My stomach twists at the sight. He’s taken a visible step back from me this week since we nearly kissed in the ocean . . . and I hate it.
I’ve kicked myself a million times over. I wish I’d gone there.
I should have kissed him.
I wish I’d thrown caution to the wind and done it. He’s backed away from me anyway now, so what was the point?
Christopher glances up and sees me. He smiles broadly and waves, without a care in the world.
I smile and wave back.
He keeps walking to wherever they are walking to. The girl on his shoulders says something, and they all break into loud laughter again. Deflation fills me.
What did she say that was so funny?
I watch them walk up and disappear around the corner. I wonder where they’re going at this hour.
And that’s that . . . the line in the sand, drawn in IMAX definition. Now I know for certain that he really didn’t care. I was just the closest warm body at the time.
He was horny.
And while I wish we’d gone there, I’m kind of glad we didn’t.
I lie in the darkness and stare across the room at Christopher’s empty bed.
The vision of him with that girl on his shoulders runs through my mind.
I dodged a bullet. I should feel grateful. He’s my friend, nothing more and nothing less, and I shouldn’t be annoyed in the slightest.
Fuck knows why I am.
Tomorrow’s a new day, and I’m going to make more of an effort to meet new people . . . specifically men.
My eyes roam over the empty bed, and I exhale heavily as a nervous swirl dances in my stomach. I just feel better when he’s home.
I glance at my watch. Five a.m.
Where is he?
CHRISTOPHER
I wake to the sound of seagulls fighting, and I frown as I lean up onto my elbows.
Where the fuck am I?
I try to focus my eyes as I look around. The beach is full of power walkers doing their morning exercise.
What fucking time is it?
I shuffle around in my pockets and find my phone: 7:22 a.m.
Shit.
Hayden had to be at work by eight. I was going to walk her to work. I stand and look at the people sleeping on the sand around me. There must be at least ten of them.
What a crazy night.
Then I remember. Oh no . . . I have to work a twelve-hour shift in the gift shop today. I’m as seedy as fuck. What was I thinking, even going out?
One minute we were having harmless shots of tequila; next minute I’m waking up on a beach.
I begin to walk off the beach. “Where are you going?” a girl asks.
My eyes roam over her as she lies on the sand. A vague memory of her sitting on my shoulders floats through my mind. Hmm . . . did that happen?
“Home. Bye.”
I dial Hayden’s number as I begin to walk. No answer.
“Fuck.”
I walk faster. I call her again.
No answer.
I hurry as fast as I can back to the hostel, and just as I approach it, she comes down the front steps.
“Grumps,” I call.
Her face falls when she sees me. “Hi.” She turns and begins to walk up the street, and I jog to catch up with her.