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It takes me a second to remember whatshehe’s referring to. “Oh. Darn.”
“Means I’ll have to up my act a bit.” He extends his free hand, the one not holding mine, and tips my head back. “You liked kissing me, you said.”
“I did say that,” I whisper. “Wouldn’t mind doing it again in service of a cause.”
A quick smile flashes across his lips, there and gone. “Such pillow talk.”
Then, he presses his lips to mine again, and all thoughts of called-off weddings, of Kaelie and Caleb, and Phillip’s mysterious ex-fiancée, disappear.
I’m my vacation self. And my vacation self is kissing a handsome man in candlelight, next to the softly rolling waves. Tomorrow can wait…
I’m enjoying the present.
I’m back in the resort’s giant lobby, standing by the plush sofas and waiting for Phillip to arrive. The space is quickly becoming familiar after all the times I’ve lingered here. I’m usually never this early. Never early anywhere, really, always arriving with my breath too fast and my car keys in hand.
But today I’d woken up earlier than usual, and I’d braided my hair and been fully dressed more than fifteen minutes before I needed to head down to meet him.
All of that, of course, is because ofit. The kiss that has now turned into two kisses, neither of which we’ve talked about in any detail. Maybe kisses don’t need to be discussed, but I’m not sure of that, either. It’s been seven years since I kissed anyone but my ex.
Phillip had kissed me long and deep in the restaurant last night, in front ofeveryone. Kaelie, and the servers, and the happy honeymooners. And when he’d pulled back, his eyes had been slightly glassy.Still good?he’d murmured, and the only thing I could do was nod.
Yes. Very, very,very.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to see Becky’s name.
I can’t believe Kaelie is there, or that you kissed the hot stranger again… to make her report back to Caleb that you’re having a rebound?
Reading it back makes it sound absurd. Lurid. It definitely sounds like it’s something that’s happening to another person. Not me.
Yes. I can’t believe it either, but yes.
The three dots appear, and I can imagine Becky furiously typing.
What are the damn ODDS that Kaelie shows up?? She has to be there to spy on you? But why?
I don’t know. I’m having dinner with her tonight. We’ll see…
Exciting. I have to say, I’m loving your rebound guy’s attitude. Making out with you to make sure K had something to gossip about. That’s the kind of energy we need!
I chuckle and glance around, but no one is paying attention to me and my phone conversation.
Maybe, but it’s messing with my head. I’m meeting him again now. We’re going on a hike.
OMG. Just the two of you?
Yes.
Okay, so he likes you.
I look down at her text for a long few seconds. I don’t know how to answer that. I don’t even know if I want him to.
That’s a lie.I do.But I don’t know if I’m ready for the things that come with that or for going on an actual date, or seeing if he wants to domorethan kissing… Or going home and facing the cold weather and my familiar life andnothave any more nights with him in paradise. The whole thing is overwhelming.
Maybe. Or maybe he was just being nice.
Eden.
Men do not kiss women to “be nice.” It’s literally never happened. Not once.
