Free Surviving Us by Erin Noelle Page B

been to Mexico and Costa Rica,” he nods, setting his fork down, “but never overseas. The beach here is pretty similar, a little more secluded, but the water is the brightest shade of blue I’ve ever seen.”
    “Oh, you should see the water at the Maldive Islands,” Kayden pipes up. “I think I prefer it to anything in Central or South America. The temperature is perfect year-round.”
    The table turns their attention to Kayden as he continues on about his travels, and I’m pretty sure I hear Davis grumble something, but I can’t make out what exactly. I remain silent, growing more and more ready to leave. I know I’m young and still have a long time to travel and see the places I want to visit, but everyone discussing vacations they’ve taken with friends and family makes me sad. Once I realize I’m sad, the familiar guilt settles in because my parents, as well as the rest of the people who lived on my street, will never be able to travel to any of the places they wanted to. Then I feel like an ungrateful bitch.
    “You okay? Ready to get out of here?” Davis leans over and whispers into my ear, his hand resting on my thigh.
    I nod, keeping my gaze down as I feel the numerous sets of eyes watching our exchange. “Yes, please.”
    Davis scoots his chair out from under the table, the legs scraping across the floor, drawing even more attention. “Well, folks, it was great having dinner with y’all, but after the day in the sun and all that emotional prodding this afternoon,” he looks directly at Isaac and grins, “I’m exhausted and gonna call it a night.”
    He stands up, and for a split-second, I’m afraid he’s going to leave without me or make me look like I’m chasing after him. Thankfully, he moves behind my chair and gallantly pulls it out for me. “Bristol, we should leave the adults here so they can talk about things not suitable for our young ears, like overstimulated political races and lackluster economies,” he jests.
    I chuckle under my breath as I stand up next to him, amused at the curious expressions of everyone at the table except Charlotte. “Goodnight, guys. I’ll see you all in the morning at breakfast.” A chorus of goodbyes follows us as we cross the room, both of us eager to leave.
    Once outside, Davis loops his arm around my shoulders, drawing me close to him, so I slide mine around his back, tucking my hand in his back pocket. Neither of us says anything for the first few minutes of our walk back toward our rooms; more than anything, I’m just happy to be out of the dining room and in the fresh air.
    The closer we get to the end of the road, the questions and insecurities begin to swirl in my head, causing my belly to flip-flop with anxiety. Do I assume we’re going to hang out together? Will asking him to come over be too forward? Too desperate?
    He slows his stride as we walk in front of his cottage, turning to face me. “Your plunge pool or mine?” he asks, one corner of his mouth curling into a cocky smirk.
    I breathe a quiet sigh of relief. “Mine,” I reply. “I don’t have a neighbor on the other side of me.”
    “Good point,” he quickly kisses my forehead. “I’m gonna grab my trunks; wait right here.”
    He bounds up the couple of stairs and into his room, returning in board shorts and a t-shirt in less than a minute.
    “Holy shit!” I exclaim. “How did you change that fast? Were you wearing that under your clothes?”
    “No. I’m a guy, so I change fast,” he pulls me by the hand the short distance to my cottage, laughing and shaking his head. “Why? Do you need me to help you change into your swimsuit? Or better yet, we can just strip that dress off and let you swim in your bra and panties.” He waggles his eyebrows at me, making me burst out in laughter.
    “That’d be a great plan if I was wearing any,” I taunt as I unlock and open the door, letting us both inside.
    “Trouble,” he growls in warning, “go and change now before I find