I dragged my hand over the stubble on my chin. “Fine, yes. We’re best friends. If that’s what it takes to not hang out with those guys tomorrow, you’re my favorite fucking person on this entire planet, okay?”
“At least on this island,” she said through a laugh.
That was the undeniable truth. The thought of what we’d be after this trip lingered in my mind. While this might only be temporary, my feelings for Lila had shifted in a way that felt permanent. Friendship had always been tough for me, probably always would be, but going back to how things had been between us? That felt impossible now. Ilikedher. Not seeing her every day already felt wrong. I’d gotten used to her cheery greetings, and the way she dragged me along on whatever little adventure she had in mind. I had even started to look forward to it.
Lila led the way to the gate of our hotel, almost running into Maria in the process.
“Good evening,” she greeted us with a smile. “How was your day?”
“Amazing.” Lila’s eyes brightened as she regaled Maria with the story of our day.
Her whole demeanor lit up as she spoke, her energy infectious. Something about it stirred an ache deep in my gut—her sincere, candid love for life. Her kindness and her openness to people and experiences. It should be something fostered. Something protected. Not something to be picked apart or critiqued. For the millionth time since we’d set off on this strange journey, I mentally berated myself for ever being an ass to her.
“Where are you going for dinner?” Maria asked us when Lila finished telling her all the places where we’d stopped.
“Just somewhere in town,” Lila said. “We were heading out there now.”
“Can I make a suggestion?” Maria asked.
“Of course! Please,” Lila exclaimed.
“There’s a small family place just down the road. It’s not in town, but the food is amazing. You have to try it. They’re always full, since they don’t have many tables, but it’s so far out of town the tourists don’t usually find it.”
“That sounds perfect.” Lila smiled up at me.
“Just turn left instead of right at the main road. It’ll be at the first fork you come to. You shouldn’t miss it.”
Lila thanked Maria. I was about to thank her as I walked by, but she winked at me instead and whispered, “Very romantic,” under her breath.
Maria hadn’t been kidding.This restaurant looked like it was straight out of a painting. It was nestled in an older building, and we found it easily thanks to the lanterns strung on wires out front. The inside was just as atmospheric. Paintings hung along the wall, and small tables lined both sides of the room, lit only by the dim candles on the tables and the low lamps above. Each table had a different patterned tablecloth, and ornate rugs lined the walkways.
Lila sat across from me at the small table, sipping a glass of wine. We’d already inhaled the best meal I could ever remember having, with various meats, and risotto, and a few other sides. While the food had been delicious, the company probably had more to do with it.
“Cheers,” she said, holding out her glass to me.
“Cheers,” I responded automatically. “Uh, for what?”
“For the perfect end to the perfect day.”
Something about her referring to a day spent with me as ‘perfect’ fed my ego in the best possible way.
“It was pretty perfect,” I admitted.
“Oh no, not you getting sentimental on me.” Lila tapped her chin and leaned in closer to me. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
She looked amazing in this lighting, her cheeks tinged red from the wine and a look of complete contentment about her. Plus, that dress. Fuck.
I couldn’t even blame my wandering thoughts on the wine, because I’d only had a few sips. But my inhibitions seemed to need very little convincing to abandon me high and dry.
“Is this trip everything you were hoping it’d be?” I found myself asking, eager for more validation that I actually wasn’t the nightmarish travel companion she’d originally thought me to be.
She sighed and looked at the ceiling for a moment before answering. “I don’t know that I had many expectations. I was obviously excited to go on a trip with Charlie, but this is so far from what I imagined, I hadn’t even had time to process what I thought it would be.”
“Definitely different than anything you could have envisioned.” Her answer left me deflated. “I’m sorry you didn’t make it to Fiji with everyone else.”
“Can I make a confession?” she whispered, even though the bustle of the restaurant easily drowned out our conversation from the tables next to ours.
“Tell me.”
