Page 35 of Shine For Me

June

Fishing. Fox is taking me fishing. Deep sea fishing.

Apparently, he got the idea from the Littles making him try on that fishing gear before he left LA. The randomness of the choice somehow makes it even better. It’s a totally unexpected activity. Something I probably would have never thought to do on my own.

But now I get to do this unexpected, random thing with Fox. And I like the idea of that very much.

We’re not the only tourists on the boat. Fox apologizes for that, telling me that there hadn’t been time to reserve a private charter. I raise an eyebrow. “You think I’m too good to hang out with the general public?”

He grins briefly before his expression becomes troubled. “I just hope they aren’t movie fans. I took you out here to get away from that shit, not have people fawning over you.”

It turns out Fox has nothing to worry about. The other guests arrive a few moments after us—a group of five grey-haired women who I assume to be in their seventies, all wearing matching sweatshirts with the phrase Widows’ Wild Week on them. The women are loud, talkative, and surprisingly foul-mouthed. They met in a bereavement support group for women who have lost a spouse. They tell us all about their trip here to North Carolina from New Jersey, where they’re staying, and what they’ve done so far. Apparently, the Widows’ Wild Week is a yearly occurrence.

“Doris has been begging us to go fishing for the last three summers,” a woman who introduced herself as Ginger tells us. “We finally caved just so she’d shut her goddamn pie hole.”

Fox covers his snicker with a cough.

The widows don’t even blink when we introduce ourselves, so I’m guessing our names and faces aren’t familiar. The small crew of the boat seems equally clueless, though I guess it’s possible they’re just too professional to say anything. Either way, it looks like we aren’t going to have to put on our public figure faces today, and for that, I’m very grateful.

Charles introduces the rest of the crew and goes over some safety instructions, then lets us know we have about an hour to enjoy the ride before we reach the fishing grounds. Fox and I find a few chairs on the back deck of the boat while the widows huddle in the cabin, claiming it’s too cold to be out on the deck before the sun is fully up. That leaves me and Fox alone in the back, watching as the shoreline gets smaller and smaller in the distance. The entire sky is lit up in pinks and purples as the sun slowly starts to rise out over the water.

“I should wake up for the sunrise more often,” I say, pulling a towel up over my legs for a little warmth. The widows weren’t wrong about it being chilly this morning. But there’s no way I’m going to miss the gorgeousness in the sky just because it’s cold.

“The only time I’m ever up this early is to go to the gym,” he agrees, stretching his legs. “You’re right, this is much better.”

“I want to take a picture,” I murmur. “But I know it wouldn’t turn out half as gorgeous as this looks.”

“We should take one anyhow.” He tugs on my arm, pulling me over so I’m practically sitting on his lap, and pulls out his cellphone. “Get closer, my arms aren’t that long.”

I have to struggle to control my breathing as I bring my face in next to his for the selfie. Does he have to smell so good? So many things in my life would be easier if Fox Ransome didn’t smell like rainbows and magic—or at least, what I assume rainbows and magic smell like. Whatever it is, it makes me want to burrow closer to him and bury my nose in his neck. Not very buddy-like behavior.

He adjusts us so the purple-pink sky is at our back then snaps the picture. Even before I see it, I know I’m going to keep it forever.

One of the crew members comes out to offer us steaming hot cups of coffee, which I happily accept. “You have a caffeine problem,” Fox says drily, watching me gulp at the too-hot coffee. “How do you not burn yourself?”

I shrug. “Used to it, I guess. Can tongues get calluses?”

He shudders. “That’s a disgusting mental image.”

We sit in silence for a while, enjoying the view. There aren’t many clouds in the sky and I have a feeling once the sun gets up, it’s going to be a gorgeous day. We’ll probably get all tanned and freckly and end up in trouble with the makeup team when we get back to work tomorrow.

I frown out at the ocean. I really don’t want to think about being back on set.

“You know the best part of this?” I ask, kicking my feet up to the side of the boat. “No cell service.”

I expect him to laugh, or maybe make a joke about one of us going into withdrawal, since we’re both so addicted to our phones, but his face hardens, instead. “You want to talk about it?”

It takes a moment for me to realize that he’s referring to Adam and the gossip piece. It’s weird, but I’d almost forgotten everything that happened yesterday.

“Not a whole lot to say.” I let my gaze fix out on the ever-brightening sky. “People are always going to write shit. About both of us. Goes with the job, you know?”

“I’m not talking about the column,” he says. “I’m talking about the action the column described.” I can feel his gaze on the side of my face, but I don’t tear my eyes away from the ocean. “Is Adam cheating on you?”

I shift in my seat, feeling uncomfortable. There’s a part of me that wants to tell him everything, but an even bigger part that hopes he never finds out. I wasn’t exaggerating when I talked to Grey yesterday. My actions involving Adam and my grandfather are nothing short of cowardly.

And I really don’t want Fox to see me that way.

But I can’t just say nothing. Not with him looking at me like he can practically see inside my mind anyhow.