I needed to get up. I needed to pace.
Suddenly, I couldn't breathe.
Carefully, I peeled Harrison’s arm away from my waist. I moved at a snail’s pace so as not to shift the mattress too much. I got to my feet, turning to check that Harrison was still asleep. To my relief, he was still out cold, his cheek smushed against the pillow. One stubborn lock of his hair had sprung free from his small bun and lay across his face.
He looked freaking adorable.
I tiptoed toward the door, and turned the latch slowly. I eased the door open and stepped out into the cool night air. Now outside, I could finally breathe, and I could feel how damp my body was. My T-shirt stuck to my clammy chest. I pinched the top of it and waved it to fan it out and get some air flow.
I slumped into the small wicker chair on our patio and breathed a sigh of relief. My head felt clearer than it had all night. To say that today had been amazing would be an understatement. And the fact that Harrison had planned it, all down to our dinner reservation, had absolutely melted my heart. He wasn’t the same man I’d arrived here with.
That both excited and terrified me. This bond that we’d built—the one I’d felt was so strong—how would it hold up once we were off the island? Once we were outside of our vacation bubble?
What did Harrison want? How would he act? I knew what I wanted. I wanted to nurture what we’d started, tend it carefully and watch what it could become.
I knew it was too soon, but I wanted to be his girlfriend.
Despite our differences, we felt right. I got him out of his comfort zone and he grounded me. Maybe he was rough around the edges, but he was a good person. I saw it in the way he’d been protective of me from the very start. I saw it in the way he spoke of his parents. I had even seen it before this trip, with his unwavering loyalty to Oliver.
I’d be lucky to have him in my life. I had intended to tell him all that today, but the moment never felt right. Then by the time the evening rolled around, I’d convinced myself it could wait.
But then the doubt crept in. What if my feelings were one-sided? What if returning to the real world would be like stepping into an ice-cold shower? Would this all fade away into a ‘what were we thinking?’ situation? Was this destined to just becomea strange story for our friend group? The great lore of Harrison and Lila’s trip switch fling?
I cradled my head in my hands and groaned.
“Everything alright, dear?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin. I probably would have screamed had it not been for the calm, comforting tone of the voice.
Maria stood before me, wearing blue pajamas and carrying a large laundry basket. I clutched a hand to my chest and swallowed my heart, which had jumped into my throat.
“Sorry, you scared me.” I sat up in the chair. “I’m fine, just couldn’t sleep.”
She smiled. “That makes two of us.”
“I just figured I’d get some air,” I said, meeting her warm gaze.
“Your boyfriend doesn't have the same problem?”
“He’s not...” I stopped my sentence. While it still wasn’t the truth, denying it felt wrong, too.
Maria chuckled and shifted her basket. “Not so sure anymore, eh?”
My face likely said it all. I could feel it growing hot.
“I knew it. I could sense something between you two.” She tapped the side of her head. “I’m glad I got you out of that shared room.”
My eyebrows pulled together. “What? But you said?—”
She laughed harder. “I have another shared dorm room that I could have put more guests in.”
Her laugh made my lip tug upward. “That one bed almost got us into a lot of trouble, you know.”
She waved a hand. “I took my chances. I saw the way that he looked at you. This island is meant for young love. I couldn't let you waste it.”
“Well, love is a very strong word.” I bit my lip. “We don't... we didn’t.” I groaned and cradled my face again. “The truth is, I have no idea what we are or what’s going to happen.” Blurting this out to Maria made me feel better, even if she was virtually a stranger.
The skin around her eyes crinkled as she studied me.
