Chapter 109

Getting back onto the boat felt quieter this time.

Not awkward quiet.

The full kind.

The kind that came after saying something honest and letting it sit there between them without trying to joke it away too fast.

Rowan climbed up first, still pretending she wasn’t emotional, even though her eyes were a little glossy and she kept blinking too much.

Celeste noticed but didn’t tease her.

Naomi noticed too, of course, but she only handed Rowan a towel and brushed her thumb lightly over Rowan’s wrist as she passed it to her.

Rowan looked down at the touch.

Then up at Naomi.

Naomi didn’t say anything.

She didn’t need to.

Celeste climbed up next, holding the little shell Rowan had given her carefully in one hand like it was something expensive. She could have tucked it into a bag. Could have set it somewhere.

Instead, she kept it in her palm.

Rowan saw that and smiled to herself.

“You better not lose that,” Rowan said, trying to sound casual.

Celeste looked at her.

“I’m not.”

“It’s rare.”

Naomi sat down and wrapped her towel around her shoulders. “You found it five minutes ago.”

Rowan pointed at her. “And? Rare things can happen quickly.”

Celeste smiled, rolling the shell gently between her fingers.

“She’s right.”

Rowan’s face lit up.

Naomi looked between them, amused. “Oh, so now we’re encouraging her?”

Celeste leaned back into the seat beside Rowan. “Maybe.”

Rowan immediately leaned into her shoulder. “I love this new era.”

Naomi shook her head, but there was a smile tugging at her mouth as the captain started the boat again.

The sandbar slowly began to shrink behind them, becoming a pale strip in the middle of all that blue. Rowan watched it for a while, quieter than usual, her towel wrapped around her, hair damp and wild from the water.

Celeste glanced at her.

“You okay?”

Rowan nodded, then shrugged.

“Yeah. Just… that was really beautiful.”

Celeste softened.

“It was.”

Rowan looked at the shell in Celeste’s hand, then at Naomi across from them.

“I know I joke a lot.”

Naomi lifted an eyebrow gently. “Do you?”

Rowan gave her a look. “Don’t ruin my moment.”

Naomi held up one hand. “Continue.”

Rowan took a breath, then looked out at the water again.

“I just mean… I don’t think I’ve ever had a day where I didn’t feel like I had to fight for space. Like with both of you, I don’t feel like I’m waiting for my turn.”

That made Celeste go still.

Naomi’s expression shifted too, something quieter moving behind her eyes.

Rowan laughed softly, like she was embarrassed by her own honesty.

“I don’t know if that makes sense.”

“It does,” Celeste said immediately.

Rowan looked at her.

Celeste held her gaze.

“It makes a lot of sense.”

Naomi leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees.

“You don’t have to fight for space with us.”

Rowan swallowed and looked down.

“I know.”

Celeste reached for her hand and laced their fingers together.

“No, really,” Celeste said softly. “You don’t.”

Rowan’s eyes flicked to their hands.

Then to Celeste.

Celeste smiled a little.

“You’re not extra. You’re not in the way. You’re not some bonus person tagging along.”

Rowan blinked faster.

Celeste squeezed her hand.

“You’re part of this.”

Naomi’s voice came softer from across from them.

“You’re ours too.”

Rowan let out a shaky little laugh and pressed her lips together like she was trying very hard not to cry.

“Oh, that was rude.”

Celeste smiled. “What?”

“You both just said beautiful things while I’m damp and vulnerable.”

Naomi laughed under her breath, then moved from her seat and sat on Rowan’s other side.

Now Rowan was between them.

Celeste on one side.

Naomi on the other.

Balanced.

Held.

Naomi leaned in and kissed Rowan’s temple.

“Better?”

Rowan nodded, still trying to keep it together.

Celeste kissed her cheek next.

“Yeah,” Rowan whispered. “Better.”

For a while, the only sound was the boat moving over the water.

The engine hummed low beneath them. The wind pushed gently against their faces. The sun was beginning to lean toward afternoon now, softening at the edges, turning the ocean from bright turquoise to something deeper and calmer.

Naomi reached into the cooler beside them and pulled out three chilled drinks, handing one to Celeste and one to Rowan before keeping the last for herself.

Rowan looked at the bottle.

“Is this rich people juice?”

Naomi glanced at the label. “It’s passionfruit sparkling water.”

Rowan nodded seriously. “So yes.”

Celeste laughed and twisted hers open.

Rowan took a sip, paused, then looked offended.

“Why is it good?”

Naomi leaned back, satisfied. “Because I picked it.”

Celeste smiled at her over the bottle. “You really do like controlling every detail.”

“I like making sure you both enjoy yourselves.”

Rowan pointed her bottle at Naomi. “That’s a fancy way of saying control.”

Naomi shrugged. “Maybe.”

Celeste leaned across Rowan slightly, looking at Naomi with a small smirk.

“It’s cute.”

Naomi’s eyes moved to her.

“Cute?”

Celeste nodded.

“Yeah. You act like you’re just planning things, but really you’re paying attention.”

Rowan smiled softly between them, letting the moment settle instead of interrupting it.

Naomi looked at Celeste for a beat longer.

Then she looked at Rowan.

“I pay attention to both of you.”

Rowan’s smile softened.

Celeste leaned back again, still holding Rowan’s hand.

“We know.”

After a while, Rowan stood and stretched dramatically.

“I’m going below deck before the sun turns me into seafood.”

Celeste laughed and followed her.

Naomi stayed where she was for a second, watching them disappear down the small staircase below.

Then curiosity pulled her after them.

The lower deck was quieter, shaded from the bright sun above. Soft lighting reflected against polished wood walls, and the gentle rocking of the boat felt stronger there.

Naomi stopped near the doorway when she spotted them.

Rowan sat on one of the lounge benches, still wrapped loosely in her towel, hair damp and messy. Celeste stood in front of her, smiling at something Rowan had just whispered.

“What?” Rowan laughed softly.

“You’re cute.”

Rowan blinked.

“Well that was direct.”

Celeste shrugged, stepping closer between Rowan’s knees.

“You are.”

Rowan’s smile softened immediately.

Naomi stayed quiet near the doorway, unseen for the moment, watching the easy pull between them.

The way Celeste touched Rowan’s face gently.

The way Rowan looked up at her like she felt completely safe there.

Then Rowan reached up, fingers hooking lightly into Celeste’s shirt.

“Come here then.”

Celeste leaned down without hesitation.

Their kiss started soft.

Slow.

Warm in that effortless way that only happens when two people already know each other well.

Rowan smiled into it halfway through, one hand sliding to Celeste’s waist while Celeste deepened it just slightly, lingering there with her.

Naomi watched quietly, intrigued more than anything else.

Just… captivated.

Because this wasn’t about choosing.

It wasn’t one against the other.

It was all of them.

Different connections woven together into the same thing.

Rowan eventually pulled back first, laughing softly when she noticed Naomi standing there.

“Well,” Rowan said, still holding onto Celeste’s shirt lightly. “How long have you been creeping?”

Naomi crossed her arms, completely unashamed.

“Long enough.”

Celeste looked over her shoulder, cheeks warming slightly.

“You could’ve said something.”

Naomi’s eyes moved between both of them, a small smile pulling at her mouth.

“I like watching.”

That made Rowan grin immediately.

“Oh, she’s intrigued.”

Naomi stepped closer slowly.

“Maybe.”

Rowan’s grin widened instantly.

“Oh really?”

Naomi lifted an eyebrow.

“Yes, really.”

Rowan glanced up at Celeste, still standing between her knees, then back at Naomi.

“Well then,” Rowan said softly, “keep watching.”

Before Naomi could answer, Rowan reached up and pulled Celeste back down into another kiss.

Celeste laughed softly against her mouth at first, caught off guard by the suddenness of it, but melted into it almost immediately.

This kiss was different.

Still soft.

Still affectionate.

But slower now.

More confident.

Rowan’s hands slid to Celeste’s waist while Celeste steadied herself against the couch beside her, leaning fully into the moment.

Naomi stayed where she was, watching quietly.

Intrigued exactly like Rowan said.

The gentle rocking of the boat beneath them made everything feel warmer somehow, closer. Sunlight filtered through the small windows below deck, catching against damp skin and tangled hair and the gold of Naomi’s jewelry.

Rowan pulled back just enough to smile against Celeste’s lips.

“She likes watching,” Rowan murmured playfully.

Celeste glanced toward Naomi briefly, cheeks warm but smiling.

Naomi didn’t even try to deny it.