No More Secrets

"Something happened a couple of days ago, but Nicholas and I are going to tell you all later when we're all together."

"Are you okay?" Lory asked.

"Yes, I'm okay." I grabbed their hands and squeezed. "I promise. Let's forget about it for now. We'll talk about it tonight."

They looked uncertain but didn't push for information. We all put on bikinis and then added overalls so that we weren’t completely scandalous. My bikini was strapless with pink and white stripes. I found it in the bag along with a bunch of other things Nicholas had packed for me. He hadn't wanted me to lift a finger, and I went along with it. I figured he must have recruited Lory or Courtney to supply the luggage with clothes for me.

Nicholas was right about the weather. It was bright and sunny and quite warm when we stepped outside.

"This place is amazing," Courtney said as we made our way to the dock.

"I know." I had a long way to get used to the treatment, but I still enjoyed being the princess.

We eventually got on board. Courtney, Lory, and I took the seats in the front so we could watch the guys playing with the gizmos and sails and things... oh, and to watch the water too, of course.

Right before they started, Nicholas approached me with a life jacket. I eyed him warily and turned up my nose. "I don't want to wear that thing."

He knelt down in front of me. "Baby, please. Put it on."

"No." I crossed my arms. It was ugly and nobody else was wearing one. "I'm a great swimmer."

"This is only a precaution."

I rolled my eyes. "Then where's yours?"

"I'll be fine." He then went into a speech using strange language about having freedom of movement for masts and lines and jigs and booms, and I huffed in annoyance so I didn't fall over unconscious from boredom.

He leaned in closer until his lips tickled my ear. "If you put it on, I'll do that special thing with my fingers tonight."

That was the end of my argument. "Okay." I couldn't turn down the fingers.

He chuckled and smirked as he slipped it around me and checked all the straps and clips. It didn't end up being so bad since Lory and Courtney each put one on also. I may have looked dorky, but at least I had company.

.

By the time night fell, we were all exhausted from our day in the sun. Sure, I didn't have to use my muscles, but it was hard work ogling a shirtless Nicholas playing captain all day. We had mainly sailed around part of the coast, docking at another spot for a late lunch, and then heading back.

Nicholas assured me next summer we would take longer sails, but he didn't want to push it today. Considering I battled nausea throughout the ride, it was probably a good thing.

One thing I could say afterward was that I loved sailing. I had been on quite a few boats and ferries in my life but had never sailed. It was hard to believe how fast you could go solely by wind power until you were actually out there. The sea air rushing over your face as the boat whipped through the water was a feeling like no other.

And watching Nicholas work and play together with his brother and best friend was half the fun. He had been right to want to take a few days away. Even though he meant it as a birthday trip for me, he needed the break just as much... if not more. His smile was bright all day, and I pulled him close as soon as we docked.

"Thank you." I kissed him hard, urging him closer with my hands grasped around his neck.

He smelled of sweat, salt, and sun, and it was the sexiest thing ever. He eagerly returned my kiss while the others walked ahead of us into the house.

"What was that for?" he asked, his hands holding my hips.

"For everything." I kissed him again. "I just love you so much."

He was silent for a minute before shaking his head a little. His hands slid around my waist and he pressed his forehead to mine.

"Do you have any idea what it does to me when you say things like that?"

I shook my head, although I had a clue. At least I knew what my own body did when he told me he loved me.

He took one of my hands in his and placed them both over his heart.

"I can feel it inside me."

Yes, I knew exactly what he meant.

He lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. And when his lips met mine, in the fading light of the sunset, it may have just been the most romantic moment of my life. It was fully dark by the time we finally made it inside and washed for dinner. We found the others around the dining room table, feasting on lobster and corn on the cob.

“We got tired of waiting for you, so we started dinner," Geoffrey said.

Nicholas shook his head and pulled out my chair for me. I didn't hesitate to dig right in. I was starving.

The heavy discussion didn't happen until after dinner. Everyone gathered in the den and Nicholas started a fire in the fireplace. I snuggled next to him when he joined me on the couch. It was interesting to see the six of us paired off as we were around the room.

There would be no more secrets after tonight. Except for the contract. We weren't going to tell them about that.

"Firstly, I wanted to thank everyone for coming here to celebrate Willow’s birthday," Nicholas started, his arm tightening around my shoulders. "There's something I need to tell you. Some of you know parts of my past, but none of you know everything. I'm going to trust you with this information because a certain person from my past has come back again."

I held his other hand between my two, rubbing it in comfort as he sighed. This was not a pleasant experience for him and I wished we didn't have to do it at all. Nicholas went on to tell them all about his past relationship with Hector and Rosemary, and I watched their faces when he admitted exactly what had happened so long ago.

Lory and Courtney looked heartbroken when Nicholas spoke of the cheating and the baby. Francis remained calm, although I knew from his clenched fists his emotions inside didn't match what he expressed outwardly.

Geoffrey didn't even try to hide his feelings. "How could you not tell me, man? Why? I would have been there for you. I would have given that bitch and her family a piece of my mind."

Nicholas shook his head. "That's exactly why I didn't tell you. I wanted to forget it. To get as far away from it as I could. I was ashamed." He paused and I squeezed his hand. "It was stupid, but that's how I felt. Then once some time passed, I just didn't want to rehash it all."

Geoffrey looked sad. "But you let Dad talk to you the way he does?"

"He's a whole other story. Let's not get into that now."

I swallowed the lump in my throat as Nicholas took a drink of wine. It was my turn now.

"So, Nicholas told you all that as background for what's been happening lately. We wanted you to be aware just in case you saw something suspicious." They all turned their attention toward me. "You know I'm taking classes at QCU. Well, someone's been following me."

Their eyes widened as I told them about my encounters with the stranger who ended up being Hector.

"On my birthday, Nicholas received a package at work. It had pictures that made it look like I knew Hector personally. Like I was with him." Nicholas stiffened next to me, but I kept going, wanting to get it all out. "He went to see Hector, who lied and said he was sleeping with me."

"What the hell?" Lory yelled, her anger making me cringe.

Geoffrey looked at Nicholas. "Is that where you were when Willow called me looking for you the other day?"

Nicholas nodded. "I fucked up and went after him first. I should have gone straight home and..."

I cut him off before he went any further. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is that you all know what Hector did and that he is still trying to hurt Nicholas. It’s not just Hector, though. Rosemary is trying to convince Nicholas' father that I don't love him. She and Hector both are trying to get between us from two directions and different motivations."