Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Nell
I’m feeling a bit nervous about wearing a bikini at the pool in front of Romeo’s family.
All the women here look beautiful and confident, but I can’t help noticing that my body has curves they don’t seem to have.
It makes me self-conscious, like I need to hide or cover up, even though I want to enjoy myself and be part of the fun.
Wearing a red bikini, because Simone says that it suits my skin tone— whatever the hell that means— I added a black sarong around my waist to cover up some of my thighs.
Slipping my feet into some simple sandals, I pull my curls up into a hair-tie and collect my bag for a day at the pool with Romeo and his family.
It is the last day of relaxation, I was told last night at the meal.
After hearing some of the things his cousin kept bringing up about Romeo and women, I got self-conscious at the fact that he has most likely slept with ten times more people than I have. Not that it is that hard; I have only had sex with two men.
My shitty ex-husband being one of them. The other one took my virginity in the back of his father’s Camaro, and it fucking hurt, then he left. He dropped me at home the next day and ghosted me. Like, who does that? The men I pick, it seems.
Romeo should be down at the pool. He told me to meet him there as he was going for a run along the beach with Asher and Gio.
Although we're not truly together, he seems to leave me alone whenever possible. I end up taking care of myself while he's busy with family or work. Last night, when he returned, he checked emails, while I read briefly, and then we went to sleep.
I knew that my heart would get involved in our deal—it was inevitable. Even though we agreed to keep things uncomplicated, feelings have a way of sneaking in when you least expect it.
My romantic side is feeling free as a bird and it’s letting my heart and soul know that Romeo and I could have something beyond this week, but my sensible side is telling me that once we land back on the mainland, I won’t see him again.
I push down any thought of not seeing him every day, and walk across the lobby to the pool area. Taking in the vibrant colors of the space, I catch the scent of sweet flowers, but also the ocean air that makes you take stock of what you get living in a city.
Hawaii is such a beautiful place and should be preserved as much as possible.
With a deep breath, I hitch my pool bag up higher onto my shoulder and push the door open. Inching through, I hold my head up high and take stock of the people who are around.
I spot the bride, Mia, and the man at her side, her handsome groom, Andre. Daniella is next to her with her big bug-eyed sunglasses that cover most of her face. Her hair looks like it is curled to perfection.
Insecurities start to take over. They are all stunning, beautiful, and belong on the covers of fashion magazines.
I grip my bag strap and move my gaze to the other side of the pool, spotting Romeo standing with Asher and Gio.
My stomach swoops, and my pussy flutters seeing him standing in just a pair of swim shorts that mold to his ass.
His hair is wet, and his skin glistens in the sun. Damn, that man is hot as sin.
Fuck, I want to lick him all over and dry him with my tongue. Can you dry someone with your tongue?
As if he senses me watching him, he looks my way, a smile forming on his lips, making me smile back. Inching forward, I stutter, my eyes going wide. Pulling my gaze from Romeo, I look behind me and see that my sarong is trapped in the door.
I pull on the material, but it won't move. Panic rises in my chest as I glance anxiously at Romeo, who approaches. Trying not to attract attention, I tug harder.
My heart races in my chest as I look between the door that is holding me hostage and the man who brought me here.
“Fuck, come on, you flimsy piece of shit,” I grunt and tug again. I hear the material rip, but it does not come free.
“Nell? Are you okay?” Romeo calls as he steps closer.
I simply nod, my voice lost in the panic.
Do not freak out in front of him.
Do not freak out in front of him.
Do not freak out in front of him.
Shit, I am going to freak out.
Fuck.
“What’s wrong?” He looks down my body, assessing me, until he follows where my hand is. “Are you stuck?”
I nod. I can’t pull it free.
My heart is racing, trying to break free to run and hide. Why me? God, why did you lump me with all of these misfortunate mishaps?
I give it one last tug before he can move, just as someone opens the door. The force of me pulling on the material and the door opening sends me flying into Romeo, who is holding a cocktail in his hand.
I let out a yelp as the orange liquid splashes over the side of the glass and over his chest.
Time freezes for a split second, then I regain my senses and humiliation rages over all emotion.
“Oh, I am so sorry, I didn’t see anyone on the other side,” an older couple mutters as they move away from us.
By this time, my skin is hot as I blush to high heaven. Where the hell are the MIB when you need them with that memory zappy thing?
I drop my gaze, adjusting the material of my sarong to put it back in place. Laughter echoes around the pool area, and I know for a fact that people just saw what happened.
My heart rate kicks up a notch, and I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole. I will never live this down, but I guess that I will only see these people for this week. And once I get home, I never have to look them in the eyes again.
A pang of disappointment and hurt hits me in the chest, but I knew this would happen and I know that separating will happen.
“Shit,” I mutter, rubbing my sternum.
Hands rub my biceps, and I feel like a stranger being comforted. I inch back from his touch, making him frown. I don’t know why the contact irks me so much. It is not like he needs to comfort me; few of his family members are here to see yet another of my misfortunes.
“Hey, it’s okay. No one saw,” Romeo states to pacify me, but I brush his comment off.
“Oh come on, Romeo, people are laughing for fuck’s sake.” I frown. “I am going to go. Maybe have a shower and find a quiet spot on the beach to read. Go back to your boys.” I turn to leave, but he grips my wrist.
Pulling me back to him, my feet twist and I fall against him, his chest sticky from the cocktail, and the scent of oranges and vanilla hits my senses.
“I am not leaving my girlfriend alone when she is clearly upset,” he murmurs in that sexy low tone.
I shiver at the words and tone, my nipples beading under the thin material of my bikini top. Damn this hot man.
“But I’m not your girlfriend though, am I? And clearly you do not see or care when I’m upset, so let’s just leave it at that. Go back to your family, and I will see you later tonight.”
“Why are you acting like this? It was simply a fucking mishap, Nell. They won’t say shit to you; I will make them regret it if they do.”
I lean around his body and see a few of his family members looking in our direction, no doubt trying to work out what is going on, and I, for one, am not in the mood to deal with jokes and off-handed comments about how fucking clumsy I am.
I sigh, dropping my forehead to his chest to show his family that things are okay when inside I am fucking dying of shame and humiliation. Why can’t I be fucking normal?
This curse has followed me around since I could walk. I was always falling over nothing, tripping over my own feet and bumping into people. Bending down to pick something up and missing it three or four times. You get where I am going on this.
Before I can speak, I feel Romeo move, his body stepping back from mine. Looking at him, I expect to see a pissed-off man who brought a girl here who is blowing him off but hell, he has done it to me twice now.
Sliding his arm around my back, he looks across the pool.
“Nell and I are going for a walk down the beach. We will see you later tonight,” he calls to his family, mainly his boys.
Catcalls and cheers are made, making me blush further. They think we are going to fuck, but there is no way that Romeo wants that with me. I know he has made some comments in the heat of the moment, but he has not initiated sex between us.
Does he not find me attractive?
I was told I am chubby but still hot to look at—well, after a few drinks.
The prick could not give me more than three minutes of sex before he would come and roll over, so I was left to finish myself off.
Lord knows how he cheated with so many women, since he could not last that long, unless they have very low standards.
That was my dick of an ex-husband.
“Come on.” He leads me from the pool to the gate that will lead us out onto Waikiki beach.
Removing my sandals, I hold them in my hand, while Romeo takes the other one in his.
The sand feels warm and coarse against my feet. My toes dig into the sand and I sigh.
“You like it here.” It is not a question but an observation.
I look up at him, the sun behind him giving him an angelic look, but I know he is anything but.