The inside was beautiful, all white just like the last one had been, but there was an archway separating the bedroom from a small sitting room that led to the bathroom.
“Well, isn’t that something,” Harrison said gruffly, dropping his duffle and circling the singular queen-sized bed that was staring us in the face. “Looks like we’ll be living out that one-bed trope after all.”
THIRTEEN
Harrison
“Could you slow down?”The wind whipped the fabric of my T-shirt around my body as I stopped to catch my breath.
“Could you hurry up?” Lila countered, in an infuriatingly not-out-of-breath voice.
“You’re practically sprinting,” I argued as I looked up at her small figure, perched on a hill just fifty feet ahead of me.
She tossed her head back and laughed. She had pulled her hair back into a long braid, but several stubborn tendrils had fallen loose around her face. She struggled to keep control of them as the wind increased in intensity.
We were on the edge of a cliff, walking a popular trail between the towns of Fira and Oia, the one Maria had recommended last night. Lila had assured me it would be an easy hike, but after the first thirty minutes, I’d insisted on knowing how long it was. To which she had replied, “About six miles.”
Was I a fit guy? Yes. Did I spend more time at the climbing gym than working on my endurance? Also, yes.
Meanwhile, Lila had neglected to mention that she was apparently a professional trail runner. She zipped along the pathlike it was some casual stroll, hardly needing to stop for water or oxygen.
“We’re from Colorado, Harrison. This should be a piece of cake for you.”
“I don’t hike that much.” I started walking again, looking straight down at my feet to avoid tripping over any loose rocks.
“That’s obvious,” she said with a laugh before sighing. “Would you look at this view? It’s incredible.”
“I can’t look anywhere except my goddamn feet, or I’ll slip off the side of this cliff.”
“Come up here, then, and take a second to look.”
Taking a few more strides, I stopped where she stood. I took off the worn baseball cap I was wearing before fanning myself twice and placing it on my head backwards.
“Damn,” I breathed. Trying to play it cool was too much trouble when I was already physically exhausted. Plus, she was right. This was arguably the coolest view I had ever seen in my entire life. Crossing my arms, I leaned back on my hip, scanning the ocean that lapped at the cliff’s edge. To my left I could see Fira in the distance, and to my right, I could just make out a smaller city.
“I’m sure Fiji would have been amazing, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be right now,” Lila said.
“Same.” I found myself agreeing too quickly to take it back. Lila looked over at me and I briefly met her eye for a second before dropping my gaze. “I’m sure that group is partying and being obnoxious. I’m glad not to be a part of it,” I added.
Lila let out an exasperated sigh, before turning on her heel and marching away from me.
“Wait up,” I called out, hurrying to scramble behind her.
Lila twisted around without warning and glared up at me. “Why do you always do that?” she demanded.
“Do what?” I seriously didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.
“Act like you don’t care. About anything.” She lifted her arm and pointed to the expansive view. “You couldn’t even enjoy this for five seconds before belittling it. Why do you always do that? You told me you would try, and I expect you to keep your word.”
My mouth parted slightly, and I licked my bottom lip. Lila was growing fiercer by the second. Sure, she’d always shot back with snark to match mine before, but this felt different—raw, unfiltered. She was genuinely done with me, and she wasn’t about to hold back. It was just us two out here, and as temporary as that was, in this moment it was real.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, but judging by the glare she gave me, it wasn’t good enough. I dragged a hand across my face. “I’m sorry. I’ve always been like this. I can’t even help myself.”
Her eyes softened at my distraught tone. As much as I didn’t want to let my guard down, I knew I couldn’t keep interacting with her in these close quarters without chilling out a little bit. It was exhausting, always pretending to be above everything. Usually, Oliver was the only person I trusted enough to let in, even just a little. But now, out on this trip, and completely outside my comfort zone, I needed to give this girl at least an inch.
“It’s a beautiful view,” I said again, looking back at the ocean. “I meant it the first time. There’s nowhere I’d rather be. I’m not even thinking about anything else right now, other than how surreal this all is.”
Lila looked me up and down. Despite her short stature, I felt small under her gaze.
