Chapter Thirty
chapter thirty
ISLA
My legs are wobbly as I walk arm in arm with Marina and May along Main Street as we head towards Marina’s.
Rafael suggested we get a taxi, but I wanted to walk, wanted to feel the cool breeze against my warm skin.
There’s something about the way I can hear the waves even though I can’t see them that’s making me feel even more unsteady on my feet.
We left the studio in an absolute state. There were paintbrushes everywhere, and all of us left our paintings there, but I’ll make sure to go down in the morning to clean up.
When I sat down in front of that easel, I planned to do a landscape like I’ve been practicing with my pastels. But as I sat there, I couldn’t resist capturing the picture playing out in front of me, wanting to hold on to that moment forever.
I painted the smile lines at the corner of Marina’s mouth, the hint of amusement in Rafael’s brown eyes. I painted the focus drawing Heath’s eyebrows together, and the shine in Leo’s raven black hair in the dim light of Nora’s studio. I painted my family, and I can’t help but feel like it’s the most treasured painting I’ve ever done.
We reach Marina’s and my mind is clearer after a walk in the fresh ocean air. All I want to do is see Caio, and my eyes lock onto his as soon as I take a step in the door. He’s sitting at the bar cradling a beer, waiting just like he said he would.
I can’t help myself as I run over to him launching myself into his arms, and he doesn’t hesitate before wrapping his arms around me letting out a low chuckle. “How’d it go?”
“Thank you,” I say. “Thank you so much.” I press what I hope is an appreciative kiss to his lips. His arms tighten around my waist as he kisses me back.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I realize the wind probably tangled it up, so I try to smooth my hands over it, but Caio grabs my hands. “Stop. I like you like this.” His eyes adoring.
“Like what?”
“Free.”
I feel my cheeks flush. I’ve never felt free before. Not until now, not until here, until him.
Caio makes me feel an addictive combination of utter freedom while also feeling grounded. Like I could do anything I ever wanted to, go anywhere, do anything, but all I want to do is stay right here in his arms.
“You better get out there,” he nods behind me towards where May and Marina are hijacking the karaoke machine. “I’ll be watching.”
I nod giving him another kiss before taking off in the direction of my friends.
Caio is protective, and possessive in a quiet kind of way. In the kind of way where he collects the ribbons that I leave lying around at his house. In the kind of way where he whispers “ mine ” when it’s just me and him and our bodies tangled in his sheets. But not in the way that he needs to be involved in everything I do, and it makes me feel just like he said, free.
I’ve been dancing for hours, and my throat is scratchy from screaming a Britney Spears medley into the microphone. I could see Caio and Rafael standing at the bar, chuckling at May and I’s karaoke rendition of Toxic.
I’ve embraced the feeling of freedom and completely let go, knowing Caio is here, he’s looking out for me and so are the others. I feel a warm kind of security knowing there’s a flock of men looking out for me at every turn. Being with Caio didn’t just give me him, it’s given me three older brothers that I’ve got whether I like it or not.
But I like it. It eases the sting of missing Miles.
I skip over to the bar, on a mission to get another round of limoncello for all of us when a hand grabs my arm and I’m quickly pulled into a kiss by Caio, but it’s weird.
It feels all wrong.
I step away, and any feeling of contentment quickly escapes my mind as I look into cold eyes I recognize all too well.
I immediately sober up as I take in Brandon standing in front of me.
“Hello, honey.”
My lungs falter, like all of the air has been sucked out of the room. Goosebumps creep up my arms, but not the good kind.
I’m frozen in place; all I can feel is the hairs on my arms standing up.
“You’re a hard woman to track down.”
I gain enough control of my mind to wriggle free of his grasp and will my voice not to falter when I finally speak. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to bring you home, what else? You’ve had your fun but it’s time to come home, I can’t believe May dragged you all the way here.” He says it as if I had no choice in the matter, as if I didn’t need to get away from him.
“She has always been a bad influence on you, Isla,” I cringe at my name coming out of his mouth.
“Please honey, this isn’t you.” The sweet nickname he used to call me now sounds sour on his tongue. He looks me up in down, taking in the outfit I felt confident in until just now. He reaches for me again.
“I suggest you take your hands off the lady.” Caio’s tall form towers behind Brandon. His voice a lethal calm as to not draw attention.
“Excuse me,” Brandon spits, not caring if everyone hears him as he turns around to look at the man behind him. “Who do you think you are?”
“Someone who doesn’t appreciate people touching what’s mine.”
I’m frozen watching what feels like my two worlds colliding, Brandon showing up here, now. It feels like the universe forcing me to remember that my life here isn’t my reality. That soon enough this will all be a memory I’ll look back on. Photos in an album that see the light of day once in a blue moon.
A spark at my pinky finger brings me back to the current moment as Caio is suddenly standing at my side. His fingers brush along mine, reminding me that I’m not alone.
He’s always had the ability to quiet the part of my mind that’s running one hundred miles per hour, and that little gesture slows my racing heart, dragging me out of my intrusive thoughts.
Brandon’s eyes flick between us, before flicking to where our hands connect between us. A moment of realization flickers in his eyes before he slides on the mask of cocky indifference that I know all too well.
“Oh, I see now,” he huffs a laugh, his eyes disapproving.
God he’s such a slimy bastard. How he managed to finally get my father to give him a job I don’t know, but any shock that had me stuck in place has now worn away, leaving nothing but disgust as I look at the man that used me for years.
“So that’s what this is all about.” His voice raises with every sentence, drawing more attention to the three of us with every word.
Caio’s fingers intertwine with mine now, squeezing once, showing me he’s here, quietly giving me strength. Further proving the difference between him and the man in front of me.
“What? You just ran away so you could fuck someone new for the summer?” His eyes look Caio up and down and a wave of defensiveness washes over me. “Come on, Isla, don’t kid yourself. You’ve had your fun, now stop acting like a little whore and come home where I can get you under control.”
Caio’s hand squeezes mine again, but it doesn’t feel like comfort anymore. It feels like anger, and as I look up at him beside me that’s all that I can see in his eyes. That usually warm ocean now frozen over.
“I’d think very carefully about what you say next,” Caio says.
Out the corner of my eye I see the rest of the boys walking up to us, pure fury in their eyes and despite the situation I almost want to smile. More than ever I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be. Where I have people around me who support me without question.
“Brandon, you need to leave. I’m not coming home, and even if I was it would be as far away from you as possible.”
Caio’s warm, steady presence beside me gives me all the courage I’d ever need. I can face anything with this man by my side.
Brandon takes a step towards me. “Don’t be a silly little bitch—“ he grunts as a punch lands to the side of his jaw.
“Watch your fucking language.” Rafael shakes his hand out. I stare at him for a moment, surprised by his defensiveness over me. He winces looking down at his knuckles before he catches my eye, throwing me a wink before he focuses back on Brandon.
I too bring my focus back to my ex. I want this over with. This is my special place, and I won’t let him taint it.
“I’m not the naive girl you first met Brandon, and fuck am I glad. You won’t ever get the chance to manipulate me again, I’m not that person for you anymore and I’m ashamed that I ever was.”
“Okay Isla,” he scoffs looking around the room, finding my friends looking back at him. “You can’t live in this fairytale forever, and when you come home, you’ll regret this. I’ll make sure of it.” His eyes move from me to Caio. “I hope you enjoy my leftovers man,” he looks back at me. “She was only ever a half decent fuck anyways, could barely even get a reaction out of her.”
Caio snaps and moves faster than my eyes can follow as he throws a punch to the other side of Brandon’s jaw with enough force that Brandon stumbles, his back hitting the wall. Anyone who hadn’t already noticed what was going on does now.
“Dude what the fuck!” He spits blood onto the stone floor.
“It’s a shame your dick was obviously too small to get her screaming your name like she does mine,” Caio says, quiet enough that I can only just hear him from where I’m standing.
Brandons eyes widen, he looks so small.
“By the way she reacts to me, I can assure you she is more than enjoying herself. You might be a bit rusty in the bedroom, but I can guarantee you I get the job done.”
Heat pools in my stomach at his words, despite the situation it makes me giddy to hear him say those words.
Brandon looks back at me, as if I’d help him out of this situation. I straighten my back and nod my head towards the door, encouraging him to get the hell out, and he doesn’t waste another moment before scurrying out the door.
As soon as the door shuts behind him, the breath I’d been unknowingly holding comes bursting out.
“Well, thank fuck. If you didn’t hit him, I would’ve had to, and I didn’t really feel like breaking a nail,” May says to Caio over my shoulder as she wraps me in a hug. I sink into her arms.
May is the one person who knows the nitty gritty of mine and Brandon’s relationship. The one who held me as I cried, wondering why I wasn’t enough. Wondering what more I could do to make him want me in private. The one who had my back no matter what.
“What about me?” Rafael asks.
“Yours doesn’t count,” she teases as we pull apart and I smack her arm.
“Yes, it does.” I pull Rafael into a hug. He’s tense at first, but I tighten my grip and he gives in, wrapping his big arms around my back. His eyes soften as we pull apart, and in that moment, I decide that I need to hug him more.
He nods behind me before he and May disperse with the rest of the crowd that had gathered to watch the drama unfold.
I turn around to Caio standing there, a look in his eyes that I can’t decipher.
He waltzes up to me. A small smile forming with every step closer.
“I am so fucking proud of you, sweetheart.” He wraps his arms around me lifting me off the ground into his arms. That grounded feeling wrapping me up like a warm blanket. “I’m sorry for losing my cool. I didn’t want to stoop to his level, but I just saw red. I hesitated once before when it came to you, I wasn’t going to do that again.”
“It’s okay,” I say resting my forehead on his.
“You didn’t need me standing up for you though, I know you don’t like a big show.” I’ve never told him that outright, but I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s picked up on that, he’s always been able to read me like a book.
“I didn’t mind it so much this time.” I press a kiss to his lips, and he lets me down on my feet. The comfort of his lips on mine calming my mind.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I nod, he smiles against my mouth as he peppers me with kisses. I giggle like a schoolgirl as he kisses me all over tickling my skin, and it’s the only sound in the place as everyone quietly gets back to their seats.
The bar is quiet down now, the mood dropping after the altercation. The sound of the door opening sounds behind me before a deep baritone barrels through the room.
“When I heard there was a party, I thought it would be a bit livelier than this.”
My heart is in my throat at the sound of the familiar voice. My eyes widen as I look up at Caio and he’s grinning like an idiot.
I whip around to check I’m not hallucinating. “Miles?”
“Hey little sis.” I blink, but he’s still there, his big green eyes beaming back at me.
I squeal before running and throwing myself into Miles’s arms. He laughs as he picks me up spinning me around before setting me down on the floor.
“Oh my god what are you doing here?” I ask frantically. First Brandon and now Miles? What a reunion.
“Your friend here invited me.” Caio comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle and pressing a kiss to my shoulder.
I look over my shoulder at him. He organized this. He got my busy brother to take time off to visit me on my birthday.
There goes another piece of my heart.
“Not my friend,” I say, my eyes still on Caio. “I don’t know what exactly, but definitely not my friend.”
“Well, that’s a new development,” Miles says.
“Miles?!” May comes running from across the room.
“What’s up, munchkin?” Miles opens his arms for her, and she nearly knocks him over when she comes barreling into his arms.
May is like a second sister to Miles, and he’s the brother she never had. Whenever Miles would come into town May would always be invited, he looks after her the same way he does to me. Making sure she paid as much attention in self-defense that I did.
Again, very serious about that.
It feels surreal having him here. It doesn’t feel the same as when Brandon was here. This feels right.
I’ve missed Miles with my whole heart and can’t help but wrap him in another hug, just to make sure he’s really here.
“You need to meet everyone,” I say, looking around the room and I wave the boys over from their spot at the bar. “Guys, this is my brother Miles.”
“What’s up man,” Miles shakes Rafael’s hand in greeting.
“Miles, this is Rafael, Heath and Leo.”
They exchange hello’s as I look around for Marina, she’s not behind the bar like she was when I last saw her.
“Hey,” I grab Leo aside. “Where’s Marina?”
“I don’t know where she went, but all of a sudden, she looked like she’d seen a ghost and bolted faster than I’ve ever seen. All she said was to tell you happy birthday before she disappeared.”
Hm.
“Well, is this a party or what?” Miles says.
“Tequila shots?” May points at him.
Oh god, I haven’t had tequila since Miles’s graduation party, I haven’t dared to touch them since that god awful night over the toilet bowl. May was holding my hair back, until it got too much for her and she had to go to the sink herself. My stomach churns at the thought.
“Load ‘em up,” Miles fires back.
I give him a look, but he doesn’t give a damn. “Hey, we have to celebrate. You only turn twenty-four once.” I roll my eyes, but he just pulls me into his side. “I’ve missed you Isla.”
“Why didn’t you come home more then?” The question falls off my tongue after years of wondering.
“You answer me that when you eventually leave this place to go back.” I don’t miss his meaning as we walk over to the bar.
“To Isla.” May brings her shot glass up in the air.
I look over my shoulder where Caio is with the others. He stands against the wall, his arms crossed as he watches me with a smirk teasing the corner of his lip. And I can’t ignore the fact that he’s made me the happiest girl in the world tonight. I don’t know how anything could top this feeling.
“To Caio,” I say, clinking my glass against hers and Miles’s before licking the salt off my hand and gulping back the revolting liquid. It burns the back of my throat as I reach for the lime, sucking the sour taste into my mouth.
May laughs as I pull a face. The whole taking shots thing has never been my favorite.
That’s generous. I hate it, it’s fucking disgusting, but with these two egging me on I knock them back like nobody’s business before they drag me out to the dance floor.
A euphoric level of happiness carries me through the night, dancing with my best friend and my brother like the old days in my new favorite place feels special. Leo joined us, showing Miles his terrible dance moves and spinning May around the dance floor until she was dizzy.
But all night I could feel the warmth of Caio’s eyes on me. Even when I couldn’t see him, I knew he was watching, looking over me like always. I can barely imagine the days when he won’t be around looking out for me. I don’t want to imagine it, don’t want to entertain the idea of not having Caio in my life.
So I take another shot. Wanting to pretend, just for tonight that this reality can be mine, that all of this could really be mine. Even him.