With an arm around her back, I balance on a rock anchored to the sea floor.
“What’s your sister like?”
“Claire’s creative like you, though watercolor is her preferredmedium. And when she’s not slammed at the hospital or painting, she’s at spin class.”
She tilts her head. “I like spinning too.”
“I think you’d get along.” I’d introduce them, but since she’s adamant about not continuing what we have once she leaves the island, I don’t know that I could handle seeing her around if they hit it off.
We stay like that, teasing and splashing and flirting. Flirting turns to kissing, which turns to petting, until we’re interrupted by a throaty cough that is definitely not coming from one of the mountain goats. We pull apart and spot a man holding tight to a child near the edge.
“Looks like that’s our cue.” I grasp Joey’s hips and pull her away just a little.
She unwraps her legs from my waist willingly, although not without a little pout. Then we make our way to flatter land.
“Ready to head back?”
With a deep inhale, Joey eyes the steep climb. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Nearly an hour later, at the top of the stone stairs, we pull out our phones and take a few selfies, then survey the glorious horizon one last time in a comfortable silence. My phone finally has service, so I call for a car. By the time we make it back to the monastery, we’re too beat to go inside. Feet dragging and shoulders slumped, we head to the parking lot, where the driver is waiting for us.
25
Josefine
“Good morning, gorgeous.”
“Jesus!” I jump, and my coffee sloshes dangerously close to the rim of my mug. “You scared me.” It’s been two days since our hike, and my glutes are still sore.
“You look like you were deep in thought.” He’s fishing for information, but there’s no way I’ll tell him I was lost in memories of him.
“What are you doing?” I change course.
“Hoping I’d catch you. I missed you in my bed last night,” he says as he ghosts circles over my exposed shoulder.
“I will admit, your snoring is much more tolerable than Millie’s thrashing about,” I chuckle.
“I do not snore.” Feigning offense, he tugs on a strand of my loose and unruly hair.
I didn’t even brush it before leaving the room—just came straight to the breakfast buffet.
“Look who I found.” Ezra strides up to the table, my cousin reluctantly trailing behind him. She’s balancing juice and a towering plate of pastries that I hope she plans to share.
“Morning, Ezra. What did you boys get into last night?”
He steals something chocolatey from Millie’s plate before she can swat him away. “We went for a night swim with some of the staff and learned how to make raki.”
“Only Ezra here did more drinking than learning.” Cam smacks his friend’s back and barks out a laugh.
Two women passing by gawk openly. One even bobbles her cappuccino. The men together are enough to send anyone stumbling.
“We’ll leave you ladies to it,” Ezra says, lowering his chin. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
Cam bends to press a kiss against my cheek before following his friend outside. I may or may not ogle his ass as he strides away.
“What do you want to do today?” I ask Millie now that we’re on our own.
Her response is garbled by the mouthful of sweets she’s talking around. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but I thinkyoushould write.”
