One of Ellie’s legs was tangled with mine. Her head rested against my shoulder. My dress hung halfway off the bedside lamp, though neither of us remembered putting it there.
The room smelled faintly of salt, wine, and the coconut lotion supplied by the rental.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then Ellie lifted her head.
“Is there sand in this bed?”
I felt beneath my leg.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I live near a beach.”
“You showered.”
“So did you.”
She examined the sheet.
“This is a lot of sand.”
“Maybe the cottage provides it.”
“Very island.”
I laughed.
She settled against me again.
I ran my fingers through her hair.
“You’re staying?” I asked.
The question came out more vulnerable than I intended.
Ellie looked at me.
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m staying.”
Easy.
She made it sound easy.
I kissed her forehead.
After a minute, her stomach growled.
