Page 18 of The Cruise Back to You

“And we started talking.”

“And then we kept talking.”

“And then we were texting.”

“And then⁠—”

“We get the picture,” Colter says dryly.

Jules winces. “Are you mad?”

I keep my face carefully neutral. Beside me, I can feel Colter doing the same. The silence stretches. Jules and Marc exchange panicked looks.

“We should have told you sooner,” Jules says, his voice climbing higher. “But you were both so sad, and we didn’t want to rub it in that we were happy when you were miserable. And then we came up with this plan for the cruise, and we thought if we could just get you two back together then we could tell you about us without feeling guilty, but then everything got complicated and⁠—”

“And we really love each other,” Marc says. “Like, really. This isn’t just a fling. Jules is it for me. I know that sounds wild because it’s only been a few months, but I’ve never felt like this about anyone, and I know the timing is terrible, but⁠—”

“Breathe,” Colter says.

Marc stops talking. His chest heaves.

I look at Jules, who looks like he’s about to pass out. Then I look at Marc, who’s still perched awkwardly on the edge of the pod. Then I look at Colter.

Colter looks at me.

We burst out laughing.

“Oh thank god,” Jules exhales, slumping back in the pod. “I thought you were going to kill us.”

“The thought crossed my mind,” I say, but I’m smiling. “A few months? Really? And you didn’t think to mention it?”

“We were scared,” Marc admits. “You two were so heartbroken. It felt wrong to be happy.”

“So you decided to play matchmaker instead?”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Jules mutters.

I shake my head, but there’s no real anger in it. How can I be mad? My best friend found someone who makes him happy. Someone who apparently thinks Jules is “it” for him. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for Jules.

“Well,” Colter says slowly. “Since we’re talking about secrets, I’ve been keeping one of my own.”

Ten

Colter

Robin gasps, looking at me. “I’ve been keeping a secret too.”

He holds my gaze, and something shifts in the air between us. Jules and Marc are frozen in the pod, but I barely register them. All I can see is Robin.

“Robin—”

“Colter—”

We stop. The silence stretches for a heartbeat.

“I love you,” we say.

The words hang in the air, overlapping and tangled together. For a moment, I’m not sure I heard him right. But then I see in his face the shock, the hope, the dawning wonder, and I know I didn’t imagine it.