Chapter 25
Luca
My bag sat on the bed in the villa, ready to go home.
Every room had a memory I never wanted to forget.
As I wandered through, I took photos of everything.
The view of the beach from the bedroom. The kitchen where we had coffee, the bathroom we shared every day, the bed where we’d given ourselves to one another.
It had been the most romantic weekend of my life, Axel ticking off boxes in my life like he had a checklist. No matter what happened at this point, I’d always have Bermuda.
And I was glad it was him. What were the odds that two men with little to no relationship experience could make this work? I guess we’d find out.
When it was time for the car to arrive to take us to the plane, Axel found me on the beach, the pink sand running through my fingers.
Time had run out on our fairytale weekend, and it was time to face reality.
I had to go back to work, and his long season was starting.
Long expanses of time that I knew would test us also terrified me.
I wouldn’t shut him out, but I had to get used to the distance, and absorbing myself in my work and school would help.
“I don’t want to leave,” he said, “but we must. Too bad they don’t have a hockey team.”
Leaning over, I laughed as I kissed his polo-clad shoulder. “I don’t think tropical islands have hockey teams. But it’s time to get back to the real world of work and the Nighthawks.”
He hummed in agreement. “We can come back, you know. I’ll have a couple of breaks in the season. All-Star week and a few days here and there.” He draped his arm over my shoulders. “Maybe I should buy a place for us so we can come on a whim.”
Us. Magic words to my heart. “It is a beautiful place.”
His phone buzzed when the car arrived. Axel stood, then reached down to pull me up. “Time to go home, love.”
With one last kiss on the beach, Axel held his phone out to take a selfie of us. “Can you send it to me?”
With the press of a button, my phone pinged with the incoming text. Axel took my hand and led us inside. He closed and locked the sliding door that led to the beach, then picked up our bags as we headed to the car.
Three hours later, our plane touched down, officially ending our long weekend.
We’d enjoyed another opulent dinner and champagne as we flew back to JFK.
Unlike on the way down, I’d only had one glass, choosing to keep my head on straight.
As he talked to the flight attendant, I realized how much things had changed.
I’d opened my heart to him, and in hindsight, it still felt like the right decision.
I’d told him things I never told anyone, so why stop now?
As the pilot taxied to our destination, where George would be waiting, Axel reached for my hand until we pulled to a stop.
Unbuckling my seatbelt, I stood from the plush leather seat and stretched.
My energy began to wane as we took our bags from the storage compartment and headed for the car.
George opened the back, and Axel stowed them as I slid onto yet another leather seat and buckled in.
It was a far cry from the cloth interior of my Camry.
George called out to Axel. “Where to, Mr. Hughes?”
I answered. “My apartment, please, George.”
Axel’s brow creased as he took my hand and tried to bargain. “Come home with me. We’ll get up early. I’ll make you breakfast and drive you to the office myself. You know you’ll rest better if you sleep in my bed.”
A big knowing grin spread over my face. I leaned forward, our lips inches apart. “We both know what will happen, and it won’t be sleep. I’ll be a zombie in the morning.”
Curling his fingers around my neck, he nuzzled my cheek and bit my earlobe, replying. “A zombie with a golden tan. What if I promise to let you sleep?”
It would be so easy to say yes. To fall into needing him every second of every day.
He knew how I felt about him, but my need for self-preservation kicked in.
“I wish I could, but I can’t. After missing these days of work, I’ll have a lot to catch up on tomorrow.
I can’t do it wired and sleep-deprived. And my last capstone class starts on Thursday.
I’ve got to focus on finishing this project and getting ready for my licensure exams. If I’m with you, I’m going to want to do nothing but be in your bed. ”
Axel sat up. “That means I won’t see you until Friday night.”
“I know. But you won’t die. I promise.” I didn’t like this part, but it was reality. “Three nights apart will be good practice for when you’re on the road this season.”
He hardened his jaw like a stubborn little boy. But in the end, he knew I was right. “Fine.” Pouting Axel was irresistible, hence the soul-affirming kiss I gave him. Intimacy was another thing I’d eased into without reservation.
I put my head on his shoulder as we held hands the rest of the way. Toffee and bourbon filled my head until George pulled up outside my building. He parked a block away, but he left the car running as he got out to retrieve my luggage. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Wait.” He grabbed my arm before I got out. “Where will you be working on your project? The library or your apartment?”
“Probably the library. It’s cooler and quieter there. Why?”
“You could work at my house. I’ll feed you and know you’re safe.”
God, he was so sweet. “Again, I’m not sure I’d get much work done with you there. I need to concentrate on something other than you.” Maybe we could compromise. “But I can ease your protective side. Take out your phone.”
As Axel dug it out of his pocket, I opened the locator app and shared my location with him.
His phone pinged, and he accepted my invitation to share my location.
“I know it seems creepy, but if it makes you feel better, I’m all in.
” There was something about knowing he could find me that gave me some peace of mind.
“It’ll do for now.”
With another kiss, I breathed him in once more before reaching for the handle. “I gotta go.”
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
When we got out, Axel grabbed my bag from the concrete as I headed for the door. I dreaded each step, and when I stopped on the step leading inside, I turned to gaze at him. “Thank you. For everything.”
His eyes smoldered. “It was wonderful. We’ll do it again and again and again very soon.”
“I was talking about the trip, but okay. I like that too. I’ll see you Friday after work.” With another kiss, I turned and headed up the four flights of stairs.
“Don’t forget to text me tomorrow,” he called.
I laughed. Like that was possible. “I will. Promise.”
As I entered my apartment, I could see what Axel saw when he looked at it.
The walls were a dingy white that needed painting, and a million more upgrades to bring it up to code.
But no matter how undesirable it might be, it was still mine.
My name was on the lease, and simply having it, even though I’d rather be with Axel, soothed the once homeless man in me. I wasn’t sure that would ever go away.
“How was your trip?” John asked. He was in the kitchen making a sandwich.
I set my bag down and closed the door. “It was great. It’s hard to come back to reality after being in paradise.”
“I bet,” he said.
We talked for a while, catching up on the part he’d scored in an off-Broadway production. “We start rehearsals in two weeks. The director is still filling a few spots.”
“That’s great, man. I’m happy for you.”
He grinned. “Yeah, seems like things might be going okay. Any leads on a job?”
“Uh, not yet. But we’re getting a new landlord.”
John froze. “What? How do you know?”
I rubbed my neck. “Axel bought the building. He plans to make some upgrades and to lower the rent.”
His concern quickly turned to delight. “Damn. I guess it pays to have a rich boyfriend.”
“He’s not doing it for me. It’s part of a bigger project he has planned.”
His brow furrowed. “I thought he played hockey for the Nighthawks. Did he retire or something?”
I smiled. “He does. It’s something else he wants to do. He can’t play forever.”
John went back to making his sandwich. “You’re crazy if you don’t think it has something to do with you. Wish I could find me a sugar daddy to take care of me.”
“He’s not my sugar daddy. He’s my… boyfriend.” It sounded strange to describe him that way when he was so much more.
“Either way, you found a good one. You smile a lot more,” he said. “If you find any more, let me know.”
He had it wrong. Axel had found me in the most unlikely of places. As I unpacked my bag, I found a box tucked into my bag. Pulling it out, I opened it to find a keepsake container of pink sand he must have purchased.
Inside, a note read:
Now we’ll always have Bermuda.
I smiled as I placed it on my dresser, where I could look at it. That night, I crawled into my twin bed, regretting my decision not to go home with him. But I knew it was for the best, and I’d count the hours until Friday.