I Lost My Phone At Sea… But Then My Sailor Friend Did THIS To Me
I didn’t think losing my phone in the ocean would change anything important.
At worst, I figured it would ruin my vacation and force me to spend half my paycheck replacing it.
But looking back now, that stupid moment, the second my phone slipped out of my hand and disappeared beneath the waves, was the exact point where everything in my life shifted.
And weirdly enough, the phone never even mattered because before I found it again, I found him.
Or maybe he found me firSt.
His name was Gio.
And the worst part is I almost hated him when we met.
It happened during a sailing trip my cousin dragged me on to at the beginning of summer.
I hadn’t even wanted to go.
I just gotten out of a messy relationship 2 months earlier.
Work had been exhausting and I was in that weird emotional state where you pretend you’re fine because talking about it would make it too real.
So, when my cousin Marco invited me on this week-long sailing trip along the coast, I only agreed because staying alone in my apartment sounded worse.
You need sunlight and human interaction, he told me over the phone.
I interact with humans every day.
Complaining to customer support agents doesn’t count, Philillip.
So yeah, that’s how I ended up standing barefoot on a dock at 6:00 in the morning, carrying way too many bags while trying not to throw up from the smell of gasoline and salt water.
The boat itself was beautiful, though.
Not one of those tiny sailboats that look like they’d flip over if someone sneezed too hard.
This one was bigger.
Sleek white exterior, wooden deck, enough room for six people to sleep comfortably.
Marco was already on board opening beers way too early in the morning.
Then I saw him.
Gio.
He was crouched near the ropes at the edge of the boat, tightening something with both hands.
Dark hair, tan skin, sleeves rolled up enough to show strong forearms covered in faded tattoos.
Not flashy tattoos either, the kind that looked personal.
And annoyingly, he was gorgeous.
Not in an influencer way.
Not polished, real, like the type of guy who accidentally makes eye contact with you and suddenly you forget what you were saying.
Marco grinned when he noticed me staring.
That’s Gio, he said quietly.
Friend of Lucas.
He basically lives on boats.
I wasn’t staring.
You absolutely were.
I was literally looking in his direction.
Marco smirked and walked away before I could insult him properly.
Gio looked up then straight at me and for one painfully awkward second I realized he probably heard everything.
“Need help?”
He asked.
His voice was deeper than I expected.
I adjusted the bag on my shoulder.
“I got it.”
He nodded once like he genuinely didn’t care either way and went back to tying ropes, which somehow annoyed me more.
The first few hours on the water were rough.
Not emotionally, physically.
Turns out my body absolutely hated sailing.
The second we moved away from the dock, my stomach started fighting for its life.
Meanwhile, everyone else looked relaxed, drinking beer, laughing, taking pictures.
I sat near the back of the boat, trying not to die.
Marco was no help whatsoever.
You look pale.
Thanks.
You might actually pass away.
Appreciate the support.
Then Gio walked over holding a bottle of water.
Drink this.
I am drinking water.
You’re sipping it like it offended you.
I looked up at him.
Are you always this helpful or am I getting special treatment?
One corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Trust me, this is the nice version.
Then he sat beside me like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Up close, he smelled like sunscreen and sea water.
His sunglasses rested on top of his head now, and I noticed his eyes were lighter than I thought.
“Hazel, maybe green around the edges.”
“You sail a lot?”
I asked eventually.
“Basically grew up doing it.
That explains why you don’t look like you’re about to vomit.
You stop noticing the movement after a while.”
“I’m noticing it aggressively.”
That actually made him laugh.
Not loud, just short and real and annoyingly attractive.
The day got easier after that.
I still felt slightly seasick, but Gio kept distracting me with random conversation, stories about storms he’d been caught in, places he traveled, dumb mistakes tourists made around boats.
At some point, I realized I’d stopped thinking about my ex entirely, which felt strange.
By sunset, everyone was drinking on the deck while music played softly from a speaker near the cabin entrance.
The ocean had turned orange and gold around us, calm enough to look fake.
I was leaning over the side of the boat, trying to take a picture when it happened.
My phone slipped.
One second it was in my hand.
The next splash.
Gone.
I stared at the water in disbelief.
No, no, no, no.
Marco burst out laughing immediately.
You’re kidding.
My phone.
Congratulations to the fish community.
I dropped onto the bench with both hands over my face.
Everything was on that phone.
Photos, work emails, notes, contacts.
Great, I muttered.
Amazing.
Fantastic start to the trip.
Most people kept joking about it, but Gio didn’t.
He walked over to the side of the boat and looked into the darkening water for a few seconds like he was actually considering something.
Then he pulled his shirt off.
And listen, I’m only human.
The man was built unfairly.
Broad shoulders, defined stomach, tattoos running along one side of his ribs disappearing into his shorts.
The kind of body that clearly came from actual physical work instead of gym selfies.
Marco whistled dramatically.
You’re not seriously going after it?
Gio ignored him.
I blinked.
Wait, you can’t even see it anymore.
How deep was it?
I don’t know.
Like very.
That earned me another tiny smile.
Then before I could say anything else, he dove into the water.
Everyone rushed toward the edge of the boat watching.
I stood there frozen.
Partly because I felt guilty.
Partly because I couldn’t stop replaying the image of him pulling his shirt off in my head.
About 30 seconds passed.
Then a minute.
The water stayed dark and empty.
“You think he actually found it?”
Marco asked.
“I don’t know.”
Another few seconds passed before Gio finally resurfaced several feet away from the boat, pushing wet hair out of his face.
Empty-handed, he grabbed the ladder and climbed back aboard, breathing hard.
Water dripped down his chest and stomach while everyone complained dramatically that he’d failed his heroic mission.
But Gio only looked at me.
“Sorry,” he said simply.
And for some reason, that hit harder than losing the phone itself because he genuinely looked disappointed.
I shrugged awkwardly.
“It’s fine.
It was probably impossible anyway.
Maybe tomorrow morning,” he said.
When the water’s clearer, you’d actually try again.
Yeah.
Why?
He held my gaze for a second longer than necessary.
Then he smirked faintly.
Because you looked like you were about to cry.
And somehow that was the exact moment everything started getting dangerous.
I barely slept that night.
Not because of the phone.
That part honestly should have bothered me more.
I kept telling myself it was a disaster.
Losing contacts alone was enough to ruin the rest of the week.
But every time I closed my eyes, I kept replaying the image of Gio climbing out of the water.
Wet hair sllicked back, chest shining under the boat lights, that stupid half smile.
It was deeply irritating and apparently obvious.
The next morning, I woke up to Marco grinning at me from the opposite bench inside the cabin.
“You have a crush,” I groaned into my pillow.
Please die quietly.
He dove into the ocean for you.
He dove into the ocean for my phone.
Same thing.
I threw a pillow at him.
By the time I dragged myself upstairs onto the deck, the sun was already bright enough to hurt my eyes.
The water looked completely different in daylight, clear blue instead of black.
And Gio was already awake.
Of course, he was.
He stood near the front of the boat wearing dark swim shorts and nothing else, stretching one arm behind his head while talking to Luca.
I froze for a second longer than necessary before forcing myself to act normal, which immediately failed because Gio looked over and caught me staring again.
Morning, he said.
Morning.
Marco walked past me whispering.
You sound nervous.
I’m going to push you overboard.
Gio laughed quietly.
Traitor.
I grabbed a bottle of juice from the cooler and leaned against the railing, trying very hard not to look at him anymore.
Then he said, “You still want me to look for it.”
I blinked.
You were serious?
You need your phone, right?
I mean, yeah, but it’s probably gone.
Maybe.
The annoying thing about Gio was how calm he always sounded.
Nothing dramatic, no showing off.
He just said things like they were obvious.
5 minutes later, we anchored near the same area where I dropped it.
Everyone else treated the whole thing like entertainment.
Marco even placed fake bets.
20 bucks says he finds a crab instead.
Gio ignored all of them while adjusting the strap of a pair of goggles.
Then he looked at me.
You remember exactly where you dropped it?
Somewhere around here.
That’s incredibly unhelpful, Philillip.
Hearing my name in his voice did something weird to my stomach.
I pointed vaguely toward the side of the boat.
There, I think.
Wow.
Crystal clear directions.
I’m trying.
He grinned slightly before diving in again.
This time I watched him properly.
The way he moved underwater barely looked real, smooth, effortless, like he belonged there more than on land.
Marco nudged me.
You are absolutely doomed.
Shut up.
No, seriously.
Your face is embarrassing.
I ignored him, mostly because he was right.
Gio resurfaced a few times, each attempt ending with him shaking his head before disappearing underwater again.
After nearly 20 minutes, I finally leaned over the railing.
“Seriously, it’s okay.
You don’t have to keep trying.”
He pushed wet hair out of his face.
One more.
You said that three one more ago.
Yeah, but this one feels dramatic.
Then he vanished underwater again.
I laughed despite myself.
And somehow somewhere during those stupid 20 minutes, I realized I was smiling more than I had in months.
Not fake smiling either.
Real smiling, the kind that sneaks up on you.
A minute later, Gio resurfaced again, holding my phone.
Everyone on the boat lost their minds.
Marco screamed like we’d won the lottery.
No way.
I stared at Gio in shock while he swam toward the ladder, grinning for the first time since I met him.
And honestly, that smile hit harder than his body did, which was saying something.
He climbed back on board, dripping wet again, and handed me the phone triumphantly.
“It’s dead,” he warned.
I looked at it like it was a sacred artifact.
You actually found it.
You owe me.
I laughed.
What do you want?
My firstborn.
Thinking bigger than that.
Marco graned loudly.
Please flirt quieter.
Some of us are suffering.
I flipped him off without looking away from Gio.
Big mistake.
Because Gio noticed.
His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth before returning to my face.
And suddenly the air between us felt different.
He stepped closer, close enough that I could see water dripping slowly down his neck onto his cheSt. “You really thought I wouldn’t find it?”
He asked softly.
“I thought the ocean one.
That’s insulting.”
I smiled before I could stop myself.
“Sorry, didn’t realize I was dealing with Aquaman.
That earned another laugh.”
Then Marco ruined the moment completely by yelling, “Kiss already.”
I nearly choked.
Gio just shook his head while climbing toward the outdoor shower near the back of the boat.
But before disappearing, he glanced back at me once and smiled again.
The rest of the afternoon felt strange after that.
Not awkward exactly, just charged.
Every conversation between us suddenly felt loaded with something underneath it.
Tiny things became dangerous.
Accidental touches, eye contact lasting too long.
At one point, I reached past him for sunscreen and my arm brushed his stomach.
Neither of us moved immediately.
It lasted maybe 2 seconds, but it felt like an hour.
By evening, everyone started drinking again while anchored near a small coastal town where we planned to stay overnight.
Music played softly.
The sky turned pink and orange.
And Gio sat beside me on the deck sharing a beer while everyone else argued over card games nearby.
You always this quiet?
He asked.
Only around people I’m judging.
That’s comforting.
You survived though.
He leaned back against the bench behind us.
Barely.
I smiled into my drink.
Then he got quieter.
What happened with your ex?
I looked at him sharply.
Marco talks too much.
He does.
I hesitated.
Normally, I hated talking about relationships after they ended.
It always made me feel pathetic somehow.
But something about Gio made silence feel unnecessary.
He cheated.
I admitted finally.
Joe’s expression changed instantly.
Not pity, anger.
For how long?
A few months, apparently.
That’s brutal.
Yeah.
I stared out at the water.
The worst part wasn’t even the cheating.
It was realizing someone could look at you every day and lie that easily.
Gio stayed quiet for a second.
Then he said softly.
That says something about him.
Not you.
Simple, direct, but weirdly comforting.
I looked over at him.
You always know the right thing to say.
No.
Usually I make things worse.
I don’t believe that.
You should.
The wind pushed through his hair then, and for a second he looked almost unfairly beautiful against the sunset.
I looked away first because if I didn’t, I was probably going to do something stupid.
Unfortunately, Gio noticed everything.
You’re doing that thing again, he murmured.
What thing?
Looking at me like you’re trying not to.
My entire nervous system collapsed instantly.
I’m literally just sitting here.
Mim, that proves nothing.
He smiled into his beer bottle, then quietly.
Good.
I swallowed hard because suddenly I had a very bad feeling this trip was about to become a lot more complicated.
That night should have ended normally.
A few drinks, some music, sleep.
Instead, it turned into the kind of night that stays stuck in your head for years, mostly because of one stupid decision.
Mine.
Around midnight, everyone else headed into town to check out some beach bar nearby.
Marco kept trying to drag me with them, but I wasn’t really in the mood for loud music and drunk strangers.
“I’ll stay here,” I said.
Marco looked between me and Gio instantly because of course Gio was also staying behind.
“Interesting,” Marco muttered.
“Please leave.”
He grinned like an before disappearing down the dock with everyone else.
Then suddenly it was just me and Gio alone on the boat, which felt dangerous immediately.
The night air was warm, the water gently rocking beneath us while distant music drifted from the shore.
Gio sat across from me near the back of the deck, lazily spinning an empty beer bottle between his hands.
Either of us spoke for a minute.
Then he said, “You okay?”
Yeah.
You sure?
I leaned back against the bench.
Just tired?
That’s not what I asked.
I looked at him.
The annoying thing about Gio was that he paid attention.
Real attention.
Most people listen just enough to respond.
Gio listened like he actually wanted to understand, and it made lying harder.
I think I forgot how to relax, I admitted quietly.
His eyes stayed on me.
What do you mean?
I don’t know.
I laughed softly.
Ever since my breakup, I’ve kind of felt stuck in survival mode.
Gio nodded slowly like he understood exactly what I meant.
That happens.
I hate it.
You’ll get out of it.
You sound very confident.
I am.
I smiled faintly.
You barely know me.
Still, the wind shifted around us again.
God.
Everything felt intimate around him somehow, even silence.
Gio stood up then and stretched before looking toward the water.
Come swim.
I laughed immediately.
At night?
Absolutely not.
Why?
Because the ocean at night is terrifying.
There’s nothing out there.
That’s exactly what murder documentaries always say.
He grinned.
You trust me?
The question caught me off guard because the answer came way too faSt. Yeah.
Something changed in his expression for half a second.
Softer.
Then he held a hand out toward me.
Come on, Phillip.
And like an idiot, I took it.
The water was warmer than I expected.
Still dark as hell, though.
I climbed slowly down the ladder, trying not to panic, while Gio floated nearby, looking completely relaxed.
You look stressed, he said.
I’m one shark encounter away from cardiac arreSt. There are no sharks here.
You don’t know that.
I literally do.
That sounds fake.
He laughed quietly before swimming closer.
And wow, that was a mistake because moonlight on wet skin should honestly be illegal.
Water rolled down his shoulders while he pushed damp hair away from his forehead again, staying close enough that I could feel warmth radiating from him, even in the ocean.
“You always overthink this much?”
He asked softly.
“Yes, must be exhausting.
You have no idea.”
For a second, neither of us moved.
The boat lights reflected across the water around us while distant music echoed faintly from shore.
Then Gio reached toward me slowly, like he was giving me time to stop him.
His fingers brushed a strand of wet hair away from my forehead, and my entire body forgot how to function.
The touch barely lasted a second, but it felt unbelievably intimate.
I swallowed hard.
Gio.
His eyes flicked down to my mouth again.
There it was.
That same look from earlier, except stronger now, clearer.
You know what’s funny?
He murmured.
What?
The phone wasn’t actually the first thing I noticed about you.
My heart started pounding immediately.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
What was?
He smiled slightly.
You looked miserable when you got on the boat.
I laughed softly.
That’s rude.
It’s true.
You notice me being miserable?
I noticed you.
The way he said it made my chest tighten.
Simple words, but they landed hard.
I don’t know who moved closer firSt. Maybe both of us.
Maybe either.
All I know is suddenly he was right there.
Close enough that I could feel his breath.
And for one terrifying second, either of us spoke because the tension between us had finally become impossible to ignore.
Tell me to stop.
His voice was quiet, serious.
I looked at him at the water dripping from his jaw, at the way his eyes searched my face carefully like he genuinely cared about the answer.
And honestly, I’d wanted this since the moment he looked at me on that dock.
So instead of answering, I kissed him.
God.
The second our mouths touched, something in me completely unraveled.
Gio kissed like he’d been holding himself back for hours.
One hand slid carefully against my waist while the other caught the back of my neck, pulling me closer in the water.
Warm, slow at first, then suddenly not slow at all.
I kissed him back harder, and he made this low sound against my mouth that nearly killed me instantly.
The ocean moved around us gently while we kissed under the boat lights like something out of a movie I would have made fun of two days earlier.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathing hard, neither speaking.
Then Gio laughed softly against my forehead.
“That was a terrible idea.”
“Probably.”
“You regret it?”
I answered by kissing him again.
“That shut him up.”
His hands tightened briefly against me before he pulled back just enough to look at me properly.
And the expression on his face almost scared me because it wasn’t casual at all.
It looked real, like this meant something already, which should have terrified me.
Instead, it made me want him even more.
Then, suddenly, “Oh my god!”
Marco’s voice exploded across the water.
I jerked backwards so hard I nearly drowned.
Everyone stood on the dock, staring at us, half drunk, completely losing their minds.
Marco was screaming, laughing.
“I knew it.”
I covered my face instantly while Gio started laughing beside me.
You people are the worst, I groaned.
Marco pointed dramatically.
You kissed Ocean Boy.
I hate you so much.
Meanwhile, Gio looked entirely too pleased with himself.
And somehow that was even worse.
I wanted to drown myself immediately.
Not because Gio kissed me.
That part was incredible.
The problem was Marco and Luca and literally everyone else standing on the dock screaming like they just witnessed a live sports event.
Marco nearly fell into the water laughing.
I have waited two days for this.
You’re insufferable.
I shouted back.
Meanwhile, Gio was beside me still grinning like this was the funniest thing he’d ever seen, which honestly only made him hotter.
Very unfair.
Come on, he said quietly to me.
Before your cousin starts filming, “Too late,” Marco yelled proudly, already holding up his phone.
“Oh my god!”
Gio laughed and climbed back onto the boat first before reaching down to help me up the ladder.
The second our hands touched again, my stomach flipped all over, which was deeply embarrassing considering we’d literally just made out in the ocean.
Marco and the others eventually disappeared into town again after harassing us for another five straight minutes, leaving me standing awkwardly near the outdoor shower while Gio dried his hair with a towel.
Neither of us knew what to say at first, which surprised me.
Gio didn’t usually seem awkward about anything.
Then finally, he looked over.
You okay?
I laughed nervously.
I just kissed a guy in the middle of the ocean while my cousin witnessed the whole thing.
Fair.
I’m handling it very calmly, actually.
You’re spiraling internally, violently.
That earned another soft laugh.
God.
I was becoming addicted to making him laugh.
Gio tossed the towel aside and leaned against the railing near me.
Close enough that our shoulders almost touched.
“You know,” he said quietly.
“I’ve wanted to do that since yesterday.”
I looked at him.
“Yesterday?”
The doc?
The doc?
When you first showed up, my brain completely shortcircuited.
You’re kidding.
Nope.
You didn’t even know me.
He shrugged slightly.
Still wanted to.
That’s insane.
You went to talk.
You kissed me firSt. That was temporary insanity.
Mim.
I tried not to smile.
Failed horribly.
The air between us felt different now.
Softer somehow, less tense because either of us had to pretend anymore, but also more dangerous because now I knew what his mouth felt like and apparently my body planned on thinking about that constantly.
I glanced toward the cabin entrance.
So, what happens now?
Gio looked at me for a second before answering.
That depends on what whether you want this to be a one-time thing.
And there it was.
The question underneath everything.
I swallowed hard because the honest answer scared me.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
I came on this trip specifically to stop feeling things, to recover, to breathe.
Getting attached to someone gorgeous and emotionally confusing on a boat was objectively a terrible plan.
But every time I looked at Gio, my common sense evaporated.
I don’t think I want it to be one time, I admitted quietly.
His expression softened instantly.
Good.
That single word hit embarrassingly hard.
Then he stepped closer, not rushing, giving me time.
His hand settled lightly against my waist this time, and somehow that tiny touch felt more intimate than the kissing.
“You know what I noticed first about you?”
I asked softly.
“What?
You pretend to seem calmer than you actually are?”
He smiled faintly.
Oh yeah, yeah.
You saying I make you nervous?
No, I lied immediately.
Terrible liar.
I laughed under my breath.
Then Gio kissed me again, slower this time, less desperate and somehow even worse for my sanity.
His thumb brushed lightly against my side while his mouth moved against mine like he already knew exactly how to undo me.
I kissed him back harder without thinking and he made that same low sound again that immediately went straight to my head.
My hands found his shoulders automatically warm skin wet from the ocean still.
God.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested briefly against mine while both of us caught our breath.
Then he murmured, “You have no idea how hard it was not to kiss you earlier.”
My pulse jumped.
Earlier when?
Pretty much all day.
That’s dramatic.
You’re dramatic.
True.
He smiled again.
And right then, I realized something dangerous.
I liked being around him.
Not just the flirting, not just the attraction.
Him.
The way he looked at me like I was worth paying attention to.
The way he listened, the way he teased without being cruel.
It felt easy.
Too easy.
Which honestly scared me more than anything because easy had never worked out well for me before.
As if reading my thoughts, Gio studied my face carefully.
You’re overthinking again.
How do you keep noticing that?
You get this look.
What look like your brain’s trying to ruin something before it starts.
I stared at him.
That hit way too accurately.
He leaned against the railing beside me again, eyes on the dark water.
You don’t have to decide everything tonight, Philillip.
I know you can just enjoy something.
I stayed quiet because I honestly didn’t know how anymore.
After my ex, I’d gotten used to analyzing everything, looking for warning signs, waiting for disappointment before it arrived.
And somehow Gio already understood that, which was terrifyingly intimate for someone I’d known to days.
The wind picked up slightly around us.
Then Gio glanced sideways at me.
Come here.
What?
Come here.
I stepped closer automatically.
He opened one arm slightly and before I could overthink it, I leaned against him just like that.
Simple.
His arms settled around my shoulders while we stood there quietly watching the water.
No pressure, no performance.
And somehow that felt even more dangerous than the kissing because it felt real.
After a while, he spoke quietly against my hair.
You know your phone’s definitely destroyed, right?
I snorted into his shoulder.
You risked your life for nothing.
Worth it.
You’re such a liar.
Nope.
I tilted my head up slightly to look at him.
Worth it because you found the phone.
His eyes held mine.
Worth it because I found you firSt. And yeah, that one almost killed me.
The next morning felt surreal.
Not awkward, not exactly, just different.
I woke up earlier than everyone else because the boat was gently rocking again.
Sunlight spilling through the small cabin window directly onto my face.
For a few seconds, I forgot where I was.
Then I remembered Gio and immediately smiled into my pillow like an idiot, which was humiliating.
I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling while replaying everything from the night before.
The ocean, the kissing, him holding me against his chest afterward while we talked quietly until almost 2:00 in the morning.
It all felt weirdly unreal now, like maybe I imagined it.
Then I walked upstairs onto the deck and saw him.
And unfortunately, reality was somehow worse.
Gio stood near the wheel, shirtless again, wearing low black shorts while adjusting one of the sails with Luca.
Morning sunlight hit his skin, highlighting every tattoo and muscle way too perfectly.
Honestly, it felt targeted.
He looked over immediately when he heard me and smiled.
Not the teasing smirk from before.
A real smile, warm enough that my chest tightened instantly.
“Morning,” he said.
I leaned against the railing, trying to act normal.
“You’re awake early.
You say that like you aren’t.
That’s different.
How?
I’m emotionally distressed.”
That made him laugh softly.
Luca looked between us knowingly before muttering, “I’m suddenly invisible, apparently.”
And walking away.
I buried my face in my hands immediately.
This is a nightmare.
Gio stepped closer.
You’re cute when you’re embarrassed.
You need to stop saying things like that.
Why?
Because I don’t know how to respond.
You could say thank you.
I hate you.
No, you don’t.
Unfortunately, he sounded very confident about that.
And the worst part, he was right.
Before I could answer, Marco finally stumbled upstairs half asleep wearing sunglasses despite the fact that it was barely 8 in the morning.
He looked at both of us, paused dramatically, then pointed at Gio.
You Gio blinked.
Me?
If you emotionally damage my cousin, I’m pushing you into open water.
I groaned loudly.
Marco, please.
What?
I’m being protective.
You filmed us kissing.
That was journalism.
Gio was trying very hard not to laugh.
Traitor.
Marco grabbed orange juice from the cooler before looking at me suspiciously.
So, did you guys stay up talking all night?
Neither of us answered immediately, which apparently was answer enough.
Marco screamed into the ocean dramatically.
I knew it.
Please go back to sleep.
I muttered.
Instead, he grinned and wandered away, humming wedding music.
I wanted to evaporate.
Gio leaned closer beside me afterward.
“Your family is intense.
You have no idea.
I like him.
That makes one of us right now.”
He smiled again before quietly brushing his fingers against my wriSt. Tiny touch, barely there, still enough to make my pulse jump.
And apparently he noticed because his expression softened instantly.
“Relax,” he murmured.
“I am relaxed.
You’re clenching the railing like it owes you money.”
I looked down.
Unfortunately, he was correct.
We spent the rest of the morning sailing toward another small island a few hours away.
Most people lounged around drinking coffee or tanning in the sun while music played softly from someone’s speaker.
And somehow Gio always ended up near me.
Not obviously, just naturally.
If I moved to the front of the boat, eventually he’d appear beside me.
If I grabbed a drink, he’d wander over a minute later.
Like we kept unconsciously orbiting each other.
At one point, I sat near the edge of the deck reading while everyone else swam.
Gio climbed back on board, dripping wet, and dropped beside me with a tired sigh.
You’re not swimming?
I’m enjoying being dry for once.
Weak.
You literally live in the ocean.
That’s not normal.
He laughed and stretched his legs out beside mine.
For a while, either of us spoke.
Then suddenly, he asked, “You ever think about moving somewhere else?”
I glanced at him.
What?
Like completely starting over somewhere?
The question caught me off guard all the time.
I admitted.
Yeah.
Yeah, I just I shrugged lightly.
Sometimes it feels like I’ve been living the same week over and over.
Gio stared out at the water quietly.
I know that feeling.
Something about the way he said it made me study him more carefully.
You okay?
He hesitated, then shrugged once.
My ex and I broke up a few months ago, too.
I blinked.
Wait, seriously?
Mim, you never mentioned that.
You never asked.
Fair.
I closed my book completely.
What happened?
He smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes this time.
He wanted a version of me that didn’t really exiSt. That sounds ominous.
It was exhausting.
The wind pushed through his hair again while he stared toward the horizon.
He liked the idea of me more than the actual person.
I stayed quiet because weirdly enough, I understood exactly what he meant.
You know what the worst part is?
Gio continued softly.
You start wondering if maybe being loved means pretending all the time.
That one hit me hard.
Hard enough that I answered honestly before thinking.
My ex used to make me feel like I was too emotional.
Gio looked over immediately.
Too emotional?
Yeah.
I laughed quietly like every time something upset me, I was somehow overreacting.
His expression darkened instantly.
That’s I looked down at my hands.
Maybe.
No, definitely.
The certainty in his voice made something tight and painfully in my chest because he sounded genuinely angry for me.
And I realized suddenly how long it had been since someone made me feel defended instead of difficult.
Gio nudged my knee lightly with his.
You know what I think?
What?
I think somebody spent a long time making you doubt yourself.
I stared at him, then laughed softly because wow, apparently this stupid sailing trip had turned into accidental therapy.
You always psychoanalyze people on boats.
Only cute ones.
There he is,” he grinned.
And somehow, despite everything, despite how fast this was happening, despite every logical reason, I should slow down.
I was starting to feel safe around him, which honestly terrified me more than kissing him ever did.
By the fourth day of the trip, everyone had noticed, not just Marco anymore.
Everyone.
The looks between me and Gio apparently weren’t subtle.
Neither was the fact that we kept disappearing together every chance we got.
Luca caught us sitting alone at the front of the boat that afternoon and immediately turned around.
Nope, he announced.
That area is emotionally occupied.
Gio laughed while I threw a pillow at him.
Get out.
You guys are disgusting, Luca said dramatically.
Like weirdly cute.
Please stop talking.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong.
Things with Gio had shifted into something softer now.
We still teased each other constantly, but underneath it there was this growing closeness that felt impossible to ignore.
Like last night, we’d stayed awake on the deck long after everyone else fell asleep, lying side by side under blankets while the boat drifted quietly across dark water.
At some point, I’d started talking about things I normally avoided.
My dad work stress.
How exhausting it was pretending I was okay all the time.
And Gio just listened.
No interruptions, no fake advice, just listened while his fingers slowly traced circles against my wrist under the blanket.
It felt stupidly intimate, dangerously intimate, which explained why I was currently trying very hard not to panic because I was starting to like him too much.
The realization hit hardest later that afternoon while we stopped at a tiny beach cove to swim.
Everyone spread out along the sand, drinking, tanning, throwing a football around.
Meanwhile, Gio and I wandered farther down the shoreline alone, barefoot, quiet.
The ocean rolled gently beside us while sunlight reflected off the water so brightly it almost hurt to look at.
Then Gio reached down casually and linked his fingers through mine.
Just like that.
Natural, easy.
My heart immediately lost its mind.
I looked down at our hands for a second before glancing at him.
You do realize this is incredibly unfair, right?
What is the whole?
I gestured vaguely at him.
You situation?
He laughed softly.
Very specific.
You know what I mean?
No, I don’t.
Explain.
I groaned dramatically.
You’re attractive and emotionally intelligent.
Pick a struggle.
That’s your complaint?
Yes.
Interesting.
I’m serious.
It’s manipulative.
Gio squeezed my hand lightly.
You think I’m emotionally intelligent?
I think you stare into people’s souls accidentally.
That sounds exhausting.
It probably is.
He smiled again before looking ahead toward the water.
Then after a quiet moment, “You scared me a little too.”
The honesty in his voice surprised me.
I slowed slightly.
“What?
You heard me?”
“How?”
Gio shrugged one shoulder.
“Because this feels easy.”
That hit me right in the cheSt. “Easy scares you.”
“Usually, why?”
He looked down briefly before answering.
Because every time something felt good before, I kept waiting for it to disappear.
God, I understood that feeling way too well.
Without thinking, I moved closer until our shoulders brushed while we walked.
You know what’s weird?
I admitted quietly.
What?
I don’t feel anxious around you.
Gio looked over immediately.
And that’s unusual.
Very.
He studied my face for a second like the answer genuinely mattered to him.
Then softly.
I’m glad.
The wind pushed his hair across his forehead again.
And before I could overthink it, I reached up and fixed it for him.
Everything stopped for a second after that.
The air, the conversation, my heartbeat, probably.
Gio looked at me with this expression I couldn’t fully describe, like tenderness mixed with disbelief.
Then he leaned down slowly and kissed me right there on the beach.
Gentle, warm, the kind of kiss that somehow says more than words do.
I kissed him back immediately, my hands sliding against the side of his neck while the ocean moved quietly behind us.
And honestly, I could have stayed there forever until Phillip.
I jumped violently apart.
Marco stood 50 ft away holding a football and looking deeply offended.
We’ve been trying to get your attention for 10 minutes.
I covered my face immediately.
Gio was laughing again.
You think this is funny?
I muttered.
A little.
I hate everyone on this trip.
Marco pointed at us dramatically.
You two are becoming unbearable.
Then he threw the football directly at my cheSt. Unfortunately, I failed to catch it because I was still emotionally compromised from kissing Gio 5 seconds earlier.
The ball hit me square in the face.
Everyone on the beach exploded, laughing.
Even Gio doubled over.
Oh my god, he wheezed.
Are you okay?
I stared at him in betrayal while clutching my nose.
You’re supposed to defend me.
I’m trying.
He laughed.
I physically can’t breathe right now.
I wanted to stay mad, but watching him laugh like that ruined me completely.
Later that evening, after everyone showered and changed for dinner at a small restaurant near the marina, Gio found me alone near the dock while I checked whether my ruined phone had miraculously revived itself.
Spoiler.
It had not.
“You still trying?”
He asked.
“I’m delusional.”
“Clearly.”
I sighed dramatically before slipping the dead phone back into my pocket.
Then I noticed the way Gio was looking at me too quietly, too carefully.
What?
I asked.
He hesitated, then stepped closer.
I need to tell you something.
My stomach dropped instantly.
That sentence had literally never led anywhere good in human history.
What?
Gio leaned against the dock railing beside me, eyes fixed on the water.
I wasn’t planning on anything happening on this trip.
Okay, I almost didn’t come actually.
I frowned slightly.
Why?
He was quiet for a second, then finally admitted.
Because my ex is here.
Everything inside me stopped.
What?
Gio looked back at me carefully.
He joined yesterday morning.
Different boat.
My chest tightened instantly.
What?
I didn’t tell you because nothing’s happening between us anymore.
I stared at him in confusion.
Wait, Pooh.
Gio glanced toward the marina restaurant behind us and that’s when I saw him tall, dark blonde hair, standing near the outdoor tables, laughing with Luca and unfortunately very attractive.
The guy looked over then straight at us and his expression changed immediately when he noticed how close Gio and I were standing.
Something cold settled in my stomach because suddenly, for the first time since this trip started, things didn’t feel simple anymore.
I hated how fast my mood changed.
One second, I’d been relaxed standing beside Gio on the dock.
The next, my stomach felt tight enough to snap.
His ex looked at us for maybe two seconds total before turning back toward the restaurant, but it was enough.
Enough to notice the tension.
Enough to notice me.
And definitely enough to ruin my peace of mind.
Gio exhaled quietly beside me.
Phillip, how long have you known he’d be here?
Since yesterday?
I stared at him.
Yesterday?
I found out after we got to the island.
And you didn’t tell me.
I didn’t want it to become a thing.
I laughed once under my breath.
That usually means it’s already a thing.
Joe’s jaw tightened slightly.
It’s complicated.
Mim.
He turned toward me fully.
Then there’s nothing happening between us anymore.
But there was.
Yes.
I looked away toward the water because suddenly I felt stupidly angry, which made no sense considering Gio technically hadn’t done anything wrong.
We weren’t even together.
Still, the thought of him with someone else hit harder than I expected.
And apparently Gio noticed immediately.
Hey, he said softly.
Look at me.
I didn’t.
So he stepped closer until our shoulders brushed.
Phillip.
I finally looked up.
His expression had completely changed now.
Serious.
Careful.
I should have told you earlier, he admitted.
You’re right.
That took some of the anger out of me instantly because most people would have gotten defensive.
Gio just owned it.
I sighed quietly.
Why did you break up?
He leaned back against the railing again before answering.
Because he wanted certainty I couldn’t give him.
What does that mean?
It means he wanted us to move in together.
Start planning everything long-term and you didn’t.
Gio hesitated then softly.
I loved him, but every time we talked about the future, I felt trapped instead of happy.
I stayed quiet because that answer felt painfully honeSt. He thought it meant I didn’t love him enough.
Gio continued.
Maybe he was right.
The way he said it made something ache in my cheSt. You don’t sound over him.
His eyes snapped toward mine instantly.
That’s not what this is.
Then what is it?
Gio looked frustrated now.
Not angry at me.
Angry at himself, maybe.
I don’t know how to explain it properly.
Try.
For a second, only the sound of water moved between us.
Then he finally admitted.
I spent almost 3 years trying to be the version of myself he needed.
That sentence landed heavily.
And somewhere along the way, Gio said quietly, I stopped recognizing myself.
I swallowed hard because I understood that feeling way too much.
You know what the worst part is?
He continued.
He’s not a bad person.
That almost makes it harder.
Exactly.
We stood there quietly for another moment.
Then I asked the question I probably shouldn’t have.
If he asked for another chance, would you give it to him?
Gio looked at me immediately and the silence before his answer nearly killed me.
“No.”
The certainty in his voice hit me harder than expected.
“Why?”
I asked softly.
His eyes stayed on mine this time.
“Because I haven’t felt like myself around someone in a long time.”
My heartbeat stumbled.
“And now?”
I asked before I could stop myself.
Gio stepped closer again.
Close enough that I forgot how to breathe properly.
Now I do.
God.
I looked away first because I genuinely didn’t know what to do with that.
The emotional whiplash alone was enough to send me into cardiac arreSt. Unfortunately, before I could recover, another voice interrupted behind us.
Gio.
We both turned.
His ex stood a few feet away.
Now up close he somehow looked even more attractive which felt deeply unnecessary.
Tall, broad shoulders, expensive looking white shirt casually rolled at the sleeves and his eyes immediately landed on me.
Assessing not rude exactly, just aware.
This must be Philillip, he said calmly, I blinked.
You know my name.
A faint smile touched his mouth.
Marco talks loudly.
Fair enough.
Gio straightens slightly beside me.
Phillip, this is Adrien.
Adrienne held a hand out politely.
I shook it before my survival instincts could stop me.
Nice to meet you.
You, too.
The tension between the three of us was so thick it honestly felt visible.
Adrien glanced between me and Gio once, then smiled faintly.
So, he said smoothly.
This explains a lot.
Joe’s expression hardened immediately.
Adrien, what?
I’m not saying anything.
You don’t have to.
I suddenly felt like I’d walked into the middle of a conversation that started years ago.
Adrienne looked back at me then.
You should know something about him.
Gio immediately stepped forward.
Don’t.
But Adrienne ignored him.
When Gio cares about someone, he said quietly.
He dives in faSt. My stomach tightened.
And then I asked before I could stop myself.
Adrienne’s eyes softened slightly.
Then one day he wakes up scared he’ll lose himself.
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Gio looked furious now.
But weirdly enough, Adrien didn’t seem cruel, just sad, which somehow made everything worse.
Finally, Gio grabbed my wrist gently.
Come on.
He led me away from the dock before I could say anything else.
Walking fast enough that I struggled to keep up.
Only once we reached the empty side of the marina did he stop.
I looked at him carefully.
You okay?
He laughed once bitterly.
Not really.
The anger had faded from his face now, replaced with exhaustion.
I’m sorry, he muttered.
You shouldn’t have gotten dragged into that.
I leaned against the railing beside him.
He wasn’t wrong, though, was he?
Gio went quiet immediately.
And honestly, that answer scared me more than if he’d said yes.
You know what the problem is?
He said eventually.
What?
I don’t know how to do something halfway.
The vulnerability in his voice caught me completely offguard.
When I care about someone, they become everything, he admitted softly.
And eventually I panic because I stopped knowing where they end and I start.
I stared at him because nobody had ever explained that feeling so perfectly before.
Then he looked at me with this expression that felt almost helpless.
And the worst part, he murmured, “What?
I already know I’m starting to feel that way about you.”
And yeah, that one completely wrecked me.
I should have pulled away after that.
Seriously, any emotionally responsible person probably would have because Gio basically just admitted he falls too hard, too fast, then panics and self-destructs when things become real.
Huge red flag.
Massive.
Instead, I looked at him standing there under the marina lights with that painfully honest expression on his face and kissed him again.
I clearly had no survival instincts whatsoever.
Gio froze for half a second before kissing me back immediately.
One hand sliding against my jaw while the other caught my waist hard enough to pull me closer.
And this kiss felt different, less careful, like both of us were trying not to think anymore.
I could still feel the tension from Adrien hanging in the air between us.
But somehow that only made everything more intense.
Gio kissed me like he needed reassurance I was still there.
And honestly, I kissed him the same way.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathing harder than necessary, he rested his forehead briefly against mine.
“You should probably run away from me,” he murmured.
I laughed softly.
“That’s your strategy?
Scare me off?
Trying to protect you?
That’s annoying.
It’s realistic.”
I pulled back just enough to look at him properly.
You know what I think?
What?
I think you spent so long convincing yourself you’re difficult to love that now you panic when someone doesn’t leave.
His entire expression changed instantly, like I’d hit something vulnerable by accident.
Phillip, I’m serious.
The marina lights reflected softly in his eyes while he stared at me in silence.
You really see too much occupational hazard.
You don’t even know my occupation.
True emotional support sailor that made him laugh despite himself.
Thank God because the sad look on his face was genuinely starting to hurt me.
Gio rubbed a hand over his jaw before sighing quietly.
Adrien and I weren’t healthy together by the end.
You don’t owe me explanations.
I know.
He paused.
I still want to explain.
That hit me harder than expected.
So, we stayed there by the water while he talked.
Not dramatically.
Not trying to make himself look good, just honeSt. He told me how things slowly became more about expectations than happiness.
How every conversation turned into pressure.
How Adrien always wanted certainty while Gio kept feeling trapped by needing to promise a future he wasn’t emotionally ready for yet.
And eventually, Gio admitted quietly.
I started feeling guilty every time he looked excited about us.
That sounds awful.
It was.
Did you tell him that?
He laughed once bitterly.
Not properly.
I leaned beside him against the railing.
What happened when you ended it?
He cried.
Something about the way Gio said that made my chest ache immediately.
And you?
He stared out at the dark water for a long moment.
I hated myself for hurting him.
The honesty in his voice completely disarmed me because most people try to turn exes into villains.
Gio didn’t even now.
He still loves you.
I said softly.
Gio closed his eyes briefly.
Yeah.
And you still care about him.
Yes.
The answer hurt a little enough that he noticed immediately.
But that doesn’t mean I want him back.
He added quickly.
I looked down.
I know.
Do you?
His voice was gentle now.
Careful.
I exhaled slowly.
This is just I laughed quietly.
A lot.
Yeah.
3 days ago I was depressed in my apartment eating microwave pasta.
That sounds tragic.
It was deeply tragic.
And now I looked at him at the way the wind moved through his hair, the tiredness in his eyes, the openness, and terrifyingly enough, I answered honestly.
Now I kind of feel like my entire life got flipped upside down by a guy who rescued my phone from the ocean.
A slow smile spread across his face.
That’s fair.
You’re still emotionally exhausting, though.
I know.
Unfortunately, he looked way too attractive, admitting that.
We stayed out there for another hour talking quietly while the marina got quieter around us.
At some point, Gio sat on the edge of the dock and pulled me down beside him, our shoulders touching while our feet dangled above the water.
It felt stupidly comfortable, dangerously comfortable.
Then eventually, he asked softly, “What happens after this trip?”
And there it was, the question I’d been avoiding.
I stared down at the dark water below us.
I don’t know.
You live 4 hours away?
Yeah.
I travel constantly for work.
Also, yes.
Either of us spoke for a second.
Then Gio bumped his shoulder lightly against mine.
You know what’s funny?
What?
I usually panic firSt. I smiled faintly.
Congratulations on your growth.
Thank you.
I looked over at him carefully.
Are you panicking now?
He thought about it honestly before answering.
No, that surprised me.
Why not?
His eyes stayed on mine this time.
Because this doesn’t feel forced.
God.
Every single thing he said somehow landed directly in my cheSt. You know what scares me?
I admitted quietly.
What?
That this trip ends in two days.
The softness in Joe’s expression nearly ruined me completely.
Then, without warning, he took my hand again, and this time, he didn’t let go.
Later that night, after everyone else fell asleep, I ended up sharing the small front deck couch with him under a blanket while the boat drifted quietly in open water.
My head rested against his cheSt. His fingers absent-mindedly traced patterns along my arm.
And for the first time in months, maybe years, my brain finally went quiet.
No overthinking, no anxiety, no replaying old arguments in my head, just warmth, ocean air, and Gio beside me.
Eventually, I felt him kiss the top of my head softly.
“You asleep?”
He murmured.
M.
His chest rose beneath my cheek with a quiet breath, then very softly.
I’m really glad you dropped that phone.
I smiled against him instantly.
Yeah, best thing the ocean ever gave me.
And honestly, that might have been the exact moment I fell in love with him.
The problem with falling for someone on a boat is that eventually you reach land and suddenly reality starts waiting for you again.
The last full day of the trip felt strange from the moment I woke up.
Not bad, just heavy.
Like both me and Gio were aware time was running out, but neither of us wanted to say it out loud.
Everyone else seemed to notice too.
Even Marco stopped making jokes for once, mostly.
We spent the morning sailing along the coastline under perfect weather, but there was this quietness underneath everything now.
Not awkward silence, more like anticipation, like we were all approaching the end of something.
At one point, I stood alone near the railing, watching the water pass beneath us when Gio came up behind me and slipped an arm around my waist casually.
No hesitation anymore.
No pretending.
You disappeared, he murmured against my shoulder.
I was thinking, dangerous hobby.
I smiled faintly.
His chin rested lightly near my temple while both of us stared out at the ocean.
And suddenly I realized something painful.
I was getting used to him.
The touches, the closeness, the way he always found me in a crowded space without even trying.
It already felt natural, which was terrifying considering we’d only known each other for a few days.
“You’re doing the overthinking face again,” Gio said softly.
I hate that you can recognize it now.
I could recognize it immediately.
Rude.
He kissed the side of my head lightly.
What’s going on in there?
I hesitated.
I don’t want this to end.
The words came out quieter than I intended.
Joe’s arm tightened slightly around me.
It doesn’t have to.
I turn enough to look at him properly.
You really believe that?
Yes.
You live all over the place.
So do planes.
I laughed despite myself.
You make things sound very simple.
Some things are not relationships.
His expression softened instantly.
No, he admitted quietly.
Not relationships.
The honesty in that answer somehow comforted me more than fake confidence would have.
Then Marco’s voice interrupted from across the deck.
Attention everyone.
I groaned immediately.
That sentence has never led anywhere good.
Marco ignored me dramatically.
As this beautiful gay cruise approaches its emotional finale.
It’s not a gay cruise, Luca interrupted.
It became one against my will, Marco continued.
Tonight we are celebrating properly.
Gio sighed beside me.
This should worry us.
It absolutely should.
Unfortunately, Marco’s celebration turned into one of the best nights of the trip.
We anchored near a quiet beach just before sunset and dragged speakers, drinks, and blankets onto the sand while music played through warm evening air.
Everyone danced, even Luca somehow.
And after enough drinks, even I did badly, very badly.
Gio watched me with open amusement while I attempted to dance beside the fire.
You move like you’re apologizing to the music, he said.
I’m trying my beSt. Your best is upsetting.
I flipped him off.
Then he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer before I could escape.
And wow, that was significantly worse for my emotional stability because suddenly we were dancing together near the fire light while waves crashed softly nearby.
And Gio looked at me like I was the only person on the entire beach.
It should have felt cheesy.
Instead, it felt dangerously intimate.
His hands rested low against my waist while mine settled automatically against his shoulders.
You know what’s weird?
I murmured.
What?
I normally hate attention.
And now, I looked around briefly.
Marco dancing terribly near the cooler.
Luca arguing with someone over song choices.
The ocean glowing dark blue behind us.
Then back at Gio.
Now I kind of don’t care.
A slow smile spread across his face.
Good.
The fire light reflected in his eyes while we moved slowly together to music neither of us were really listening to anymore.
Then softly, almost hesitant.
Can I ask you something?
Depends how emotionally devastating it is.
He laughed quietly.
Would you have talked to me if you weren’t stuck on this boat?
I thought about it honestly.
Then smiled.
“No, that’s rude.
You were intimidating me?
You literally emerged from the ocean like some shirtless sea demon.”
Gio nearly choked, laughing.
“A sea demon?”
“Yes, that’s the hottest thing anyone’s ever called me.
I regret saying it immediately.”
He was still smiling when he leaned down and kissed me again.
Slow, warm, and somehow impossibly tender.
The kind of kiss that makes the entire world disappear for a second.
When we pulled apart, he stayed close enough that our foreheads touched lightly.
I would have talked to you.
My heart stumbled stupidly hard.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Even if I looked miserable, you especially looked miserable.
I laughed softly against his mouth.
God, I was so screwed.
Later that night, after everyone else passed out near the fire or wandered back toward the boats, Gio and I stayed alone on the beach, watching the waves, the moon reflected silver across the water, and eventually, without really thinking about it, I said, “I’m scared.”
Gio looked over immediately.
“Of what?”
I stared at the ocean while trying to explain something I barely understood myself.
“This feels too good.”
He stayed quiet.
So I continued.
And every time something’s felt this good before, I ended up hurt.
The vulnerability in my own voice made me cringe instantly.
But Gio didn’t look uncomfortable.
He just moved closer beside me on the sand.
You know what I think?
He said softly.
What?
I think you’re waiting for proof that this can’t be real.
I looked at him because unfortunately he was right again.
Gio reached over then brushing his thumb gently against my hand.
I can’t promise you forever after 4 days, Philillip.
Fair, but I can promise I’m not lying to you.
Something inside me tightened painfully at that because after my ex honesty suddenly felt more intimate than romance.
I looked down at our hands quietly tangled together, then asked the question sitting in my chest all night.
What happens tomorrow?
Gio was quiet for a second, then he answered honestly.
I don’t know yet.
Not perfect, not cinematic, just honeSt. And weirdly enough, that made me trust him even more.
The last morning hurt before it even started.
I woke up wrapped halfway around Gio on the small deck couch, one of his arms still around my waist beneath the blanket while the boat rocked gently under us.
For a second, I stayed still.
Just breathing him in salt water, sunscreen, faint traces of smoke from the beach fire.
And honestly, I already missed him, which felt insane considering he was literally holding me.
But that was the problem with endings.
Sometimes you felt them before they arrived.
Gio stirred slightly beneath me then, voice rough with sleep.
You’re staring.
No, I’m not.
You definitely are.
I smiled despite myself.
His eyes opened slowly, still sleepy.
And God, that was unfair too somehow.
Morning hair messy, voice deeper, sunlight hitting the tattoos along his shoulder.
This man was personally attacking my emotional stability.
“You okay?”
He murmured.
I hesitated, then decided against lying.
“No.”
His expression softened immediately.
Without speaking, he pulled me closer until my head rested against his chest again.
And just like that, my anxiety eased slightly.
Not gone, just quieter.
We stayed there silently for a while, listening to the ocean move around us.
Then eventually Gio sighed softly.
We dock in 4 hours.
There it was.
Reality.
I closed my eyes briefly.
Cool.
You say cool like someone attending their own execution.
I’m processing that bad.
I looked up at him carefully.
You really don’t get it, do you?
What?
You completely ruined my life this week.
That made him laugh quietly.
Dramatic.
I was emotionally stable before you.
No, you weren’t.
Okay, fair.
His fingers brushed lazily along my side beneath the blanket.
Phillip.
M I meant what I said last night.
I tilted my head slightly.
About what?
About this not having to end.
My chest tightened instantly because the thing is part of me wanted him to say exactly that.
The other part was terrified to believe him.
I don’t know how to do this casually.
I admitted quietly.
Good.
I frowned slightly.
Good.
I don’t want casual.
The directness of that answer nearly stopped my heart.
I stared at him for a second too long.
You barely know me.
Gio smiled faintly.
I know enough.
And honestly, that should have scared me more than it did.
The trip back to the marina passed too quickly.
Everyone packed bags, cleaned the boat, exchanged photos from the week.
Marcos spent most of the morning pretending he was filming a breakup documentary.
Day five.
He narrated dramatically into his phone.
The lovers remain unaware that society will soon tear them apart.
“Please drown,” I muttered.
Gio laughed from beside me while coiling ropes near the dock.
But underneath the jokes, I could feel it.
The tension, the countdown.
Every mile closer to shore made something heavier settle in my cheSt. And apparently Gio felt it, too.
Because every chance he got, he touched me somehow.
Hand against my back while passing by.
Fingers brushing mine.
Quick kisses when nobody looked, like he was reassuring himself I was still there.
By the time we finally docked, my stomach felt sick.
People started unloading bags onto the marina while cars arrived one by one to pick everyone up.
Real life again.
I hated it already.
Marco disappeared to help Luca with supplies, leaving me standing awkwardly beside my duffel bag near the parking lot while Gio finished talking to the boat owner.
The second he walked toward me, my heartbeat sped up again.
Ridiculous.
Absolutely ridiculous behavior for a grown man.
You look stressed, Gio said softly.
I am stressed.
He stopped directly in front of me now.
Close enough that nobody else around us existed anymore.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then finally, I forced myself to ask.
So, what now?
Gio looked at me carefully, then reached into his pocket and held something out.
My phone.
I blinked in confusion.
What?
I took it to a repair shop yesterday while you were asleep.
You what?
A grin spread slowly across his face.
Turn it on.
I stared at him before grabbing the phone with both hands.
No way.
My hands were actually shaking as I held the power button.
The screen lit up instantly.
I gasped so loudly that Marco looked over from across the parking lot.
No way.
Gio started laughing while I stared at the working screen in complete disbelief.
It works mostly.
You actual psychopath.
You’re welcome.
I looked up at him genuinely speechless.
You did this yesterday?
He shrugged casually.
You needed your phone.
That’s not the point.
Then what’s the point?
I laughed helplessly.
Because suddenly my chest felt painfully full.
Nobody had done something this thoughtful for me in a very long time.
“You’re unbelievable,” I murmured.
Joe’s expression softened completely then.
Worth it.
God, that word again.
Worth it.
I looked down at the phone screen for a second before noticing something new.
A contact already added.
Gio.
I laughed immediately.
Seriously?
You lose phones.
I had to be proactive.
That’s annoyingly smooth.
I know.
Then the smile faded slightly from his face and suddenly the moment felt heavier again.
Real.
He stepped closer.
So he said quietly, “Are you going to call me?”
I looked up at him.
At the nervousness, he was clearly trying to hide.
And for the first time since meeting him, I realized something important.
Gio was scared too.
Not of commitment, not of me, of this matching, which somehow made me feel braver instantly.
So instead of answering, I grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him right there in the marina parking lot.
And wow, the sound Marco made in the background was deeply upsetting.
They’re doing it again.
People definitely stared.
I did not care.
Gio kissed me back immediately, one hand sliding against my jaw while the other pulled me against him hard enough that my brain basically stopped functioning.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us smiling like idiots, he rested his forehead briefly against mine.
“Does that mean yes?”
He murmured.
I laughed softly.
“Yeah, Ocean Boy.”
His smile right then.
Honestly, worth losing the phone for.
