“Oh my gosh, Luca.” Faith giggled. “Just go for it already. Mags told me she was officially pursuing you.”
I swallowed the food and sighed. “Ican’t.”
She sobered up from her laugh and narrowed her eyes. “If you’re going to make yourself miserable, fine. But don’t you dare lead her on. Be upfront with her if you’re going to let what your dad did hold you back.”
I hesitated at the death glare she gave me before I nodded. “Okay. I’ll be honest with her.”
Faith shook her head with a frown.
Mags and Eve came back and sat down with their plates. Mags sat right next to me with a sweet smile on her glossy lips, and my mind went blank. I had to tell her the truth. I wasn’t ever going to be ready for a real relationship, and she deserved more than I could ever give her.
Day Four
10 AM - 12 PM - Seashell Scavenger Hunt
With my sand-dusted, sun-kissed legs curled under, I sat close to the lapping waves. The heat of the sun lingered on my skin, and my eyelids fluttered closed as I breathed in the salty spray of the sea. I scrunched my toes and basked in the softness of the sand. My fingers wiggled in the gentle waves as Faith and Asher made their way over to me.
“You’re too pretty, Mags.” Faith shook her head and tsked me.
I smiled. “You’re too sweet. And you are radiating.”
Faith had her brown hair in beach waves that tumbled down her back. She wore her bikini top with some high-waisted shorts. She belonged on an island in the sun.
“Thanks.” She blushed. “Anyway, before everyone gets here I was hoping we could talk?”
My brow arched. “Sure, what’s up?”
She shot Asher ago awaylook, and he trotted off to wait for the rest of the group to show. She sat down next to me and took a deep breath. “Alright, don’t hate me.”
I dug my fingers into the damp sand. “Why on earth would I hate you?”
Her blue eyes gazed into the tumbling waves. “It’s about Luca. You’re not going to like it.”
I froze. “What about him?”
“I just don’t want him to hurt you again. Luca’s my cousin, and I love him. But you’re my best friend.” She dusted the sand off her foot. “He’s closed himself off to the idea of having an actual relationship. It’s almost like he enjoys depriving himself of happiness.”
I glanced back out to the sea, my mouth pursed but slightly open and loose. My eyes are fixed on the tumbling waves that rolled in and wet our feet. “I know that, but I have feelings for him. I don’t want to give up on him yet. I need to know why.”
“It’s got a lot to do with what he witnessed growing up. I can’t tell you any more than that. But just think about if it’s worth the possible heartbreak again. I don’t know if Luca’s ready to get over his past.”
His past? I stood up, and my feet sunk into the sand as I brushed off the grains from my dress and legs. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, Faith.”
She got to her feet and grabbed my arm. “I’m not telling you what to do. I just don’t want this week to end with you being hurt by my idiotic cousin again.”
I nodded my head. I knew where she was coming from. I appreciated the fact that she cared, but I had to figure this out with Luca myself.
We headed over to where the group had gathered around Asher. My stare lingered on Luca as different possible scenarios went through my mind. What the hell could’ve happened to make him swear off relationships the way he does?
“Alright, since we are all here, let’s get to this scavenger hunt!” Faith grabbed a few sheets of laminated paper out of her back pocket. “Asher and I looked up like ten seashells and other beachy things found around here and printed the picture with their names. The goal is to have fun. You have an hour to collect what you can. Whoever has the most wins a gift card!”
She handed out the sheets. “Obviously, I had originally planned for it to be groups of two.”
“Eve can be with us!” Jamie offered a smile to Eve who nodded in return.
“Yeah. That way the soon-to-be newlyweds can be together and Luca and Mags can be too.” Eve sent a sly wink my way.
“That’s a good plan.” Asher wrapped an arm around Faith. “Let the best scavengers win!”
