My words seem to resonate because she squeezes me tighter, then breathes out.
For a few minutes we sit there, just holding each other. I don’t rush it, and fuck if I want to. This is what I want. To hold her. A day to just be with her.
Once we get back to the house, we shower, and I remind her to pack an overnight bag.
“Caine, I live in a suitcase.” She reminds me.
“Then put things in my bag.” I suggest, grabbing it and placing it on the bed in the spare room. “You should move your stuff into my room.”
“One thing at a time, mister.” Her voice is clipped in a teasing manner but she grabs clothes from her bag. “Will I have time to change before dinner?” she asks, looking up at me from the floor.
My chest tightens. I don’t know why. She’s fully covered. Her hair is wrapped in a towel, and she has another towel wrapped around her body. I have to force myself to not tell her I love her.
“No, we won’t. Straight to dinner, then the hotel. Bring a suit, the pool is still open.”
I walk back to my room and get dressed.
My head is swimming! Am I doing it again? Confusing lust with love? I look at myself in the mirror as I button my shirt. My heart is pounding, and I feel like a fucking kid again.
Clearly, I’m attracted to her. Obviously, I feel lust. But how do I know the difference?
“Hey!” Mikayla says with a smile as she rolls her suitcase into the room. My eyes fall on it.
Am I being an idiot again?
Mikayla halts and her smile falters. She takes a step back, then another.
“Mikayla!” I shout, walking after her.
“Nope!” she hollers back, raising her hand and waving it around. “I know second thoughts when I see them.”
I grab the bag and jerk it from her grasp. “I’m not having second thoughts,” I bark, taking her bag back to my room.
“Don’t lie to me, Franklin Caine Montgomery!” she yells, grabbing forit.
But I jerk it away and push it into my room.
“I’m not having second thoughts,” I tell her emphatically.
“You’re lying to me!” she shouts, pointing her finger at my chest, her eyes narrowed in anger.
“I’m having thoughts, but not about that,” I explain, raising my arm and pointing to my room.
“What thoughts are you having then?” She challenges, crossing her arms.
I blink and take her in. She’s in a simple sundress, spaghetti straps, light blue and white. She looks beautiful. She got color while we were outside, but I can tell she’s red from anger right now and not from the sun.
“I was wondering about the difference between two things,” I say without saying anything at all.
Mikayla scoffs, turns and walks away from me. She grabs her phone and starts tapping on it. So, I grab it and take it away.
The rideshare app is open!
“Are you gonna run every time we have a disagreement?” I yell.
I’m pissed. I swipe it closed.
“Are you going to lie when I ask you questions you’re afraid to answer?” she asks in response, challenging me.
