“Come on, are you really going to throw away what we have?”
“What we have? Are you serious right now? From where I’m sitting, what we have is a whole lot of nothing. You’re a cheating asshole, so yeah, I’m gonna throw it all away. Right in the fucking trash where it belongs. You’re garbage. A real piece of shit. We’re done.”
God, I should have listened to those rumors.
He tried the we’re-so-good-together-baby line once more, and I nearly kicked him in the balls in front of the whole excursion group. Call it compartmentalization to protect my emotions, but at that moment, I stuffed Tyler and his bullshit in a metaphorical dumpster and leaped off that boat with the biggest smile on my face.
Blessedly, it’s virtually impossible to talk while snorkeling. Despite the drama that went down on the boat, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the crystal-clear water.
Once or twice, those pesky problems found their way out of the dumpster, despite my best efforts to lock that shit up, and I nearly choked on my mouthpiece when the thought of Brooks saying, “But it’sfor the plot!” popped into my brain. Maybe someday I’ll look back and agree, but not today.
When it was time for lunch, the charter boat collected our snorkel gear and dropped us at the dock, but I wasn’t hungry. I grabbed my bag and hightailed it onto the beach, but Tyler was close on my heels.
“Go to hell. Do notfollow me!” I yelled,striding away.
Before long, I found myself dozing off in a hammock. The sun and stress had worn me out. What felt like moments after I climbed in, though, I was startled awake by fat raindrops. I raced back to the beach, where I discovered zero boats left on the water. So I threw my hair in a topknot, and, looking like a drowned rat, I made my way to the hotel’s lobby in search of help. I was mid-panic when a gorgeous man who had to be at least a few inches over six foot came marching up beside me.
I’m not going to lie. As terrible as it felt to realize I’d been left behind, this is a nice reprieve. And bythis, I mean being separated from Tyler. If I never see his lying ass again, it’ll be too soon. If only. Unfortunately, I’ll have to collect my things from the ship and our apartment. But for now, I’ll enjoy a fresh seafood dish and a glass (or two) of wine on this gorgeous island. The B&B may need a little TLC, but the view is delicious.
8
Cameron
“Dammit!”I toss my phone onto the mattress and watch it bounce.
“Who are you calling?” Josefine calls from behind the bathroom door. I didn’t realize she could hear me.
“Um, my—”Girlfriendis on the tip of my tongue, but then I remember I don’t have one of those anymore. “My, uh, friend.”
Josefine throws open the door and steps out, and my adrenaline spikes. I swallow, desperate to relieve the dryness in my mouth.
“What?” she asks, examining herself. “You look like you’ve never seen a woman before.”
“I—I—have,” I stutter, practically wheezing.
I’ve seen plenty of women before, just none as breathtaking as the one standing before me. Hayden’s pretty in the traditional sense, but Josefine is just—wow.
“Is that all you have to wear?” I ask through gritted teeth. “Isn’t there a robe or something you can put on?” Craning my neck, I look past Josefine, but I don’t see anything but towels hanging in the bathroom.
“Excuse me?” she challenges, propping one hand on her hip. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“It’s just that, um.” Heat rushes to my cheeks. “That, um…”
Raising her brows, she lifts her chin and looks down her nose at me. “Yes?” She waves a hand, urging me to get on with it.
I sigh. “It’s just that we don’t even know each other, and you’re wearingthat.”
Thatbeing the tiniest and sexiest lingerie I’ve ever seen. It’s one piece and made of silk—or maybe it’s satin. The lilac color is stunning against her sun-kissed skin. I can’t see her backside, but I assume it barely covers her bum. The top is trimmed with lace and dips low between her braless breasts—the material makes that fact obvious.
“Why are you wearing lingerie?”
“What are you talking about?” She glances down at her body. Hertightbody—that’s how little her getup leaves to the imagination. “This is not lingerie. This is a bathing suit cover-up.”
“It’s definitely lingerie.” Who am I trying to convince here?
“Nope.”
“I think I know lingerie when I see it.”
