“Look, what I do is important. Besides, what’s it to you if I did?” I ask. “Let’s be real for a second. Your worth is measured in numbers, too. Batting average, catches, strikeouts.”
“That’s my worth as aballplayer. Those numbers have nothing to do with who I am as a man. And that’s where we’re different. You’re allowing your numbers to identify who you are as a person, and I wish you could see that you’re more than that.”
“Like you have any clue,” I mutter.
“How much fun did we have that night when you weren’t on your phone?” he asks.
I mean…yeah. He has a point, and he’s bringing it up again, and hedidtake the seatright next to mewith some feeble excuse about how there weren’t any others open even though there’s one right across the way from me. Granted, it’s between two dudes, one of whom is spilling over the side of his own chair and onto the empty one, but still.
I think he wants it again, too.
“It was fun. And then it was back to work,” I say.
“Take some time off. Enjoy life. Stop sticking your nose in your phone all the time.”
“Why do you hate it so much?” I ask. “We hooked up once. I don’t owe you anything.”
He sits up. “You’re right. You don’t. But to answer your question, I hate the fucking distraction of it. I’ve been trained my entire career, my entirelife, to be present in the moment. To be focused. To be ruthless in my pursuit of excellence. And to be perfectly honest, I’m burned out on media. Headlines, cameras—they’re all over my entire family, and it’s frankly gotten pretty damn old. People make shit up on social media just to be the first with a headline, and trust me when I say I’ve been the butt of those jokes plenty of times. It’s disgusting, and you want to be a part of that same world.”
“That’s not what I do,” I protest. “I’m a travel influencer. I post about travel. Hacks, tips, and tricks. I bring joy to people’s lives. I don’t make shit up to be the first with a headline. I’m not here to be ruthless.”
“So you’re saying your first thought when you sat down at my table and learned who I was wasn’t that you could get more reach with your content if you were able to feature me in it?”
“No!” I say, with defensiveness definitely in my tone. I mean, it wasn’t myfirstthought, but I can’t say the thoughtnevercrossed my mind.
Of course it did. Maybe I’m more ruthless than I like to admit.
But I would never post him without his express permission. I’m about to tell him that when he adds one final jab.
“It’s just that you’re chasing all the things I’m trying to run from.” He frowns, and then he gets up and heads over to the pool to cool down or to get away from this conversation. I can’t help as my eyes follow those calves as they walk away from me.
Maybe we’re on opposite sides of this issue, and maybe he’ll never trust my intentions.
But hell if I don’t want to get back into his bed again anyway.
Now I just have to figure out how to get him on board with that idea, too.
CHAPTER 15: Archer Bradley
Excursion
It’s a big fucking resort, so why I keep running into the same person remains a mystery.
But there she is at the activities counter just as I approach. She’s wearing a flowery sundress and a straw hat that’ll keep the sun off her shoulders as she goes on one of the many adventures offered on this island.
I wanted to plan some sort of excursion for this afternoon, mostly to get out of here and away fromher, but she’s here already. Probably with the same idea. Probably booking whatever it was I came here to book just to slap us right back together again.
She thanks the person at the desk and turns to leave, and I’m up next. But not before her eyes meet mine.
She tilts her head a little. “Where you off to?”
“None of your business.”
“I’ve heard great things about the snorkeling trips,” she says. I have to hand it to her, the ability to ignore my petulance is something to be admired.
“I’ll be sure to book something else, then.”
A faint smile graces her lips, and I have the strongest urge to pull her into my arms and kiss her. But that’s more about the physicality of what we did than actually having feelings for her. I can’t trust her intentions, and that means I need to stay away.
