean,” she smiled back. She couldn’t help but notice how different Seb and Claire were. Where Claire was boisterous, excitable, and talkative, Seb was quiet and reserved. But he was no less pleasant to be around. In fact, Bri quite enjoyed the time she got to spend reading with him.
Sometime later, Cole climbed up the stairs.
“If I have to play one more round of Monopoly, I’m going to throw myself overboard,” he groaned as he dropped in next to Bri. “Hey Beautiful, how’s it going?”
“Fabulous, now that you’re here.” she closed her book and snuggled into Cole’s side. She turned up her lips, and he happily accepted.
“You know, some of us are trying to read here,” Seb quipped.
“Well then, why don’t you take your book somewhere else,” Cole replied without turning his eyes from Bri.
“Seriously, I don’t know why we bother inviting you,” Seb teased, throwing a wink at Bri as he headed downstairs.
“You have no idea how much I wish I had you all alone right now,” Cole whispered as he nibbled on Bri’s ear.
“Mmm.” Cole lips moved down her neck. “I’m wishing that same thing right now.” Bri brought his lips back to hers and kissed him deeply. A loud cheer from downstairs caused her to smile. “Why aren’t we all alone? I have an empty house, no one there to interrupt us...” She let the idea linger as her mind played out for her what could happen if she and Cole were all alone for five days. She felt her face flush. “But no, you wanted to come here instead,” she teased. After the scenario that had just gone through her mind, Bri was simultaneously grateful and disappointed that she and Cole hadn’t been left to their own devices. She knew she wasn’t ready for that yet, but she also knew that a naked Cole was too tempting to pass up.
“Well,” he gave her a small smile, “as much as I’m kicking myself for passing up an opportunity like that, I brought you here for two reasons. First, I didn’t want you to be all alone, especially right after Christmas. I still can’t believe your dad left you like he did, but... whatever. The second reason is that Scott and Sharon, Seb and Claire, they’re my family. I don’t have much in the way of extended family, and what I do have live on the other side of the country, and I’m not interested in seeing them anyway. So for me and my dad, these guys are our family, and I wanted you to meet them.” Cole shrugged as if it wasn’t big deal, but to Bri it was. She suddenly felt bad she had been keeping their relationship from her family.
“You can be really sweet sometimes, you know that?” she smiled at him.
“Just don’t let that get around. It would ruin my reputation as an uncaring, arrogant jerk!”
“Ha ha,” Bri pushed him. “I think it’s time I tell my dad about us. And I think you and Jimmy should come over for dinner sometime. You know, let the parents meet.”
“I t
hink that sounds like a great idea.” Cole stroked her cheek, his eyes smiling.
“Hey Cole,” Claire came bounding up the stairs. “My mom says it time for all of you manly men to start dinner. The fish aren’t going to cook themselves. So you’d better get down there before she sends Jimmy up” she warned with a grin.
“Fine,” Cole groaned. He gave Bri a quick peck and followed Claire down below. Bri decided to go see if there was anything she could do to help with dinner.
The guys prepared and grilled the fish on the small barbeque, while the girls made the rest of the meal. After eating a delicious dinner, they all went ashore to see a movie at the grand Casino Bri had admired earlier. It was an all-around perfect day, and Bri went to bed that night with a huge smile on her face.
Chapter 19
Bri woke the next morning, a little sad that this was her last day in Catalina. She’d had a wonderful time with Cole and his “family” and she was sad her time with them was coming to an end. Shaking off her gloomy thoughts, she dressed quickly and joined the others for Sharon’s amazing breakfast burritos.
After breakfast, they all headed ashore. They walked along the pier, watching the orange-gold Garibaldi swimming beneath them. Cole rented a scooter and gave Bri an extended tour of the island. They spent the whole morning exploring, and then they picked up some lunch and drove over to a smaller, more secluded beach to eat. They had the whole place to themselves.
Wanting to stay a little longer and enjoy the peacefulness, Bri stretched out on the warm sand, using Cole’s leg as a pillow. She watched the waves lap against the shore while Cole played with her hair. They sat together quietly, and Bri couldn’t remember ever feeling more content.
“Thanks for inviting me here, Cole,” she finally broke the comfortable silence. “I can’t think of a better way to spend Christmas.” She turned her head to look up at him. “Can we come back again sometime?”
“Of course we can,” Cole gazed down at her. “We can come back anytime you want.” He leaned down and brushed her lips with his. “I would give you the world if you asked,” he whispered.
Bri’s heart stopped, and she sat up. Looking into his eyes, she knew he meant it. It was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever said to her, and she couldn’t help but fall a little more for the beautiful, black haired boy with eyes that seemed to change colors in front of her. She wasn’t sure how, or when, but Cole had managed to carve out a place for himself in her heart.
Bri reached up and held his cheeks for a moment, gazing into his eyes, before pulling his lips to hers. She kissed him deeply, forcing them both down on the sand. Cole pulled her on top of him and returned her kisses with the same desire and passion. She kissed him breathless, and was secretly satisfied when he was the one forced to come up for air.
“Ambria, if you keep kissing me like that I’m not going to have any self-control left.”
She smiled and rolled off him, understanding that she’d better be more careful in the future. They were on a public beach after all.
“Sorry,” she grinned, and they headed back to the scooter. They met up with the others and went back to the boat.
The guys wanted to go fishing one last time, and Bri decided to go with them, much to Claire’s dismay. Since she had never fished before, Cole showed her how to cast out her line, and reel it in slowly. She decided she’d have to find more things for Cole to teach her that involved him wrapping his arms around her.
“Would you two stop making out over there and let the rest of us fish already?” Seb grunted as he cast out.
Cole picked up a piece of bait, which Bri couldn’t imagine touching, and chucked it at Seb’s head. It landed with a loud slap against his face, causing everyone to laugh. Seb made to retaliate, but Jimmy cut him off.
“Alright you two, that’s enough. Just because there’s a pretty girl around doesn’t mean you have to act like a couple of five year olds,” he laughed. “Don’t make me throw you both overboard.”
They spent the next couple of hours casting out and reeling in fish. They released everything they caught, but it was still fun for Bri to see all the different fish they reeled in. She was admiring the vast ocean around her, when she felt a sharp pull on her line. Yelping, she clutched her pole and called to Cole for help. He quickly reeled in his line and reached around to help her hold her now violently jerking fishing pole. Following Cole’s instructions, she was finally, after what felt like hours, able to reel in the ugliest fish she’d ever seen. The whole group gasped as Cole lifted the line, revealing a long, dark, mean looking fish.
“I can’t believe it,” Seb laughed. “Her first time out and Bri reels in a barracuda!”
“That’s my girl,” Cole beamed at her, while trying to keep the line from jerking out of his hand.
“Quick Bri, go stand next to it so we can get a picture,” Jimmy grabbed the pole from her, and Scott grabbed the camera. Cole gave Bri the line, and Scott snapped a picture of her holding up her evil barracuda.
“One more,” Cole jumped in beside her and gave her a kiss on the cheek as Scott took the picture. “That one is definitely wall worthy!” He gave her a kiss, on the lips this time, and took the line from her. Looking down at the flailing, angry fish, he asked, “Now, how the heck do I get this thing off?”
They were finally able to get the barracuda off the hook, mainly by pulling it into the bottom of the dinghy, and three of them holding its head down. They returned to the boat and regaled Sharon and Claire with the tale of Bri’s conquest.
“Bri’s been long overdue for a nickname,” Jimmy laughed, “and I think this one just fits! What do you think, Barracuda?” He winked at Bri.
“No way are you calling me Barracuda!” she protested.
“Come on, it’s a name earned in battle! Like a warrior. You should be proud,” he pushed.
“Well, when you put it like that, it does sound kind of cool. Besides, I guess it could be worse, right Sport?” she nudged Cole teasingly.
“Okay, for that, I’m going to start calling you Muffin!” Cole grinned deviously.
“Don’t you dare!” she laughed. “You call me Muffin, and you won’t be calling me again!”
They ate dinner that night at a delicious steak house in town. It was dark by the time they were done, and Bri took one last moment to enjoy the sight of the charming little town around her, and the boats all lit up in their Christmas splendor. It really was beautiful.
Once back on board, everyone settled into the living room. Bri, wanting a moment of solitude, decided to sneak out to the bow. She leaned against the railing and took in the night. The sway of the boat on the water, the sound of the waves lapping against the hull, and the light cool breeze had a wonderfully calming effect. She turned her eyes skyward, and a small gasp of awe escaped her as she took in the majesty above her. The sky was ablaze with stars. More stars than Bri could ever remember seeing before. The beauty and vastness of it humbled her, and for a moment she felt how tiny and insignificant she was.
A pair of strong arms circle her from behind. She leaned back against Cole’s chest, unable to tear her eyes away from the sky.
“Beautiful, isn’t it,” she murmured to Cole.
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he whispered into her hair. “Come here, you’re getting cold.” He took Bri’s hand and pulled her away from the rail.
“We don’t have to go inside yet, do we?” Bri pleaded, causing Cole to laugh.
“No, we don’t have to go inside. But, I did bring this out for us.” He opened a big, warm blanket, and suddenly Bri realized she was chilly. Cole sat back against the wall at the back of the bow and pulled her into his lap. He wrapped the blanket around the two of them, and she leaned her head back against his shoulder. They both gazed up at the stars above them.
“How did I not know all of these stars existed?” Bri said softly. “How have I missed out on something like this my whole life?” she motioned to the sky.
> Cole rested his chin on her shoulder.
“I think sometimes we think we’ve already seen it all, or know it all. So we don’t bother looking any closer, searching any deeper. Maybe we wouldn’t be able to appreciate it anyway. And sometimes, we’re not ready for anything more. We are comfortable with where we’re at and don’t feel the need to push any boundaries. But sometimes, life puts something in our path that forces us to open our eyes and take in all we’ve been missing.”
Bri turned her head to look at him, stunned by his beautiful and insightful words.
“Then, it’s up to us to decide if we want to go back to living with our blinders on, or if we want to take a risk on something new.” He looked meaningfully, deep into her eyes, and she was caught, paralyzed by his intensity. His eyes were full of pent up emotion, and she knew he was talking about more than just the stars.
“Wow, Cole, that was surprisingly deep and insightful. Who knew you were a closet philosopher.”
He chuckled. “I told you, I have many hidden talents.” He pulled her back against his chest. “Would you like me to show you another one?” his purred in her ear, his voice low and sexy.
“I don’t think my mind can handle being blown twice in two minutes,” Bri laughed.
“Just you wait. Now, do you see that small circle of stars, with a little tail off the back?” Cole pointed in front of her to the sky, and Bri tried to follow his finger.
“Yes,” she replied when she found it.
“That is Pleiades.”
“Really? You know constellations?”
“Just another of my many, amazing aptitudes,” he replied smugly.
Bri just laughed. “Show me another.”
Cole continued to point out stars and constellations until they were summoned inside for the annual Hamilton/Marra Poker Night, yet another cherished Christmas tradition. Reluctantly, Bri followed Cole back inside, and everyone took their seats around the dining table. After explaining the rules to Bri, who hadn’t really played poker, Scott dealt the cards.
“Alright, Barracuda, you get to open,” he winked.
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