I gave him a weak smile, trying to distance myself by looking at his chest, but there was no space. My back hit the wall behind me.
Luke smiled back and made the first move, stepping out of the stall. I pushed out a big breath, feeling like I could finally breathe. After a minute, I returned to my seat, where Luke was waiting for me. We resumed the movie, but all I could think about was that cramped bathroom stall and how I could barely breathe with him so close.
Okay. You’re not some naive little girl. You can understand sexual attraction objectively. It’s just the human body. READ THE BOOK.
That doesn’t change the fact that it wasn’t going to lead anywhere. Get a grip. Besides, he has a totally different taste in girls. You two are not having sex. Period.
And while I was freaking out and having a talk with myself, I didn’t notice Luke’s eyes glancing at me every few minutes, likely having the exact same conversation with himself.
13
Luke
Are you fucking insane? You’re taking her to a foreign country, for which you are paying, with people she barely knows, and cornering her in the airplane’s bathroom stall.
Damn it, man. Not cool. Think about how she feels.
We were already at the airport, waiting in customs. The rest of the flight was strange. We finished the movie, but I couldn’t remember the second half. At some point, Hazel fell asleep, and I selfishly used the chance to count the tiny freckles on her face—fifteen. That’s when I noticed Norah behind me, silently laughing. I shot her an annoyed look and went back to pretending I was studying the evacuation manual.
I closed my eyes to calm myself, but the effort was useless. My mind yanked me straight back to that moment. The sweet, tropical hint of mango in her hair, the way her curves shifted as she breathed, the softness of her skin under my fingers as I pulled the zipper carefully into place. Every motion felt too intimate, like the world had slowed down just to mock me. And that plain, utilitarian jumpsuit somehow made it look like it had been designed just for her. How could someone look so good in a freaking jumpsuit? How was that even fair?
Get it together.
I hated that nagging voice in my head. The one people call a conscience. I’ve despised it since childhood. It always demanded I be rational and smart, however, it helped me navigate other people’s emotions.
Half an hour later, we were packed into a minivan. Hazel sat up front, chatting with the driver in Portuguese, explaining where to go. He was smiling at her way too much.
“I’m so jet-lagged. I need sleep,” Logan groaned, rubbing his eyes.
“It was a seven-hour flight. What did you expect, honey?” Norah teased, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Don’t sleep,” Alex said, slapping Logan’s thigh hard enough to make him jump. “Time difference matches the flight, so you’ve gotta stay awake, man!”
“Ouch, okay. I get it, weirdo,” Logan said, swatting Alex’s hand away.
“You’re allowed a 20-minute nap,” I declared, and Hazel turned in her seat.
“No naps! The best views are outside the city, along the coast.”
“Hazel, unless you’ve got coffee stashed in that jumpsuit, I can only keep my eyes open for the duration of one Jay-Z song. Otherwise, I can’t help you,” Logan muttered, already slurring as his eyes closed. Hazel glanced at him, then murmured something to the driver.
After a while, we turned off the main road onto a narrow lane and drove until we stopped at an old shack with a weathered wooden sign. Hazel hopped out and came back moments later with cups of espresso and pastries.
“Are you a witch?” Ethan shouted, startling half the group.
“Not usually, no,” she laughed, handing out cups.
“Damn, this is amazing,” Logan said, already gulping his. I took a sip—it was like warm, smooth lava sliding down my throat.
“Take it slow, it’s strong. And here, have these,” she added, passing us pastries. “Portugal is quite famous for its coffee, so you’re in the right place. These are calledbicas. Like an espresso, but better—a very smooth, velvety drink. Locals believe it stands forBeba isso com açúcar, which translates toDrink this withsugar.” The words sounded exotic in her mouth. I watched her lips pronouncing the syllables.
“Oh, so not a witch, more like an encyclopedia?” Ava teased, stealing half of Alex’s pastry.
“Yeah, and don’t ask her about the human body. She’ll annihilate you,” I joked, smirking at Hazel. She rolled her gorgeous blue eyes and tossed a sugar packet at my face.
The coast was breathtaking, and I could already feel the ocean calling me. I leaned back, closed my eyes, and enjoyed the sun warming my face. A strand of Hazel’s hair floated from the front row, brushing against me. I gently tucked it behind her ear. She didn’t turn, but her eyes shifted to the right, and the corner of her mouth twitched into a faint smile.
We finally arrived at the beach house and got out of the car.
