Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Zoe
The ceremony is a dream, with Audrey looking radiant as she exchanges vows with the love of her life. The sun filters through the canopy of tropical foliage, casting a magical glow on the happy couple. I stand beside Lily, and we both watch with teary eyes as Audrey and Liam promise forever to each other.
I can’t help but feel a pang of longing. Someday, I hope to find someone who will look at me as if there’s nobody else more important in the world—Someone who will love me the way Liam loves Audrey.
The reception is set close to the ocean, with a perfect blend of shade and tropical beauty. Palm trees sway gently in the breeze, and the sound of waves crashing nearby adds to the idyllic atmosphere. Tables are loaded with an array of delicious food, from fresh seafood to colorful tropical fruits, and the drinks are a mix of refreshing cocktails and fine wines. It’s great not having to sit down to a five-course meal while trying to make small talk with whoever the wedding planner or the bride decided to sit us with.
If I ever get married, sign me up for one of these short, sweet, and swoony destination weddings. Audrey and Liam look blissfully happy as they share their first dance as husband and wife. Their joy is infectious, and soon everyone joins in.
As I watch the newlyweds, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn, my heart racing, and find Max standing there, looking as handsome as ever. He holds out his hand and asks, “May I have this dance?”
I nod numbly, letting him lead me back onto the dance floor. As we sway to the music, I can’t help but wonder what this dance might mean for us.
I know I need to talk to him, to clear the air and figure out what this all means. But the thought of facing him terrifies me. What’s there to say? Other than, “You left your watch on my nightstand,” or, “Can we repeat it again for the next few nights?”
Either one is better than admitting that my heart is starting to confuse our agreement and maybe . . . well, maybe it should be over. How stupid would I be to keep this going? It’s Tom all over again. Thankfully, I know his expectations and I can end this before things get . . . well worse, because with Tom I never felt the pull I do with Max.
“You okay?” Max asks, his lips close to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
I nod.
“ Liar ,” he mouths, a teasing glint in his eyes. “You’re thinking about last night, aren’t you?”
“Shh.” I glare at him, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.
“You can’t tell me you didn’t love it—all of it,” he says suggestively. “I recall you saying, ‘Faster, Max, deeper. Yes, more.’”
“Shut up. That was . . .” I start, my cheeks burning.
Max smirks, leaning even closer. “Admit it, Zoe. You loved every second. The way I touched you, the way I made you beg for more. You’re still thinking about it, aren’t you?”
I try to maintain my composure, but his words and proximity are making it difficult. “Max, we’re in public,” I hiss, glancing around nervously.
He chuckles softly, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Doesn’t change the fact that you want it again. Want me again. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Max . . .” I warn, my voice a mix of frustration and longing.
He presses a quick kiss to my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “Just say the word, and I’ll give you everything you crave, right here, right now.”
“Max, stop,” I say, though my resolve is weakening.
He pulls back slightly, a wicked grin on his face. “Fine, I’ll stop . . . for now. But don’t think for a second that I’ll forget the way you screamed my name. The way your body trembled under mine.”
I swallow hard, trying to steady my racing heart. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love it,” he replies confidently, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Maybe. Just a little.”
“Thought so,” he says, giving me a wink. “I went to buy a couple boxes of condoms in case . . . in case you want an encore.”
I look up at him, my heart pounding like a drum against my rib cage. Max’s smirk is still there, teasing and playful. The suggestion hangs in the air between us, heavy with the promise of more nights like the last. My cheeks are still burning from our earlier conversation, but now it’s not just embarrassment that’s making them hot—it’s anticipation, too.
“Is there anything else you can think of other than sex?” I ask, shaking my head.
“Nope. And somehow, I think you like that about me,” he says, his voice low and seductive. The words are like a promise, a dare. I can’t help but lean into him, letting his warmth seep into my bones.
The music intensifies around us, loud and pulsing, but all I can hear is the sound of my own heartbeat, frantic in my ears. I can feel the anticipation building inside me, a knot of excitement in my stomach that only Max seems to be able to untangle.
His eyes, dark and intense, hold mine as we move together on the dance floor. The world around us fades away, and it’s just us, caught in this moment of possibility. I know I should be cautious, that getting involved with Max could complicate things. But right now, with his hands on my waist and his breath on my skin, I can’t bring myself to care.
As the song reaches its climax, Max pulls me closer, his lips brushing my ear. “Would you like to come with me?” he asks, his breath hot against my cheek. I know what he’s asking without having to say the words out loud. Another night, another chance to explore each other in the dark.
For a moment, I hesitate. But then I look up at him, seeing the hope and desire in his eyes, and I know there’s only one answer I can give.
“Yes,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the music. And as I say the word, I know that I mean it with every fiber of my being.
“Where?” I ask, my voice barely audible over the pulsing music. I can feel the vibrations of the bass in my chest as I lean closer to Max, my heart pounding in anticipation.
He looks at me with a sly smile, his eyes glinting with mischief. “How about a walk on the beach?” he suggests, his hand brushing against mine. “Or we can go to your cabana again . . . like I said, there’s a lot we can still repeat from yesterday and new things we can do today. ”
“A walk is fine,” I reply, trying to sound casual despite the excitement bubbling inside me. Max takes my hand, and my heart skips a beat. My breath catches, and warmth spreads through me.
Max’s smile widens, and he leads me toward the exit. We step outside into the tropical night air, leaving the music and laughter behind us. The moonlight bathes the beach in a silver glow, and the soft sound of the waves crashing against the shore creates a serene backdrop.
Hand in hand, we walk toward the water, the sand cool beneath our feet. The ocean stretches out before us, endless and inviting. As we stroll along the shoreline, the gentle breeze carries the scent of salt and the promise of new beginnings.
“Isn’t this better than the dance floor where everyone was watching us?” Max asks, his voice breaking the comfortable silence.
I nod, feeling a sense of peace settle over me. “Much better.”
As we continue our walk, the sun begins to set, casting a warm golden glow over the water. The sky is a canvas of vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples reflecting off the gentle waves that lap at our feet.
Max squeezes my hand gently, and I glance up at him, catching the way the fading light softens his features. There’s a quiet contentment in his expression, a noticeable change from the teasing smirk he usually wears.
“This is beautiful,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might break the magic of the moment. “I’ve decided that if I ever get married, I’ll go against my parents’ wishes and have a destination wedding far away from them—and close to the ocean.”
“Yeah?” He snorts. “Good luck finding someone who’ll agree to that.”
“If he loves me, he’ll agree.” My voice comes out a little defensive, but really, if this perfect man—for me—loves me so much he wants to spend the rest of his life with me, I don’t see why he wouldn’t agree to a wedding like that, just the two of us.
“Not if he has a mother like mine,” he refutes. “She’d never forgive me.”
“It’s a choice, though, making your mother happy—or your future wife.”
I mean, look at Audrey and Liam. They’re having a reception for all their friends in a couple of weeks. That's something he could do too, but I don’t say that out loud.
He rubs the back of his neck with his free hand. “Lucky for me, I don’t plan on getting one of those—wives.”
“Lucky for you.” I wink at him, because why am I even bickering about this whole thing with him. “It’s good that you know what you want—or don’t want—in life.”
“Have you decided what you want?” he asks, his thumb gently stroking the back of my hand.
“Maybe. I’ll probably start by opening my own law firm, taking cases that’ll pay me enough to live comfortably while doing some pro bono work,” I finally say out loud what I was thinking earlier. “I’m going to give myself a couple of years before I have a baby. If I meet someone who I love and wants to have children with me? That’d be amazing. But if not, I’ll start a family on my own.”
“That’s brave,” he says, a little surprised. “But really, you plan to do it all on your own?”
I’m not sure if he’s referring to opening a firm or having a baby, but I just answer, “Uh-huh. I think it’s time for me to get what I want, you know?”
We continue walking in comfortable silence, the only sounds around us are the rhythmic crashing of the waves and the occasional call of a seabird. The warmth of the sand between our toes and the cool breeze on our skin make the moment feel surreal, like a scene out of a dream.
Suddenly, Caleb comes running toward us, shattering our peaceful bubble. “Glad I found you. There’s a job that needs our attention.”
“Right now?” Max asks, clearly annoyed.
“Yep. Ethan, you, and I have to leave. Liam is arranging the transportation for us,” Caleb explains urgently.
Max’s reluctance is palpable. “Okay, let’s go.” He hesitates, looking at me as if he’s about to kiss me but then thinks better of it. Instead, he offers a small, regretful smile. “Goodbye, Zoe.”
I watch as he jogs off with Caleb, a mix of disappointment and understanding settling in my chest. As they disappear into the distance, I take a deep breath, letting the soothing sounds of the ocean wash over me once more.
This is a good way to end whatever happened between us, I think. Once we’re back in Boston, we’ll have to make new rules because this has to be over.
Over , I repeat to myself, but somehow the word feels like a lie, and I don’t like that one bit. As I stand alone on the beach, I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t really the end, but perhaps the beginning of something I’m not quite ready to face.