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A sharp bang at the window has us jumping to cover up. “Lovebirds, come on!” Perry calls as silhouettes move behind the curtain. Cain grumbles as our friends arrive for breakfast, their chatter filtering through the partially open door.
“I did warn you.” I giggle, and Cain rises up and helps me to my feet.
“He’s a pest.”
“You invited them!” I laugh, slipping out of my knickers and pulling my bikini and a cover-up on.
“We’re hungry!” Perry calls.
“Fuck off!” Cain snaps, walking to slam the door shut. Laughter sounds outside, and I grin as he pulls on some swim trunks and stands in front of me. “Tell me,” he pleads, hands resting on my hips so he can stare down at me.
“After. It’s nothing to worry about. You’ll like it,” I assure, knowing full well he will push until I unravel and share the news. News that will make this holiday all the more special.
“Okay.” He nods, surprising me, so now I frown. What's he hiding?
“You tell me?” I demand, and he grins knowingly at me. It only adds to my curiosity. Shaking his head, he collects up his things and opens the door.
“Absolutely not. Let's get breakfast.” Cain chuckles and walks out, leaving me scowling after him.
“Cain!” I shout him back, racing after him. He appears in the doorway, arms braced as he peeps through the curtain.
“You’ll like it, pretty girl. Your heart is going to burst, and I can’t wait to watch your gorgeous face when I tell you.” I search his eyes, deep but bright blues, a perfect contradiction to the rolling sea in the backdrop. There is an odd energy about him, something ebbing below the surface. I hadn’t noticed it early or had confused it with arousal, but it’s there now. Fluctuating between us, a ball of electricity circling us both. I find my smile matching his own, and he shakes his head in happiness. “You’re going to love it.” He disappears, and I laugh, following him outside.
The table is full, and our friends are already filling their plates with fresh fruit and delicacies from the local market. I find a seat next to Amberley, across from Cain, who lounges back, smiling at me. I peek at Perry, whose eyes are alight with mischief.
“Am I missing something?” Amberley leans to whisper as she reaches for the plate of mango.
“You and me both,” I muse, taking the plate off her. “Cain is acting weird.”
“Perry and Matteo were being secretive on the way over. They’re probably planning to dunk us in the pool or something.” She shrugs, scowling at the men who are watching us both.
“Kat not joining us?” I ask, wondering where she is. “Shall I go check on her?”
“Headache,” Perry blurts quickly, his face showcasing a look of guilt. I tilt my head, and he clears his throat and rams a piece of orange in his mouth, refusing to meet my eye.
“Where’s this island we’re going to?” Matteo interrupts, reaching across to put watermelon on Amberley’s plate. He’s done it every day since we arrived, and when I questioned her about it, she played dumb, but I can feel the tension brewing between them—the whole group can. It’s a heavy unspoken weight resting on all of our shoulders. Matt is in knots over her, and she has him at arm's length, has us all at arm’s length, about it. For all my prying, she is tight-lipped. It’s unlike her. She picks up the fruit and nibbles the end, resting back in her chair and staring out across the sea.
“It’s a short boat ride over the bay and takes around ten minutes,” Cain informs us all, his eyes on me. “Sunan will be loading the boat. Once we eat, we can head to the beach.”
“Tell me,” I mouth, and his lips sweep up in a playful quip. He shakes his head and bites into a croissant. Prick. I mouth that too, and he chuckles in his seat, leaning back to reach under the table and knock my foot with his own.
* * *
A little while later, we are set up on the beach. A cabana keeps us shaded, but I’ve moved to soak up the sun. Matt, Perry, and Kat are playing volleyball, and Amberley is reading a magazine. We spent the morning snorkelling and lounging on the private beach on an island close to the resort. It’s the same beach Cain and I visited when we last came to Thailand. I run my fingers over my stomach as I watch Cain swimming a few yards out in the sea. His mind is as burdened as my own. I’m nervous and giddy with excitement, although since I’ve found out he has some news, I want to hold off telling him my own. He wades out of the water, dragging a hand through his hair and wiping his face free of water. “You’re going to burn,” he scolds, and I grin, holding my hand up to shade the light beaming down on us.
“Put cream on me?”
“Sure, let me get my towel.” He flicks a nervous glance up the beach, and I frown, biting my lip as the guys begin to make their way back down the beach to us. Is he still nervous about the paparazzi? It was a big worry before we left London. Cain wanted complete privacy for our holiday. He drops his towel between our legs and straddles me, caking his hands in cream and begins gliding it up and down my limbs.
“Good swim?”
“It was.”
“Are you okay?” Tilting my head, I watch him, wondering what’s got under his skin.
“Pretty girl, I couldn't be better.” I blink at him and the shadow forming on his sharp jawline. His eyes are eclectic in this light, and I smile at how handsome he is. How happy he is.
Maybe I'm worrying for no reason. Maybe my anxiety about the press is muddling my brain, or maybe it’s hiding the truth from him that is making me imagine all sorts. “Okay. good.”
