35. Chapter Thirty Five
Chapter Thirty Five
Cole
The sun hangs low in the sky, casting golden streaks across the waves as they roll lazily onto the shore. The air is warm, the breeze gentle, and the rhythmic sound of the ocean fills the silence between me and my thoughts.
Robbie is knee-deep in the water, laughing as he chases the foamy edges of the waves, his small feet sinking into the wet sand with every step.
Every so often, he glances back at me, grinning like he’s conquered the ocean itself. He’s completely in his element, the excitement of the day still buzzing through him. I can’t help but smile a little as I watch him, content, carefree.
It’s been a good day. At least, for him.
I glance back toward the house, my eyes instinctively landing on the second-floor balcony that leads to Annie’s room. The curtains are drawn, the glass doors shut. She’s been up there since we got back from town earlier.
Something’s off.
She’d seemed fine when we were walking through the market, joking around, sampling fruit, weaving through the streets with Robbie between us. She’d been fine when we got ice cream, when she excused herself to go to the restroom.
And then something changed.
She hadn’t said much on the boat ride back, but when I asked, she blamed the heat, the long day. I didn’t push. But when we got back to the house, she disappeared into her room, and I haven’t seen her since.
I want to believe she’s just tired. That maybe it was too much sun or too much walking around. But there’s a nagging feeling in my gut, the kind that doesn’t go away until I have answers.
Was she just feeling sick from whatever bug she had yesterday? Some sort of lingering jet lag?
Or is it from the night we spent together? Is she feeling down again, ashamed of what we did? I was sure when I left her in bed that morning that she was feeling fine, but maybe it had come on sometime during the day.
And if that’s the case, why didn’t she come to me?
I don’t like not knowing what’s going on in my own house, and it’s about time I find out.
“Dad! Did you see that?” Robbie’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
I turn my head just in time to see him throw himself into a wave, arms flailing before he lands with a splash. He resurfaces with a grin, wiping his wet hair from his face.
“I saw,” I call back. “That was quite the wipeout.”
He laughs, shaking the water off like a dog before running back up the shore.
“I’m gonna make a sandcastle now,” he declares, plopping down onto the damp sand and immediately digging his hands into it.
I nod, glancing back at the house again.
The sun is lower now, and dinner will be ready soon. I want to talk to Annie before then.
“Actually, Robbie,” I say, pushing myself up from where I’d been sitting in the sand. “It’s almost dinner time. Why don’t you go up and get ready?”
“But, Dad,” he whines and pouts. “What about my sandcastle?”
“You can finish it tomorrow,” I tell him, brushing some of the sand off my hands as I stand. “Go rinse off and change before dinner.”
Robbie groans but gets up, shaking the sand off his arms. “Fine,” he grumbles, dragging his feet toward the house.
I watch him go, making sure he heads inside before turning my attention back upstairs. Annie’s curtains are still drawn, the balcony door still shut.
I roll my shoulders, exhaling as I head toward the house.
This isn’t like her.
Annie doesn’t hide. She doesn’t sulk or shut herself away, not without a reason.
And I need to find out what that reason is.
I step inside, the cool air of the villa hitting me and cooling my heated skin. The smell of grilled fish and roasted vegetables drifts from the kitchen, where the staff moves efficiently, setting up dinner.
Before I make it to the stairs, though, Maritza materializes in front of me.
I should be used to it from Ellis, but it gives me a quick jolt.
“Senor Wagner,” she greets, but her dark eyes are unreadable.
“Yes, Maritza.” I nod. “Something wrong?”
“There is a storm coming tonight,” she tells me calmly.
I frown. “I checked the weather before we came. There weren’t supposed to be any storms this week.”
She nods. “Sí, but storms in this region can change suddenly. It is not expected to be dangerous, but there will be heavy rain and strong winds throughout the night. Maybe through tomorrow as well.”
I glance toward the open terrace doors. The sky is still clear, the breeze warm and gentle. There’s no sign of an impending storm, but I don’t spend much time here, so it’s possible that the weather is less predictable here than at home.
“I see,” I say. “Do we need to prepare to leave?”
“That won’t be necessary,” Maritza assures me. “We will prepare the house, secure the patio furniture, and make sure everything is in order. It would be best if everyone stays inside once the storm begins.”
I nod, already running through a mental checklist. “Understood. Let me know if you need anything. I’m heading up for a bit. Don’t let Robbie back out if he comes down before me.”
She gives me a small nod. “Of course, Senor.” Then she steps aside, letting me pass.
As I continue up the stairs, my mind shifts between two concerns—Annie and the storm.
I don’t like unpredictability.
And tonight, I suddenly have two things I can’t control.
I take the stairs two at a time, my footsteps light against the polished wood.
When I reach Annie’s door, I pause for a second, listening.
Silence.
I knock, firm but not impatient.
A few seconds pass before I hear movement inside. Then, her voice, soft, calling out, “Come in.”
I step inside, shutting the door behind me. Annie is sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands resting lightly on her lap. She looks… tired.
Not in the way she does after a long day of running around with Robbie, when she’s laughing and stretching her sore muscles. This is different. She looks drained, like something’s weighing on her.
Her blonde hair is damp, the ends curling slightly against her bare shoulders. She’s wearing a soft and loose sun dress, different from the one she wore to town earlier. Comfortable. Relaxed. But there’s nothing relaxed about the way she looks at me.
I take a step closer, watching her reaction carefully. “You’ve been up here a while.”
She exhales through her nose, a small smile pulling at her lips, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, I guess I lost track of time.”
I cross my arms, tilting my head slightly. “You missed pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres. Maritza has been cooking all afternoon.”
Her fingers pick at the hem of her shorts. “I wasn’t really hungry.”
I don’t buy that. If there’s anything the gala a few weeks ago taught me, it’s that Annie loves hors d’oeuvres. And she definitely wouldn’t willingly miss Maritza’s cooking, even after only having it a couple of times .
I sit down beside her, close enough that our knees almost touch. “What’s going on?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing, I just—” She stops, exhales, and tries again. “I just needed some time to myself.”
I study her face, searching for the truth in her expression. “You sure about that?”
She nods, but it’s hesitant.
I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Look, I don’t like pushing, but you’re not yourself today. You barely spoke on the way back, and now you’re up here alone, skipping meals? That’s not like you.”
She stays quiet, staring down at her hands.
I wait.
Finally, she sighs. “I don’t know, Cole. Maybe it’s just catching up to me. The trip, the heat, everything.” She rubs her temple. “I was feeling off this morning, then I felt better, but now… I don’t know.”
I narrow my eyes slightly. “You were fine when we were in town.”
She lets out a soft, dry laugh. “Yeah, I thought so too.”
Something about the way she says it makes my stomach tighten.
I straighten, watching her closely. “Are you sick? Do you need to see a doctor?”
Her head snaps up. “No! No, nothing like that. I don’t think it’s anything serious.”
She’s lying. Not outright, but she’s definitely holding something back.
I reach out, trailing a finger along her wrist, feeling the fast beat of her pulse beneath my touch. “Is this about last night?” I whisper. “Are you feeling down again?”
Annie shakes her head. “No. It’s not that.”
“Annie,” I say with a bit of a warning. “We talked about this. You’re supposed to tell me—”
“It’s not that,” she insists. “I swear. I just… I think I need to rest.”
“Annie. Look at me.”
She swallows, avoiding my gaze. “Cole, I’m fine.”
I don’t believe her.
But I also know when to push and when to back off. I may not be amazing at relationships, but I know how to negotiate.
For now, I choose the latter.
I nod slowly. “Okay.”
Her shoulders relax slightly. “Okay.”
I stand, watching her for a moment longer before heading toward the door. “Storm’s coming tonight,” I tell her, keeping my tone casual. “Maritza says it won’t be bad, but we’ll need to stay inside.”
She blinks, as if just realizing the change in weather. “Oh. Okay.”
I glance toward the window, where the sky is starting to darken at the edges, thick clouds creeping in. “It’s moving in fast.”
She nods, tugging her blanket up over her lap. “I’ll stay in.”
I hesitate, my fingers brushing over the door handle. “Dinner will be soon.”
She gives me a small smile. “I’ll be down in a bit.”
I nod once, then pull the door open and step into the hallway.
I don’t believe her.
Not for a damn second.