by Maya Banks
“Come on,” he said, grabbing a bag with several pieces of bread in it. “Let’s go feed the gulls.”
They weaved through the cars and stood at the back of the ferry where the gulls were already hovering. As they motored away from the dock, Toni tossed up bits of bread for the hungry birds. The gulls followed across the bay the entire way, swooping and diving to catch the bread thrown their way.
When their bread was gone, Simon pulled her back against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. He rested his chin on the top of her head and looked out over the bay with her.
“Look!” she said excitedly, pointing out over the edge of the ferry. A school of dolphins surfaced, their bodies arcing through the water in graceful unison.
They continued watching as the dolphins disappeared from view. “That was fun,” she said bestowing a wide smile on Simon. And it was the truth. This was shaping up to be the best day of her twenty-five years.
When the ferry docked, they climbed back into Simon’s truck. “Do you want to hang out here in Galveston or get back on the ferry?”
She fastened her seat belt and thought for a moment. “Let’s go back. There won’t be many people on the peninsula so we’ll have the beaches to ourselves.”
“I like the way you think,” he said with a grin.
As they returned to the line waiting for the next ferry, she wondered, not for the first time, if they were doing the right thing. She hated this subtle awkwardness between them. Almost as if neither of them truly felt at ease with the transition they were trying to make.
If things didn’t work out, their friendship could very well fall by the wayside.
After dinner and a long walk on the beach, they packed the cooler back up and returned to the truck to head home. They rode in silence, Toni staring out her window at the passing landscape.
“You okay?” Simon asked glancing over at her.
She offered him a smile. “Just tired.”
“I hope we didn’t overdo it.”
“Of course not. I had a wonderful time.”
“So did I,” he said after a moment.
She studied his profile as he drove, the ripple of muscles visible in his arms. She could never explain the urge that overtook her when she was around him, but she physically had to restrain herself to keep her from throwing herself in his arms. Burying her head in his broad chest and feeling his strong arms around her.
“What are you thinking?” His voice rudely brought her fantasy to an end.
She flushed. “Oh nothing.” She wasn’t going to admit that she really wished he would kiss her again. There had been several opportunities when they’d walked the beach hand in hand, but she had felt shy and uncertain.
“You were staring awfully hard.”
She looked guiltily away, but chuckled in an attempt at dry humor. “Surely you’re used to girls staring at you.”
“But I’m not used to you staring at me.”
Swallowing a deep gulp, she chanced a look back at him. “Does it bother you?”
“I suppose it’s best to be totally honest with each other,” he began. “I admit, this is a little weird for me. I honest to God thought I was losing my mind when I started looking at you as something other than a good pal. I felt guilty, confused, and a little betrayed.”
“Betrayed?”
“Yeah, I mean I wasn’t supposed to be looking at you like that, much less thinking the things I was thinking. But I was anyway.”
Her cheeks grew warm. “Yeah well, try doing that for a few years.”
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?” he asked.
“Why didn’t you?” she countered.
“Good point. I guess we’re both hopeless,” he said with a chuckle.
“Is this going to ruin things, Simon?”
He took his eyes off the highway and looked at her for a moment. “No, I don’t think so. I hope it will make things even better.”
His hand crept over and he loosely threaded his fingers through hers.
The rest of the ride home went by in a blur. They had light conversation about nothing in particular but their hands stayed entwined.
As they pulled into the driveway at home, Toni’s brow furrowed as she saw a red Honda Accord parked beside her Jeep. “Isn’t that Starla’s car?” she asked, though she knew exactly whose car it was.
“Yeah,” he muttered as he shut off the ignition.
Not waiting for him to open the door for her, she slid out of the truck and met him around the front. Hating the intense feeling of insecurity that gripped her, she wiped the palms of her hands on her jeans as they started for the door.
They didn’t get past the foyer when A.J. ambled down the hallway from the kitchen. “Thought I heard you guys.” He gestured with his
thumb over his shoulder and whispered, “She’s been here all afternoon. Poor Matt’s been stuck entertaining her.”
Toni froze as Simon moved past A.J. en route to the living room. “Why is she here?” she hissed at A.J.
He shrugged as they fell in behind Simon. “I don’t know but she wasn’t leaving until she talked to Simon. She’s been sitting here for two hours.”
“Good grief.”
“There you are,” Starla exclaimed when they all walked into the living room. She rose from the couch where Matt sat with a very relieved look on his face. “I had about given up on you. Where on earth have you been?”
She stopped in front of Simon and casually brushed her hand across his arm. Toni looked at her in disgust, recognizing the gesture from Mike’s advice to her on how to get Simon to notice her.
“Toni and I went to the beach,” Simon replied.
She laughed. “In October? I suppose Toni couldn’t get one of the other guys to go.”
“Oh please,” Toni muttered. She turned and walked back into the kitchen, unable to stomach the sight of Starla and Simon together. But then she’d never been able to before either.
“Did you need something?” Simon prompted.
Toni swung around taking interest once more in the conversation behind her.
Starla looked momentarily confused then smiled brightly. “I wanted to make sure you hadn’t forgotten about tomorrow.”
“Oh cripes, I had forgotten,” Simon said slapping his hand to his forehead.
“Forgotten what?” Toni asked walking back over.
“I promised Starla I’d drive her to Houston tomorrow,” he said in an uneasy voice.
Toni’s eyes narrowed. “Is there a reason she can’t drive herself? I’d say she drove over here just fine.”
A.J. wrapped an arm around her waist tightening his hand. He was clearly warning her not to lose her temper, but damn it, had Simon really made a date with Starla and not told her about it?
“Oh you’re so funny, Toni,” Starla said, her tinkly laughter rubbing over Toni like sandpaper. “You always did have such a
