I shut down the idea almost as quickly as it enters my mind. I can’t risk it. Relationships are messy. The best part about Luke and me is how simple and easy it’s always been. If we become a couple, there’s no undoing that. And I can’t picture my life without Luke. Luke is that little spark in my day. He’s my best friend, first and foremost, and I’m willing to do almost anything to keep it that way.
I don’t feel that way about Luke. I can’t.
Before I step out of the shower, I allow myself one long, deep breath before I open the door.
Again, the steam fills the room, the fresh, cool air giving some relief from the anxiety that had built up while I’d been showering.
Luke’s on his phone in bed already, the covers pulled up so all I can see is his top half—still shirtless.
“What time are we leaving here tomorrow?” he asks, looking up at me.
Hearing his voice helps calm my nerves a little, and I remind myself that I’ve known Luke my entire life. There is nothing to be nervous about. This is us.
“Nine.” I pull my hair out of the towel I had it rolled up in and toss the towel back into the bathroom. I grab my brush from my suitcase and attempt to tame the mess of hair.
“Okay,” Luke says, but it feels like his eyes linger on me too long, so I take a few steps back into the bathroom. He continues talking. “I’m probably going to try to sleep then. Is it okay if I turn off my lamp? You can keep yours on until you go to bed.”
“Sure.” I place the brush on the bathroom counter and give myself another inner monologue pep talk. Luke is your friend. A proper gentleman. You’ll both stay on your respective sides of the bed.
I take in a tiny puff of air and walk back into the bedroom. Luke is plugging his phone in. As I sit on my side of the bed, he clicks off the lamp and rolls to his side. A natural.
Clearly, I’m the oddball in the room.
That stupid text is ruining everything.
I pull up the sheets around me, thankful that we each have our own set of blankets. I’m not sure how much time passes, but eventually I hear Luke’s breathing grow long and heavy—he’s asleep.
I try to mimic his breathing, letting my body relax until I drift off too.
Chapter 13
Luke
Harper is already awake when I roll over in bed. She flits around the room, too excited to hold still. I watch her for a bit as she tears through her suitcase like it’s a present. Her hair is an utter mess, sticking out in all directions, but it’s cute. I want to walk across the room and smooth her hair down, combing my fingers through the strands.
I imagine if I did that, Harper would look at me like I’d just slapped her.
Harper glances over and notices I’m awake.
“We have to leave in an hour,” she says, going through her things.
I sit up, watching her. “Then why are you in a rush?”
She rolls her eyes like I asked a question with an obvious answer. “We have to eat breakfast first, and I don’t want to rush.”
I comply without telling her that she’s the only one who seems to be in a rush.
We get through breakfast and arrive at Blue Lagoon five minutes before our scheduled time. When I park the car, Harperis out the door before I can unbuckle my seat belt.
I don’t know much about Blue Lagoon, but Harper insists it’s a must-see hot spring with a walk-up bar and mud masks.
The place looks more like a luxurious spa than a hot spring, but the excitement on Harper’s face only multiplies.
The place looks unassuming from the parking lot. There’s a large white sign that simply says “Blue Lagoon” to let us know we’ve reached the right location. We follow a long pathway that leads us through a field of mossy rocks. The path winds and turns until a massive building opens up in front of us.
The entry is grand, with a glass front that’s surrounded by tall, concrete walls. It’s designed to look modern and sleek. To the left of the entry is what everyone comes here for: a pool of water so blue that it looks Photoshopped.
Harper doesn’t pause at the entry. At the sight of the water, she turns to me, gives me a smile, and skips to the door.
