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Correction, villa.
Finally, we were allowed to deplane, and we headed through security. Lucas set his bags in front of me then moved to stand behind me, leaning his head on my shoulder as we waited in line. It was a little more crowded than I expected it to be for a weekday flight, then I remembered it was the holidays, and everything suddenly made sense.
I went through my phone, texting Marnie that we were there and took a selfie of the two of us to send her. I sent the same to my parents and tucked my phone away as we waited.
Soon enough, we were near the front of the line.
Lucas dragged my luggage with his, leaving me with just my carryon. I pulled my phone out again, snapping a photo of him standing there, his eyes closed as we waited for the next available spot.
He opened one eye and laughed seeing me, phone in hand and aimed his way. He took my phone away and turned it off before I could even get the photo posted.
“I booked a vehicle, so we can go straight to the house, drop everything off, then see what we want to do.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Next…”
Lucas stepped forward, taking his luggage with him, and I was left leaning on my suitcase handle, watching him. He talked easily, answering the questions.
I was waved forward and quickly went through the same process, showing my passport, giving information on why I was there and where I was staying. Finally, I was waved through and found Lucas standing there waiting with a relaxed look on his face, hands in his jeans pockets.
“You didn’t even look that excited at graduation,” he commented as I reached him.
I laughed softly. “Truth? Probably wasn’t.”
We joined the crowd of people moving into the main section of the airport. Some headed out the main doors towards the sunshine and waiting taxis and shuttles while we followed the signs and made our way down the hall to where the rental counter was.
Lucas had rented an SUV to get around the island with. I followed him to the car rental counter, my phone out, taking photos of everything, the view from the windows, the airport itself. I couldn’t help it. I was excited, and this was my first real vacation in forever.
The woman behind the counter walked us out to the lot off to the side that was filled with various bright and shiny vehicles, rows and rows of sedans and SUVs all neatly lined up and waiting.
Lucas picked out a black Jeep. After a moment or two, we had everything loaded, and he brought the route up on his phone and we got in.
“It doesn’t seem like it’ll be too far.”
“Sounds good to me.” I leaned back in the warm leather seat and slid my sunglasses on.
I couldn’t wait to see this place. I still couldn’t believe our luck that a client of his had just offered him his house for the holidays.
It didn’t seem like too long had passed before we were pulling up at the gate of the private community. Lucas rolled down the window and gave his name to the guard at the gate, and we were quickly waved through. We passed a few roads and some gorgeous houses in the nearby distance.
I wondered if I’d ever live in a place like this, then laughed to myself. Only if I could rent one on holiday. Waitresses didn’t tend to become millionaires overnight, unless they had a winning lottery ticket, and I hadn’t played in a couple of years.
Lucas started to make a turn into a driveway, and I sat up a little straighter, looking at the house coming into view in front of us. It was a really modern style, gorgeous. Lots of glass and a balcony on the side that was visible from the driveway. And I’d already seen a glimpse of the back from the photos he’d shown me when he’d first suggested everything in the first place.
Lucas pulled to a stop in front of the triple garage door and turned to look at me with that boyish grin of his, his dimples on full display. “We’re here.”
I laughed. “This is crazy.”
“No, this is home for the next two weeks.”
He pulled the keys from the ignition and pushed open his driver’s door.
I couldn’t get out of the Jeep quick enough. I pushed the passenger door open and stepped out into the glorious heat, a warm breeze already ruffling my hair and making me pause to take a moment to just enjoy the warmth and the sensation.
I lifted my head, inhaled deeply, and looked skyward. Barely a cloud in the sky. Even the sky seemed a different shade of blue than back home.
Brighter, more vibrant. Just a whole other hue I hadn’t ever seen before.
