Chapter 75 Packing for the Adventure
Malia's pov
Back in the suite, the living room seemed like a teeny war zone. Suitcases were open on the floor, half-packed clothing spilling out, chargers hanging from outlets like ivy. I knelt by my duffel bag on the carpet, trying to choose between the black bikini and the blue one-piece.
The island trip had gone from concept to actuality in less then forty-eight hours, my stomach switching between excitement and nerves.
Aiden crouched at my side, close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating off his body. He reached over me to take a folded tank top from the stack and without saying a word to me, put it in my bag.
“You’re overthinking it,” he said softly with a chuckle.
“I’m not.” I waved both bathing suits in the air. “Which one?”
He looked at them for about half a second before taking the black bikini from my fingers and tossing it in. “This one. Definitely.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You sure? It’s… small.”
His grin turned wicked. “That’s why.”
Before I could protest he bent and kissed the side of my neck–slow, deliberate, lips hovering just below my ear. I shuddered. He did it again, but this time with his mouth open, his teeth lightly grazing. My hands stilled on the stack of shorts I’d been folding.
“Aiden,” I breathed, laughing and half warning.
“Hmm?” He didn’t stop.
One arm slid around my waist from behind, pulling my back against his chest while his mouth continued its lazy path along my shoulder. “You smell good.”
“I smell like laundry detergent and stress.”
“Still good.” His lips nipped gently at the spot where my neck met my shoulder. “Relax. Just a few days. Sun, water, no campus drama.”
Against my better judgment, I cocked my head to give him better access. “And six people live under one roof. Including your brothers. And my inquisitive friends.”
He chuckled down at my skin. “We’ll find private corners. I promise.”
His hand slid beneath the bottom of my shirt, warm from the palm and flat placed on top of my stomach. I sprang backwards up against him closing my eyes for a moment
“You have been on my mind,” I said softly.
“Good.”
He kissed me on the corner of my jaw. “You were folding the same shirt three times.”
I gave a quiet chuckle and spun around in his arms. He reached halfway to me and brought me up close against him, our lips met in a slow, deep kuss that tasted like mint and certainty.
When we separated I pressed my forehead against his.
“You are right” I said. "I was just.. nervous too. About the group. About how everyone’s going to act. "
Aiden brushed back a lock of hair from my ear. “They’re all going to be fine. Rowan’s been strangely serene since breakfast. Cian’s already put his things in half the kitchen. And your friends? They survived last night. They can survive a beach house.”
I nodded, skeptical, but willing to believe him.
Rowan’s voice — low and steady — carried up the hallway and then Cian’s softer response. I glanced out from behind the doorframe. They were in the kitchen, draping a soft shell over the hard shell of a cooler.
Rowan was filling stacks of water bottles as Cian filled bags of chips, fruit and what appeared to be an entire case of soda. A deck of cards, a Bluetooth speaker, and a couple board games were lined up on the counter beside them.
“What is that — snacks for a week?” I called.
Rowan looked up, a small smile touched the corners of his lips. “Better to be cautious.”
Cian nodded once in agreement. “There aren’t any shops on the island.”
They operated as if they had—silent, fast teamwork. Rowan’s eyes found mine and he held them for just a moment longer than he usually did. There was something softer there now. Not resignation, exactly. More like… acceptance. It made my chest tighten in the best way.
I ducked back into the bedroom. Aiden was zipping my bag up.
“Done?” he asked.
“Think so.”
He tossed it over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing, then pulled me in for one last quick kiss — assertive, possessive, finishing with a soft nibble on my lower lip. “Let’s go. ”
July and Freddy showed up ten minutes later, bags at the ready and excitement to the max.
July rushed through the door first. “Island time, bitches! I brought snacks no one needed, and three kinds of sunscreen because I burn like a vampire.”
Freddy was pulling up a rolling suitcase that looked like it wanted to explode. “And I brought the vibes. Playlist is locked and loaded. No sad songs allowed.”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “You’re riding with us?”
“Clearly,” July said. “We’re not letting Mal out of our sight. She disappears with you too often.”
Aiden smirked but didn’t argue.
We packed everything in the two SUVs waiting outside — coolers, in the back; bags piled up like Tetris blocks. Rowan took the wheel of one, Cian shotgun. Aiden took the other, sliding into the driver’s seat as I climbed into the passenger side.
July and Freddy loaded into the back, already arguing over aux cord rights.
The engine rumbled to life. Aiden took my hand and laced his fingers with mine, thumb drawing slow circles across my knuckles. He said nothing—just squeezed once, steady and sure.
I looked up from the window as we left the dorms. Campus slipped past in a blur of brick and bare trees, holiday lights twinkling in the early dusky sky. My heart felt full and fluttery at the same time.
Aiden raised my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “You okay?” he said softly.
I nodded. “Yeah. Just…happy.”
His smile was small, reserved. “Good.”
He kept my hand on his thigh, warm and solid under my palm as he drove. Behind us July finally won the aux battle and upbeat pop filled the car, Freddy singing dramatically off-key. Laughter spilled out of the back seat.
Aiden looked at me sideways. “Private moments” he murmured, voice pitched just for me. “I promised. We’ll steal them.”
Heat crept up my neck. “You better.”
He held my hand again. “Count on it.”
The road stretched out ahead—long, open, leading somewhere new, leading out of Mooncrest college. Music pounded through the speakers, voices blended into a easy hum, and Aiden’s thumb streaked across my skin.
For the first time in weeks, the future didn’t feel so heavy.
It felt like possibility.