“They do?” she asks, looking up at me.
I grin, leaning in to drop a very quick kiss on her lips because I know if I linger any longer, the kiss is going to turn into more. And as much as I would like more, I know we aren’t there yet. Not even close.
“They do,” I confirm. “You wanna come have breakfast with us tomorrow?”
She blinks, her eyes wide as she watches me, a look of doubt and confusion on her face. “Are you sure?”
My smile widens as I say, “Yep.”
The whole night was incredible. The food, the view, the sunset, the company. We spent hours chatting about our lives and all the things we love. It’s hard to remember the person I was before marrying Sean, but with Kai, I see her again, feel her, and love her. I want to be that person.
With Kai, the idea of a relationship doesn’t scare me like I expected it to. His candor makes me believe in him, believe in us. But still, I hesitate, worried that it will all come crashing down, mainly because of Sean.
He has a way of fucking up everything good in my life, and while he hasn’t tried anything besides the NDA and the money, there will be more. He can’t lose. He can’t have me not take the money, not sign, leaving him open to people possibly finding out who he really is.
“My songs are great because I’ve lived them,” he’d tell people during interviews. “I drink a lot, I smoke. Love weed. I’m your quintessential bad boy, but deep down, I’m just a regular guy.”
I used to cringe inwardly hearing this repeated everywhere. Pictures snapped of him shirtless, a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth, the smoke wafting expertly and artistically.
Staged.
That’s what it was, and he knows better than anyone that women love bad boys. But what they don’t understand is that being attracted to it as a fantasy is one thing, but living it is entirely different. In one simple word, it can be described, but no one wants to put a label on what it really is.
Abuse.
But when my alarm goes off early, Sean is the last person I’m thinking about.
Waking with a smile, Kai on my mind and all his adorableness from last night. It was probably the best time I’ve had in years. It was so easy and natural with him. The conversation had no awkward silences, no nerves. Just pure friendship and enjoyment of each other’s company.
Kai had planned to do some surfing with Miles and Daisy this morning before heading here to pick me up. We also have plans to meet up with Flynn and get me a car later—something I’ve needed for a while but have been putting off.
It’s crazy to think in such a short time here, I’ve made some really great friends. People who will drop everything to help me, and it’s made this move so much easier. I’m falling in love with the island and the people who live here.
It feels like home.
Even if my rental is kind of sketchy. It has the potential to be amazing, and there is a part of me that goes back to the NDA and the money.
Eleven million dollars could buy it, fix it up, make it something this little village could be proud of, as opposed to the lime green eyesore that it is.
Sitting on what I imagine is at least five acres of land, with fruit trees and greenery growing everywhere. There’s an ocean view off the front deck, raised up to make the most of it.
But there are rumors it will eventually be sold to a developer who plans to tear it down and build a hotel. Nothing massive, but small and boutique, dubbed as something that will fit right in with the houses and businesses.
Still, it doesn’t feel right.
So what if I took the money and bought it? Set up a life here. Fall in love, have kids, raise them to surf and love nature.
This is all floating through my head as I shower, getting ready for Kai to pick me up. My body is humming with this nervous excitement over seeing his parents now that we are officially dating, something I know is new to him. But I feel honored that he invited me, trying something he’s never done before.
I hear my phone chime. Pulling back the shower curtain, I glance at my phone resting on the counter near the sink. The text from Kai pops up on the screen, letting me know he’ll be here in five minutes.
Quickly finishing up my shower, I get dressed and throw on a little makeup—nothing over the top because it literally melts off your face here. But I honestly like the simplicity of everything here.
People dress casually, flip-flops on, sun-kissed skin, beach waves in their hair, smelling of sunscreen. It feels like perpetual vacation.
And adding in a job I love; this place feels like exactly what I needed to reset and remember who I am.
Stepping out onto the front porch, I take in the view, smiling, letting the sun warm my skin. Why would anyone ever leave here? It’s literal perfection.
