26. Chapter 26
“How you feeling Poppy?” Moore asked.
Bright-eyed, he smiled behind a coffee mug.
Yesterday jet lag unexpectedly bitch-slapped me.
As excited as I was to see all of El Huerto del Sol and maybe have some exciting different-country sex, I spent all day in bed, my brain trapped in a fugue state of overwhelming tiredness.
The cool Spanish breeze that blew through the open windows didn’t help my sleepiness.
Summoner stayed beside me most of the time.
I had foggy recollections of trying to explain the cartoon Adventure Time to him.
I think we nibbled on a charcuterie board at some point.
One memory stood out in the fuzzy corners of my mind: through the thick fog of sleep, I could make out his unblinking eyes.
Beside me in bed, Summoner scribbled in his notebook while watching me.
The intensity was nearly enough to make my heart skip.
A misplaced fear, because with him, there was nothing to fear.
I mumbled something resembling a response to Moore as I flopped down across from him at the patio table.
He shook his head. Still dressed in my clothes from the flight, I suspected Moore thought we’d been up to something sordid. Sadly, I was just exhausted.
“Buenos días, querida.” Dee, El Huerto del Sol’s head chef stepped out of the kitchen. “Would you like a coffee?”
Dee was a tall woman with a head of fiery curls and a face spotted with freckles.
“Please!” I buried my face in my hands.
She laughed. “Se?or was explaining that you like it’s sweet. Is chocolate okay?”
“Sounds great.”
“You’ll be alright in a day or two. Your body just needs to recalibrate,” Moore explained.
“Beep. Boop. Beep,” I muttered.
“Is Poppy rebooting?” Summoner asked.
I peeked up from my tired despair to see him sit between Moore and I. Dressed in a pair of baggy shorts and an open white button-up, water clung the fabric to his skin. His damp hair was swept back, and the sunlight smoothed over the wrinkles on his forehead.
“What is time?!” I groaned.
Summoner and Moore laughed. But I honestly didn’t know what time it was.
“You guys are assholes.”
“But we love them, yes?” Dee patted Summoner’s shoulder. “This will perk you up.” She placed a mug on the table in front of me.
I grabbed the steaming cup and slowly sipped.
The coffee was rich with an earthy flavor and a splash of milk and chocolate.
It was heaven in a cup. I sighed. Smiling, Dee returned from the kitchen with a platter of fruits, olives, bagels, cheese, and various butter.
I loaded up on fresh fruit and went to grab a bagel when Summoner stopped me.
“Don’t eat too much, Poppy.”
“Why not?” I whined.
“Because I know what will help you. We’re going swimming.”
“You already went swimming!” I countered.
“Not with you.” He raised an eyebrow.
“He’d be down there all damn day if someone didn’t stop him. Pruney, old, and cranky. Too much to fuckin’ handle. So, thanks for taking that off my hands, Poppy!” Moore chuckled.
“Could you set a timer for an hour from now?” he asked.
“Sure thing, Boss.” Moore pulled his phone from his pocket.
“You guys are such assholes!” I exclaimed before stuffing a slice of watermelon into my mouth.
***
Dressed in my overpriced swimsuit, I freed my braids from my scarf, wrapped a towel around my waist, and headed down to the pool.
I paused at the bottom of the stairs. Summoner sat at the pool’s edge.
His arms stretched out behind him, exposed his face and torso to the sun’s warmth.
His eyes were closed to the light, kissing his skin.
Smoothness dipped into slight ridges of wrinkles, lines, and freckles on the expanse that was him.
His long legs extended into the water. His swim attire was a black speedo. I snorted, catching his attention.
Summoner stood up and smiled at me. Him standing made the sight that much more ridiculous.
The fabric hugged and pulled in the perfect places.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t well acquainted with his areas; it was more the idea that a speedo was such an odd fashion choice.
I doubled over with side-shaking laughter.
“What’s so funny?!” He asked.
“God! Is that a speedo?!”
Hands on his hips, which did nothing to help, he said, “Uh, yeah?”
“You really did grow up in a postwar Britain, didn’t you?” I snorted.
“What does that even mean, Poppy?”
Summoner stood patiently as my laughter faded. “Tell me I shouldn’t just toss you in the deep end right now,” he said, deadpanning.
“Don’t! I’m sorry, I’ll grow up. I promise!” I pleaded.
His face softened. “Don’t worry. I’m far too attached to you.”
Hand in hand, he led me to the shallow end of the pool. The contrast of the cool water under the sun’s rays delighted my body.
“3 feet. Deep enough for us to stand,” he explained.
The water lapped against my thighs.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
I flapped my arms through the water. This, I could handle.
I smiled. “Good. I feel good.”
“Good…Can I just say you look fuckin’ amazing in that swimsuit?” His eyes lingered on the deep V on my chest where the bottom curves of my breasts poked out.
“I should look amazing. The damn thing cost $500. All your daughter’s fault, by the way.”
“I must remember to thank Daisy,” he muttered.