"You know, I had concerns about this whole long-distance relationship thing," Matt admitted. "But you two make it look easy."
"It's anything but easy," Drake admitted. "Every night apart feels like a frigging week, but don't tell her that." He glared at each of them in warning.
"Dude, we'd never do anything to make things harder for you guys," Rick said. "How can you fix that? She's pretty set in this job."
He glanced at the cabin to make sure the girls weren't heading up and said, "I've been looking at places in Boston. Think you could manage the resort without me on-site during the week? And maybe some weekends?"
"We can make anything work," Dean reassured him.
"I … uh … whatever it takes, man," Rick said.
Drake didn't miss the hesitation in Rick's voice, and he had a feeling he knew why. "I know I just sold you on moving back home, but what can I say, Rick? She's my home. I didn't realize that then, but I know it now."
"Right. Of course," Rick said. "I'm not worried about me. Can you be happy here? You've never wanted to leave the Cape. You hated being away for college."
The girls' voices floated up from the cabin, chatting excitedly about the Perpetual Bliss doughnut as Serena climbed the stairs in her crocheted bikini top and cutoffs. Their eyes locked, and her luscious lips spread into a mile-wide grin that reached into his chest and caressed his heart.
"All I know is," he said to Rick, "I can't be happy without her."
THE BALMY AFTERNOON was perfectly breezy out on the water. They went tubing, whipping over the water at breakneck speeds, as carefree as summer afternoons were meant to be. They swam in the frigid sea, and Serena clung to Drake as he teased her about being shark bait and how one tug of her bikini string would make him a happy man. She baked in the sun with the girls, giggling about their men and talking about weddings and futures. The guys tossed teasing barbs, their hearty laughter filling the air. Hagen was back and forth, hanging with the girls as much as the guys. When Mira got too warm, they went into the cabin, where she put her feet up, and the girls took turns rubbing her shoulders and feeling the baby kick. Desiree talked about having babies with Rick, and Emery said she could wait on little ones. The day could only be more perfect if Chloe, Harper, and Violet were there. But the girls said Chloe had been called into work, and Harper's screenplay had finally been optioned. She was preparing to leave for Los Angeles later that week, and she didn't know when she'd be back. They were all very excited for her, and she promised to keep them updated on movie news. The timing was perfect, since Daphne would be on board at the resort.
Everyone's life was moving in new directions.
Serena's life had taken a new direction, too, as exciting as it was difficult.
As the sun began to set, she sat on the deck with Emery, soaking it all in. Rick and Dean were fishing at the far end of the boat. Mira's and Desiree's voices floated up from the cabin, where they were busy cooking dinner. Matt was in the cabin, too, plucking away at his laptop, working on his next book. Serena looked across the deck at the man who had made today possible. Drake had Hagen slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, earning infectious little-boy giggles. He glanced over, and the jubilation in his eyes made her heart sing. Drake needed these people, their family, as much as she did. She might feel like she was in a constant state of overdrive, racing from one location or one client to the next. Trying to keep up with the demands of some annoying clients and others who brought sheer pleasure, while building a relationship with Drake and trying to maintain treasured friendships. But being on overdrive wasn't so bad when she had the best friends, and the best man, a girl could hope for.
After dinner, they docked the boat and went for a walk along the harbor. Serena told them about the pub where she had gone out for drinks with Gavin last night and where they'd sang karaoke with their other friends from work.
"Do we need to check out this Gavin dude?" Rick asked Drake.
"Nah. I've met him. Seems like a good guy." He kissed Serena and said, "Besides, my girl doesn't cheat."
"She doesn't have to. When you're not around, you send her Chocolate Orgasms," Emery said with a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. She grabbed Dean's hand and said, "I feel a need for one of those coming on."
"What's a chocolate orgasm?" Hagen blinked wide eyes up at Matt.
Mira looked at Emery and mouthed, Thanks!
"I think Emery meant to say chocolate organism," Matt answered. "Emery really wants a chocolate doughnut."
"Yes, organism," Emery confirmed.
"I want a chocolate doughnut, too, but I want the one named after Drake and Serena." Hagen took Matt's hand, his brows furrowed in concentration. "Dad, I think we need to take Auntie Emery to the aquarium with us next time so you can teach her about organisms. Doesn't she know they have to be alive?"
Matt beamed proudly. "You're right, buddy. I think a group field trip to Woods Hole is in order."
"It's okay," Dean said. "I'll give Em an intense science lesson and teach her everything she needs to know about organisms."
"You can borrow Daddy's book!" Hagen offered, earning laughter all around.
Since it was too late for doughnuts, they promised Hagen some for breakfast. Before returning to the boat, they escorted Matt, Mira, and Hagen to Serena's apartment. Everyone admired her view and her chic furnishings, and Hagen couldn't stop talking about how cool it was that her bedroom walls didn't reach the ceiling. But Serena's mind was on anything but furniture and walls. This was the first time her friends had been inside her new apartment. It was crowded, but that made it feel a little more right. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed seeing her friends flop on her couch and poke around in her kitchen. She had a feeling she'd think about those everyday things a little more often now.
"We should probably let them get settled in," Rick said as he set a hand on Matt's shoulder. "See you at breakfast tomorrow."
As everyone said their goodbyes, Mira leaned closer to Serena and whispered, "I'd bet chocolate organisms are about as close as any of us are going to get to the real thing tonight." She grabbed Serena's hand and pulled her in for a hug. "Drake's a whole different man. It's good to see you two so happy."
"It's nice to be this happy," Serena said. "Have fun with your boys."
"I have a feeling we'll have a wiggly little boy between us all night. But trust me, sometimes that's just as nice as loving my man. Family," she said dreamily. "You know it's always been everything to me."
Serena glanced at Drake standing by the door hugging Hagen goodbye. "I know. For all of us, I think."
She hated thinking about saying goodbye tomorrow. The other night she'd confided in Gavin the things she couldn't confide in these friends or in Drake. She knew they'd try to fix her issues or push her to come back home, and she needed time to figure out what she really wanted without that pressure. She'd told Gavin her concerns about working with people she didn't like, missing the casualness of business on the Cape, and hating the hours after she said good night to Drake each evening, when she was alone in her apartment, feeling the distance between them like a villain in the dark. Gavin had all the same business concerns, but it seemed his other concerns, though different, were even bigger than hers. He'd lived in Boston for years and had yet to find close-knit friends who made him want to put down roots. Serena didn't want to be that person five years from now, feeling empty inside and wondering if she'd made the right choice.
As Drake set Hagen on his feet and reached for her, she went willingly into his strong, loving arms. Gavin was seeking his path, and she was clearly, and unexpectedly, still seeking hers. But she knew one thing for sure: She could handle figuring out her complicated life as long as Drake and her friends were in it.
Chapter Twenty-One
"AREN'T GOODBYES SUPPOSED to get easier?" Serena asked as she hugged everyone for the millionth time Sunday afternoon.
"Only if you don't like the people you're leaving," Matt said as he squeezed her against him. "This was fun. I'm glad Drake didn't mind bringing us along."
"I'd never rip my girl off from seeing everyone." Drake pulled Serena into his arms and kissed her.
He looked about as sleepy as Serena felt. They hadn't slept much last night. They'd lain beneath the stars talking and kissing, waiting for everyone else to fall asleep so they could finally, blissfully, make sweet, passionate love. Keeping quiet wasn't easy, especially when Drake knew every single pleasure point on her body and always seemed to discover more. Luckily, he was a master at silencing her with delicious kisses that made her body melt and her head spin.