He looks away, scratching his neck.
揙h, shit. Right,?he mutters to himself, turning back to me. 揑 saw you hug Cole in the meeting, and you seemed so close to the kid, I just assumed…？He trails off. 揂w, never mind. That抯 the way this crazy noggin gets sometimes, always reading too much into things.?
He winks at me.
揘o worries. I was just overly excited my drinks were a hit. Before my job at Wired Cup, I never even imagined a research job. It抯 been a good fit for me. I get to spend my days inventing awesome coffees. If I ever open my own shop, I抣l have tons of drinks ready to go.?
揌ell yeah!?There抯 something boyish about his enthusiasm and too-wide smiles.
I抦 trying to decide how I can step away gracefully when I hear footsteps. I turn right into a pair of sky-blue eyes gleaming with gratitude.
揈liza, you were fucking dynamite.?Cole slips his hand through mine, twining our fingers together. I try to pull away at first, but one look at him and I抦 powerless.
The poor man has lost so much.
And here I am, jumping to the worst conclusion after a few goofy-ass remarks from Troy and Destiny抯 understandable emotional dump.
When I squeeze his hand, he grips mine tighter.
I think everything might be okay. I think he sees me when he looks down, and not some weird mirror image of his last heartbreak.
But even if it抯 not that simple…so what?
Does it change how he makes me feel?
This is a place where fantasies are born, come alive, and frolic.
What happens in Hawaii stays in Hawaii.
I just wonder what抯 going to happen next when we get back to Seattle. Because whatever抯 coming will be a lot more truthful, raw, and lasting than everything that抯 happened in this magical place.
Cole抯 thumb caresses my fingers.
I stop overthinking when I catch Troy staring. There抯 a different smile on his face now, warm and maybe a little sad?
揥ell, I should go pack and catch up with the munchkin,?he says, walking over and slapping Cole on the back. 揑 told her I抎 take her out to see the dolphins one more time. Hope you don抰 mind??
揟hat抯 fine. Make sure she has her phone,?he says after some pause. 揂re you leaving??
揧eah, bright and early tomorrow morning. Almost a red-eye. I抣l catch up with you guys in Seattle.?
揝eattle? I thought you were going back to Bali??Cole asks, his face turned up with surprise.
Weird. He抯 the CEO. If his sourcing chief has something to do at headquarters to help close a billion-dollar deal, wouldn抰 he know about it?
揇on抰 worry, boss. Fly decision. I thought I should take care of some loose ends in person since I抦 already halfway across the Pacific梟othing to worry about with the new deal. It抣l probably be squared away by the time you抮e home and we抣l shoot the shit at that little pub on Bainbridge. Fucking shit, the fish and chips there, man棓 Troy throws his head back, making a pleasurable noise that抯 so grossly inappropriate I almost laugh.
Cole抯 face is tight and his forehead creases.
揧eah, okay. It was good seeing you again, Troy. I抣l catch you in Seattle梐nd let me know ASAP if my dolphin-obsessed daughter is more than you can handle.?
揥ill do.?Laughing, Troy nods and heads inside.
Finally.
He seems harmless enough, but the guy makes me cringe like nobody抯 business.
揥here were we??Cole asks, wrapping his arms around my waist before he kisses me deeply. 揧ou were pure witchfire in there, sweetheart. Now it抯 my turn.?
I smile, but stiffen.
揥hat抯 wrong??
揘othing.?I force a smile. 揓ust…aren抰 you a little afraid someone will see us??
He gives me an annoyed look and steps back slowly, putting ample space between us.
揊air enough.?That hangdog look on his face makes me feel worse.
I抦 so stupid. Why did I have to say anything?
I want him桰 want to help him celebrate梑ut I want to make sure he really wants me.
Eliza.
Not some standin for a ghost.
揑抦 sad that we抮e leaving soon,?I whisper.
揧eah. Paradise gets awfully addicting, but there抯 no point in us lingering now that the deal is done. The whole crew wants to go home to their families.?He scans the balcony. 揇id you see Destiny before she ran off with Troy??
I smile. 揧ep. She was pretty excited for the boat, but she promised to take her phone.?
My skin ices over despite the tropical heat.
I don抰 say a word about Destiny crying. I can抰 guess how he抎 take it, even if part of me wants to find out.
揥e抮e alone then,?he says, raking me with a look that glows.
God.
I know I抣l regret this because it抯 just getting harder to stay away from this man.
Heartbreak, here I come, but I might as well make the most of the time I have left, right? At least it can抰 play out worse than Derek.