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We spent a couple hours on the private beach, talking about everything but what had happened last night. He ordered us our now familiar pizza order, and we ate on the balcony, the pizza box and a six pack of sodas on the table along with an untouched glass of wine. I nibbled my way through a slice and a half, watching him as we talked movies. He looked more relaxed, that unspoken edge between us having definitely vanished since he let Dominique go. Maybe I’d been the one to put it there in the first place, but it was gone.
And it was giving me…ideas.
Marnie’s voice kept playing in my head…make a move…
I watched him lean back in the chair, a smile on his face as he reached for his phone and started typing.
“I think I’m gonna change…” I said, getting to my feet.
“Why?” He looked up at me.
“I got pizza sauce on my shirt…” I stuck out the hem to show him.
He shrugged. “It’s vacations, Abs…”
“I’ll be back in a minute.” I picked up my wine. “Don’t eat the whole pizza without me.”
He chuckled as I headed back inside.
I hurried up to my room, taking a small sip of my wine as I stepped in and shut the door, then headed straight into the walk-in closet. I dug through the collection of shopping bags in the corner, a few Christmas presents I still needed to wrap until I found the right one and pulled it free, glancing inside.
I’d bought that bikini during a crazy moment on the walking tour. It had been a beautiful store full of swimwear, and I’d seen Dominique browsing the rack before heading off to talk to the owner for a few. Lucas had waited outside. I’d gone over and grabbed one in my size. I’d been a hundred percent sure I’d be taking it home untouched, unworn, until I woke up with Marnie’s advice on my mind and it hadn’t quite seemed to leave.
Now it seemed time to take a chance. I clipped off the tags and stripped down, slipping it on and taking a deep breath as I adjusted the ties. It was a little less daring than the one Dominique had worn, but just.
Black with silver, I tied the ties on each side of my hip and glanced in the mirror.
I went in the bathroom, touched up my make-up a little, and picked up my wine glass again.
I took one last sip of wine for courage.
I’d drunk more in the last few days on vacation than I had all year, heck maybe the last two years. But I was on holidays, it was Christmas time, and I needed...something...
Every time Dominique had been around...that little ugly jealousy monster kept trying to rear its ugly head. I kept telling myself I’d never been the jealous type in my life.
So why now?
I knew Lucas and I had been stuck in the friend zone for so long, it was terrifying to think of stepping outside of it. Despite our amazing chemistry the other night, what happened when…if…that burned out?
Lucas had never had a serious relationship in his life, and I didn’t want to be added to his list of flings. The thought of just being tossed aside scared me to my core. It was better to be in his life as his friend than not in his life at all.
But it was Lucas. I couldn’t keep on the way we were, just…just trying to ignore the feelings that were amplifying every second of the day when we were together.
I thought about grabbing one of the wraps I picked up while shopping then quickly set it down. I could do this, I told myself.
I picked up my wine glass and headed downstairs, stopping in the kitchen to grab the bottle and headed back out to the patio.
He had his head down, texting away.
I stopped in my tracks for a moment, whispering a silent prayer this would work. “Lucas?”
“Yeah?” He didn’t glance up.
“Did you want a refill?”
He glanced up, his eyes widening as his gaze wandered over me.
I lifted the wine bottle up. “I think we have a bit left in this one or I can get a beer…”
