Our Secret Summer(42)

Simone looks amazing, her dark skin set off by her metallic-silver one-piece. Large cutouts on the sides make it far from modest. Her body is insane. Annika’s too. Her bikini is pale blue, the same shade as her eyes.

Feeling courageous this morning, I put on the bright turquoise string bikini. The bikini. Now I’m deeply regretting it.

Annika and Simone notice my hesitation.

“Take it off! Take it off!” Simone starts to chant, and I laugh and quickly peel off my cover-up. I drape it on the back of my chair and adjust my bikini top without looking down. I’m too scared I’ll regret my swimsuit choice.

A crew member comes by with big fluffy towels for each of us.

“You ladies look stunning,” the woman says in a thick Australian accent. The name Beth is embossed on the badge pinned to her shirt. “Seriously love the suits. Brought around some towels. Can I get you lot anything else?”

“Would you mind terribly taking our photo?” Simone asks. “I need something to post, and I can’t resist this backdrop.”

Annika claps in agreement, and though I would rather be the one behind the camera than the one posing in front of it, I relent. I let Annika place me how she wants, the three of us draped on the railing like Charlie’s Angels. They instruct me to arch my back and play up my sex appeal, but I would die before I offered the camera a playful pout, so while they’re exuding come hither vibes, I’m just smiling like a dope and praying this will end soon.

Simone checks the photo and throws her hand up. “Elle, you have to be sexy!”

“I thought I was!”

“You look like you’re smiling for an ID photo! So stiff! And don’t cover your chest with your arm like that!”

Beth laughs. “Here, let’s try again. Maybe let her get in the middle and you two sort of arrange yourselves on either side of her?”

Oh god, this is somehow even worse. I don’t want to be in the middle! It feels like there’s nowhere to hide now. I’m a full-fledged bikini model as Beth snaps away, trying to get a good shot for Simone.

“Channel Naomi Campbell, babes!” Simone says.

“Speak for yourself. I’m going full Kate Moss over here,” Annika purrs.

When it’s clear this is going to take even longer and be infinitely more painful if I don’t loosen up a bit, I relax and lean toward Simone, dropping my head against hers and offering the camera a teasing smile. Just as soon as I start to enjoy myself, I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and watch as Cristiano leads the others out onto the aft deck. What impeccable timing! An audience is just what this uncomfortable photo shoot was lacking!

I immediately flush and look down, eager to scurry back to the safety of my lounge chair, but we’re still taking photos. I can feel the weight of Cristiano’s stare on me.

“Hold still! One more second!” Beth tells us. “I almost have it.”

Oh my god, surely there is a photo that will work. If not, I’ll stitch one together in Photoshop if it means I can end this!

Felix whistles a playful catcall at us, eyeing Simone. “Can I get a copy of that?”

My smile drops and my lips part, and the moment Cristiano looks at me and our gazes lock, the air leaves my lungs in a rush.

Beth exclaims, “Got it!”

Thank god.

I’m a little dazed when Annika kisses my cheek. “Thanks. I know you hated that, but that pic is going to be hot. Simone, send it to me.”

As we vacate our spot at the railing, Daniella steps up to take our place, shimmying in her bikini. “Cristiano, will you take one of me?” she begs in her pretty accent.

Juan Carlos snatches her phone before Cristiano can. “I will. Go pose, but be quick,” he huffs impatiently. “I need a drink.”

Daniella rolls her eyes, but she doesn’t protest. It’d be weird, I think, if she insisted Cristiano take his place.

Simone takes my hand, trying to lead me back to our lounge chairs, and I’m prepared to let her until I realize that Cristiano’s off at the bar by himself. Propelled by the magic of the turquoise bikini and the ink burned into my arm, I break away from Simone and head instead in Cristiano’s direction. He looks up and watches me as I navigate around the lounge chairs and approach him. My gut instinct is to cover up, but Annika and Simone just spent the last few minutes hyping me up and making me feel sexy—I don’t want it to go to waste now. Besides, wwwd.

I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t fun to see Cristiano’s Adam’s apple bob, his gaze lingering on my face right up until he loses the battle with himself and takes in my bikini-clad body with an intense sweep. I hope my tan hides some of my blush.

“Sad I missed the tour.”

His dark eyes meet mine again as his dimples pop. “Sad I missed the show.”

Oh.

A fissure of desire ripples through me. I fist my hands at my sides and resist pressing my palms to my quivering stomach. Are my friends right? Is there something here?

I stare up at him, frowning slightly. He gives nothing away, no clue as to how he’s feeling. It makes me rethink their assessment.

Beth walks nearby, her arms filled with more towels now that our group has expanded. She asks Cristiano if he needs anything.

“Would you mind getting some sunscreen, Beth?” Cristiano asks, keeping his attention on me.