Chapter 28 Lily
Thank goodness Javonte doled out the extra money to fly us private. I’m spoiled already, and I wasn’t looking forward to airport security and those dry cookies. Luxury suits me.
We’re greeted by a driver as soon as we step off the plane. The moment the sunshine hits my skin, I feel at ease, like I’m exactly where I need to be with who I need to be with.
I’m not sure if this trip is a reset or a test of our relationship. I plan to enjoy every moment of it. I can feel the pain in my face from grinning the whole ride.
Javonte smirks at me.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying to be chill.”
“What are you actually?” He squeezes my hand that he’s been holding since we got into the car.
“Excited. Overwhelmed. Anxious.”
He raises his eyebrows. “That good anxious?”
“The very good anxious.” I lean over and kiss him softly on his lips. I want to straddle him in the backseat, but we’re here for 5 days, and if that’s where we’re heading, we have plenty of time.
I pull back from the kiss and look into his eyes.
That’s definitely where we’re headed.
I’ve been to some luxurious places thanks to my friends and their generous men, but the resort we pull up to isn’t flashy or overdone. There’s no giant fountain, no chandelier the size of my office, no staff lined up like we’re royalty.
It’s open and airy, with white stone paths, woven chairs, big leafy plants, and music playing low enough that it feels like the whole place is breathing.
Everything looks intentional and expensive but not stiff or loud.
It feels like a place where people drink fruit water, do yoga at sunrise, and say things like “aligned” without irony. I love it immediately.
I wander around and stop in front of the doors to the back that lead right out to the ocean. I stand there, watching the waves roll along the shore. This place is perfect.
“Here are your keys for both villas,” the concierge tells Javonte as she hands over two little envelopes.
Both villas?
I let out a slow breath and turn to look at Javonte. He’s casually signing something while I stand over here and fall even deeper for him.
We step outside, and I’m overwhelmed by the sight of the ocean again. It doesn’t matter where I am in the world, an ocean will draw my attention and keep it.
“Lily,” Javonte calls out. I blink my eyes and search for him. He’s down the stone path to the right. Two matching villas sit at the end of the path, tucked behind palms and flowering bushes, close enough to feel connected but far enough apart to give privacy. I slow my steps and look between them.
“Are both of these ours?”
Javonte clears his throat. “One is ours. One is available.”
I turn to him. “Available?”
“In case you want your own space.”
My chest does something strange.
I look back at the villas. They’re beautiful, with white walls, wooden doors, and little private terraces facing the water. The whole setup is peaceful and romantic without trying too hard. It’s exactly the kind of place I would’ve chosen if I had been given the option.
The attendant opens the door to the villa on the left, and I step inside first. The room is quieter than the lobby, less polished and more inviting, with a wide bed, pale linen, and sunlight stretching across the floor.
A sitting area faces the back, and beyond the open doors, the ocean is right there, calling to me.
I walk farther in, absorbing it all. There’s a soaking tub near a wall of windows, a rainfall shower behind frosted glass, a little bar cart with fruit, sparkling water, and a chilled bottle of champagne.
I stand close to him, then take a conscious step back. Being this close to him and that bed is dangerous. “This is beautiful.”
“I thought you’d like it.”
I look back at him. “I do.”
He nods toward the villa next door. “And if you want that one, it’s yours. No pressure.”
I stare at him for a second, because he says it so easily, like he hasn’t just made it very hard for me to keep pretending I’m not softening all the way.
“Javonte.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re really trying to be respectful while being that fine at the same time.”
His grin spreads slowly. “I’m trying to be a lot of things.”
“Well.” I look around the room again, then back at him. “You can keep your backup villa.”
His eyebrows lift.
I walk past him, peeling off my clothes piece by piece, letting my shoulder brush his arm. “I’m staying here.”