“What are you doing here?”
“I came to say goodbye.” He scooped me up, his arms encircling my waist.
“We already said goodbye.” I laughed as he nuzzled my neck.
“Isabelle invited me.” His breath stirred goose bumps on my skin. “Plus, I wanted to give you something.” He lay the CD down on the stairs and picked up a white cardboard box that was propped up next to my shoes.
“What is it?” I asked. It looked like a small takeout container.
“A final treat before I leave.”
Music stopped blaring from the speakers. There was loud cheering, followed by a slow, smooth ballad.
“It’s Isabelle and Thomas’s last dance,” I said.
The air between us grew tight. Alex lay the box back down on the steps and took me in his arms. It was our last dance too.
Our eyes held as we shuffled to the tune, the sand gritty between my toes. No fancy moves, no spins or turns—just Alex’s lips brushing against my forehead, my chin on his shoulder, the swaying of our feet.
“Hey.” Alex cupped my jaw, his thumb caressing my cheek. “It’s a crime to be sad on a beautiful night like this.”
“Not sad,” I said. “Just quietly drinking you in. The night. The stars. The way you smell. The way you feel.”
Left. Right. Left. Right. In time with the crashing and receding of the waves.
“Did anyone tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“You like me in asalwar khameez?” I wore the traditional combo of a long tunic and closely fitted pants, both in a deep shade of sapphire. Mydupattacascaded off one shoulder, the silver embroidery glittering against the blue.
The music stopped, but we ignored the clapping, the muffled voices, the creaking of the planks above us.
“I’m a terrible maid of honor for sneaking off,” I said.
“You should be fired.”
We laughed and continued swaying.
“I don’t want tonight to end.” I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“It doesn’t have to.” His lips stopped a hair’s breadth from mine. “Change your mind.” A soft kiss. “Come with me.” Another brush of his lips.
“I thought we decided to take this slow.”
“You decided. I just want to throw you over my shoulder and take you home.”
“Five months.” I chuckled as his teeth tugged at my ear lobe like they wanted to drag me away. “I’ll see you in five months. You’re going to be away for three of them anyway.”
“I’m not away now.” His lips parted mine in a slow, drugging kiss.
My mouth was still burning when he pulled away.
“I have to get going, Heart-Eyes.”
I nodded, the lump in my throat getting bigger as he straightened myduppata.
“See me off?” He grabbed the backpack he’d left lying on the sand and reclaimed the box from the steps.
I put on my shoes and followed him up the stairs to the street level. The music had stopped, but the guests lingered on the terrace in the back. The street was quiet, the cobblestones reflecting the golden glow of streetlamps.
