“What do you want to know?” His fingers traced my skin above my belly button. When I stirred, swallowing a moan, he pressed me closer to him.
“Tell me about your parents.” I started to blur my words together, but I wanted to know about him. About his life.
He exhaled, hesitant. “Later tonight,” he said, brushing a strand from my face. I snuggled deeper into his arms. “I’ll tell you about them later tonight.” He repeated it, as if saying it out loud made him keep his promise.
All I had on me was his grey T-shirt, which felt like the silkiest fabric there was. It covered my ass, but my legs were still bare. Luke’s hands slowly but firmly pulled me tighter to his chest and then put his warm hand on my thigh, brushing circles.
I didn’t feel like he wanted anything more, anything sexual. I felt like he wanted to protect me, warm me. And I knew if I were uncomfortable, he’d let me go immediately, which is why I felt as safe as I possibly could.
It’s a truth as old as time that our own minds are the biggest enemy, collecting fragments of past pain and childhood echoes, setting off alarms when familiar wounds threaten to reopen. But for once, for whatever reason, neither of our minds tried to protect us from itself.
For once, our minds allowed us to be.
23
Hazel
The moment I woke up, I noticed two things—first, I was alone, and second, I was in a different place than where I’d fallen asleep. I sat up and closed my eyes, replaying yesterday’s events. The last thing I remember was Luke’s breath on my neck, making me shiver, and his arms pulling me closer. Maybe I was dreaming. I glanced around and saw a water bottle on the nightstand and a note on the pillow beside me.
Had some business in town. Be back soon. Drink lots of water.
P.S.: Yes, we fell asleep on the balcony. In case you were wondering.
I smiled at Luke, reading my mind from afar. After downing half the bottle and taking a long shower, I stepped onto the balcony, only to be met with a shocking sight. Ethan was passed out, butt naked, on a lounger by the pool.
“Ethan!” I yelled. There was a grunt but no movement. “Are you okay?”
He reluctantly raised a thumbs-up and slowly peeled off his face from the polyester. Something was stuck to his cheek. A sliced mushroom?
“Are you aware that you’re naked?”
“Gentleman never tells,” he mumbled, not making any sense.
“Why are you naked?” I yelled out, probably waking up others in the neighborhood.
“Global warming?”
I chuckled and went in search of others. I headed downstairs, where the girls were already having breakfast.
“Good morning,” Ava said enthusiastically.
“Hi, girl. Slept well? Want some coffee?” Norah pulled out a chair for me.
Hmm... “Thank you.” Something was off. Did he tell them? A slick of underboob started to gather. Never a good sign.
“Maybe some water instead? Or juice?” Ava slid an omelet onto my plate. I eyed them suspiciously.
“Do you know something?” I asked.
“Whatever do you mean?” Ava exclaimed, overdramatically. Like an English newscaster.
“Luke told you, didn’t he?” A tired sigh escaped me as I slouched forward.
“Yes, first thing in the morning. Almost immediately,” Norah confirmed. I groaned, covering my face and dreading this day already.
Alex strolled in, looking happy as a clam. Engagement suited him.
“Morning. What’s up?” he asked, noticing me slumped in the chair.
