3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
M addie
We have breakfast in the courtyard on Saturday. It’s a warm morning but the air is cool. It whispers across my skin like a sweet kiss and I shut my eyes and absorb it. I draw a deep breath, enjoying the fragrance of flowers. It’s everywhere at the resort.
When I woke up in the morning, I threw my window open only to be greeted by bird tweets and the sweet smell. The sun was a buttery circle in the sky, giving a sepia-like glow to everything below.
So unlike the city where car fumes and tall blocks of concrete were my good mornings. Ugh, and I have to go back on Monday.
Why couldn’t this last forever?
“I don’t see him anywhere,” Nat murmurs.
I peel my eyes open and scan the courtyard. It’s covered end to end in gazebos. Occupants of the hotel and surrounding villas chat over their breakfasts like us. But it’s not noisy, just a gentle, soothing hum.
I should be focused on enjoying this but between dreading the trip back home and looking out for Chance, it’s not a fun morning.
I sigh. “We can just stop. He’s not coming.”
“What do you mean?” Nat raises a brow. It’s crazy how it looks so perfect when she only rolled out of bed thirty minutes ago. “We’ll find him, trust me. And you’re going to get some.”
“No.” I facepalm and she laughs. “That’s not why I want to see him again.”
Nat pulls my hand from my face so I can meet her eyes. There’s humor dancing in them. “Look, I get it. You dated Todd for five years and you’ve grown into this...” She gestured toward me. “Prudish person. It’s hard for you to come to terms with your wild side. But I’m very happy for you.”
“Nat...”
“And I’m proud of you. I’m going to help you on your journey of becoming a wild sexy goddess that leaves a man trembling after you give him the best head he’s ever gotten.”
“Shh.” I press my palm to her lips, fighting to suppress my laughter.
No one pays us any mind, but still .
Nat peels my hand off. “I’m sorry for last night. I just panicked. One moment I was sipping from the surprisingly delicious glass of Endless Summer and the next, you’re gone. I mean, I’m all for getting the D but not at the cost of your safety.”
“He’d never hurt me,” I blurt without thinking.
Nat pauses, as I do. When did I grow such trust in Chance? It was only a night!
“I think,” I add. Because she still watches me suspiciously, I change the subject. “I can’t get over these tiny cakes.”
Thankfully, she awes at the little treats with me. They’re smaller than cupcakes, sweet and savory. I love them.
Once we’re done with our breakfast, we hang around for a while. The gazebos empty out. With each person that exits, I’m sure Chance isn’t coming.
“Let’s go,” I tell Natalie. There’s no use hanging around anymore.
The sympathy in her eyes makes me feel a little guilty. I’m not mad at her. Just mad I missed the moment with Chance. It’s not her fault I silenced my phone after Todd’s call and didn’t see her six missed calls.
“Cheer up.” Nat squeezes my shoulder as we exit the courtyard. “We have that tour today, right? It’s going to be mad fun and you can put Chance Easton out of your mind.”
I don’t tell her I’d rather keep the thoughts of Chance. They’re like a breath of fresh air after being under water for too long.
Our tour guide, Stu, is assigned by the Resort. He’s a local that knows the ins and outs of the Island. He drives us around pointing out the historical buildings and showing us the top spots to visit—a bustling market, a weekend carnival, and a spread of lush gardens.
That last one makes me blush for some reason.
We visit the Museum and spend half the time laughing over Nat’s interpretation of the art. There’s everything from paintings to marble sculptures to wooden artifacts. And… something made of metal and clay.
“Okay, now, that’s freaky.” Nat squints at the structure. “Fuck is that?” she asks Stu.
He gives her a good-natured smile. “It’s the artist’s demonstration of fertility. The joining of man’s genius which is metal and the basic nature of the earth which is clay.”
Nat and I share a look, then burst into laughter.
“It’s brilliant,” I say.
He only smiles in return. “Ready to see more?”
“Creepy fertility thingies.”
“No more fertility thingies.” He grins. “Just more of Magic Island.”
“Cool, let’s go,” Nat chirps.
The tour guide drives past homes and buildings, then past greenery, then homes again. I’m awed.
I lean out the window, drinking the cool air tinged with a bit of saltiness from the ocean. I drop back into my seat and grin at Nat, feeling more alive than I’ve been in the longest time.
“I love this!”
She looks up from her phone. A small smile plays on her lips. “I can see that.”
Smiling, I go back out and watch the passing terrain, tempted to leave my tongue hanging out like a dog.
“Magic Island is amazing!” I yell to no one.
“I’ll show you amazing,” Stu responds.
He stops beside the road. “We’re here.”
He gets out and we follow suit.
“There’s only trees,” Nat echoes my thoughts.
“Beyond them.” He waves at us to follow and leads the way into the thick forest.
Nat and I eye each other. Feeling brave and excited, I head out. It takes a few minutes of walking before I hear Nat closing in behind me.
Her skepticism turns to awe as she beholds the sight before us. The sunlight dances through the covering of leaves and scatters in warm spots all over.
We both halt to take in the sheer magnificence of it.
“I think I died and went to heaven,” Nat says.
Same .
“What are you doing?” Stu’s voice shakes us out of our gaping.
“We’re entranced by the amazing forest?” Nat throws her hands indicating the woods.
He laughs. “No, city girls. That’s not amazing. This is.”
We tread to where he stands. It’s a few feet away. The closer we get, the louder the sound.
“What’s that?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.
He stands immobile, aside from the growing smile on his face. When we come up next to him, I see it then. The whitest waterfall I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“Oh my,” Nat breathes. “Truly amazing.”
“That’s not what’s amazing,” he says. “Come closer.”
We draw nearer.
“Look.” He points to the bottom of the waterfall where it meets the running river.
Right there, a myriad of colors flashes occasionally.
“What?!” I gasp. “How’s that possible?”
“When the light hits the water just right, it creates such beautiful colors,” he explains.
We say no more, content to soak in the beauty.
Nat comes out of her daze much quicker than I do and the clicks go off. “My co-workers are going to be jealous.”
I don’t have co-workers to brag to anymore. Or a lover to share this with. Just my parents. And this is not their kind of thing. Dad would ask if I caught fish and Mom would ask if I put on lotion to repel bugs.
Suddenly, a deep ache sits in my chest.
“It’s beautiful. Can we go now?”
Nat and the tour guide don’t argue.
I’m in a better mood the next day while Nat is the opposite.
“I think a bug got me.” She rubs her neck and looks over the people having breakfast around us. “He’s not here.”
My worry for Nat overshadows my disappointment at not seeing Chance again. “Do we need to get some medicine for you?”
“Ugh, I don’t like it. Is my head hot? I think my head is hot. My stomach hurts too. I’m tired.”
It takes me five minutes of her whining to get why. “You’re trying to get out of hiking!”
“I’m not.” The corners of her lips twitch. “I’m ill.”
“You’re ridiculous, Nat. It’s merely a walk.”
“A long walk, a climb, and a host of other things. I don’t want to destroy my ankles.”
“And the heels you rock to work every day won’t?”
She bites her lip.
“Look, it’s going to be fun, okay?” She doesn’t react. “I have a gift for you afterward.”
She sits up and eyes me. “I hope you’re not just saying so.”
“Cross my heart.” I do the mark. “You will get a present if you come on the hike.”
“Can I complain about how stressful it is, though?”
“Nah.”
She makes puppy eyes. “Please.”
“Just for five minutes, that’s all.”
Nat grins. “That’s all I need.”
Dark brown hair catches my attention some gazebos away. My heart jerks. Could it be him?
The person starts to turn and I brace myself, holding my breath.
It’s not him.
Disappointment sinks my shoulders.
I should have known. Chance fills a suit more than that and the cut of his jawline can be seen from miles away.
“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” I drop my gaze.
The hike through the woods is exciting. We don’t get to see another rainbow at the end of a waterfall. But get the view of mountains, running rivers and wildlife. Nat complains, but only a little. By the time it comes to an end, we’re exhausted.
“I’m going to sleep for the next five years,” Nat groans on our way up in the elevator.
“Just twenty-five. We have a massage appointment in thirty minutes.”
“My surprise!” Nat squeals and squeezes me in a sweaty embrace.
After we clean up, we head to the spa. It smells of incense and I already feel relaxed, even before I lay on the massage table.
We watch the sun fall behind the ocean as we’re lulled to drowsiness by the soothing massages.
The next morning, it’s over. Our time on Magic Island has come to an end. I spend so long putting my clothes back in my suitcase Nat finishes and comes over to my room.
She takes one look at my face and a frown draws her lips down. “Maddie, are you sad we’re leaving?” She draws me into a hug and squeezes. “Don’t worry. We can do this again... Well, after we’ve saved for the next ten years, okay?”
I chuckle and pull away. Though I’m reluctant, I accept that good things come to an end.
I give the hotel a lingering glance as we ride down for the last time. It’s bittersweet as we stop by the receptionist to hand our keycards over. I wish we didn't have to.
But the woman collects them and flashes us a smile. “Thanks for staying and we hope you come back soon sometime.”
Probably never . “Thank you.” I press out a smile.
“Miss Maddie?” a voice says behind us.
I half expect to see a hotel staff member offering to take our suitcases. But it’s a man wearing dark sunglasses and a wire on his ear. Another man stands beside him with his hands folded. Both look very military.
I’m instantly worried.
“Y-yes?” I stutter. “May I help you?”
“Mr. Easton has requested your presence at once.”
My heart lurches and my mouth dries up. I stare at him, unable to form words. Does he mean Chance?
Nat asks the question.
The man shifts his attention to her. “Yes, Chance.”
“Why would he send you?” Nat drops the last word as if she tasted it and doesn’t approve.
“I’m part of his security team.” He turns back to me. “If you don’t mind, can we leave now?”
I face Nat and I’m sure she sees the worry in my eyes.
“She’s not going anywhere with you.” She half-shields me with her body.
“You can come too.”
“We have a flight to catch,” Nat protests.
“And Mr. Easton wants to see you now.” The man keeps his gaze on me. “What are you going to do, Miss Maddie?”
I look between Nat and the men and gulp.