“Oh my, my, what have I done to earn such a beautiful smile?” he said, joining me by the bar.
“Nothing. Just heard some good things about you.”
“All lies,” he teased back. His sleeves were rolled up, his hair a little wilder now. I suddenly had a sinking feeling in my chest about our fleeting time.
“Come dance with me,” I said, pulling him by the hands and walking backward with a smile. My laughter played out in the air as his hands slid to my hips, guiding me to the dance floor. Our bodies entwined with the music, finding our rhythm. His gaze dropped to my neck and chest, flushed with heat.
“You look adorable.”
He glanced down at my legs as I played with the hem of my skirt, lifting it just slightly with the music.
“You’re just drunk from all the wine.”
“No, sweetie. I’m drunk on you.” He pulled me closer, his voice low. Like he was admitting it to himself rather than just flirting with me.
His smile deepened, and he winked at me. I felt like I was dancing in the air. We were breathless and warm, and every time my body slammed into his, Luke used the opportunity to let his touch linger on me as much as he could. His hands roamed with purpose, tracing down my spine, drifting along the curve of my waist, like he was mapping me from memory.
My breath quickened, and my fingertips slipped into the opening of his unbuttoned shirt, brushing against his skin. He pressed his forehead to mine for a second, digging his fingers into me, not out of urgency, but like he couldn’t bear to letme drift away. The song faded, but we stayed close for just a moment longer, suspended in the warmth of it all.
“Hey guys, we’re heading out. Early flight tomorrow. You two coming?” Ava asked.
Luke held my gaze, still breathing hard. I averted my eyes first. I felt like I was stripped bare. But it wasn’t my body he was seeing.
It was the inevitable bruise beneath the smile he saw so clearly.
* * *
We returned to the beach house, convulsing from laughter. Logan’s dance moves were the main topic; he had described himself as having ‘two left feet that have been in a terrible car accident’.
The house had started to feel homey. Shame that it was our last night here. It probably had more to do with the people around me than the house itself.
Happy, happy, happy, I reminded myself.
I collapsed onto the soft couch with a contented sigh. Alex, Ethan, and Luke were in the kitchen, beers in hand, mid-conversation.
“Have you guys packed already?” Ava’s voice suddenly filled the place.
“Yes,” I said proudly. “My belongings are packed, the dress you gave me folded extra carefully, and my documents lined up in the order I’ll be needing them.”
I’d managed to pack before we left, despite a couple of distractions. Nice distractions.
“Overachiever much?” Alex said.
“Yeah, because running late and missing our flight due to the inability to find your passport is such a turn-on, baby,” Ava teased.
He grunted something back, and Logan laughed. “Owned.”
“I still have stuff lying around,” Luke said, stepping away. “Gonna go pack.” Luke gave me a small wink just as he disappeared from my view. Summer, Norah, and Ethan dropped onto the couch beside me.
“How are you feeling?” Norah asked gently. She was so sweet and kind, always checking in. I was going to miss her. All of them.
“Amazing.” A happy sigh escaped me, my head falling back into the cushion.
“I have a love-hate relationship with the last day of vacation,” Ethan said.
“How so?” I asked.
“It’s still vacation, but there’s a bitterness in it ending.” I understood him perfectly. Not that I went on many trips. “Then there’s the bills. Logan, can you settle our part of the expenses?”
