Chapter 35
“Tess,” Daniel whispers, nudging my shoulder gently.
“Go away,” I groan, my words muffled by the pillow beneath my head.
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead,” he teases.
“I only wake up for Wham,” I grumble, the pillow now covering my face in protest.
“There’s something I want to show you.”
“I’ve already seen it,” I mumble through the bedding. “It’s nice.”
He chuckles, his fingers gently tugging the pillow away from my face. “I want to do something with you.”
“You woke me up for sex?”
“No, not this time.”
“What time is it?” I groan.
“A little before six.”
“Ugh. You should be arrested.”
He laughs again. “Come on. Put some clothes on. We’re going out.”
“This feels wrong,” I complain as we stroll down the winding pathway towards the beach in the morning darkness. The salty breeze caresses my skin, the scent of seaweed in its wake. “Like we’re cheating.”
“On who?”
“The moon. He’s going to be pissed.”
“He’ll forgive us,” he assures me.
“It’s so early, the iguanas are still snoring in the trees,” I complain.
“Are you always this whiny in the morning?” he asks, his tone dry.
“No, because I know better than to leave a comfy bed at this ungodly hour.”
“I told you I was an early riser.”
“I thought you were referring to your penis.”
He laughs. “I suppose that’s a reasonable conclusion.”
As we approach the beach entrance, we kick off our sandals, the cool sand crunching beneath our feet. We make our way towards an unoccupied outdoor daybed, its cushions inviting me to fall back to sleep.
“Get comfortable,” he says, guiding me to the daybed.
I take a moment to stretch my neck from side to side, observing the other daybeds scattered around. Towels, books, and various belongings are already sprawled out on them, marking their territory. Do the hardcore towel-gamers sleep at all? Or do they hoard loungers before they go to bed for the night?
A small group of crack-of-dawn morning people are seated in various yoga poses in the sand—all silently staring straight ahead—like a well-toned, stretchy, sleepless early morning cult.
“I’m a pool person,” I complain. “Why are you torturing me?”
“Shh.” He places his index finger over my lips. “Just watch.”
“Watch what? The sun come up?”
“The sunrise.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“It’s not.” His eyes meet mine. “Now, lay back and enjoy.”
“That’s what you said last night,” I scoff, unable to resist a little morning sarcasm.
“I was right, wasn’t I?”
I think back to last night—the tender kisses, the loving touches.
“You were.” Stretching my arms over my head, I exhale a long yawn. “You’re aware that sunset happens at a more convenient time, right? We can watch the earth swallow the sun later, instead of vomiting it up like we are now.”
His expression grows somber. “I won’t be here later.”
And like a punch in the gut, reality returns. I scoot in closer to him, seeking comfort, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
He presses a sweet kiss on the top of my forehead. “It’s only a day and a half.”
Maybe.
Probably.
I believe him. I do. But I also live in the real world. He means his words—right now—but once he returns to reality, he may feel differently.
It’s easy to get swept away in the romance of paradise. I have. But when he goes back to his own place, to his old life, and takes off those rose-tinted sunglasses, he might realize that our romance was a fleeting affair that ended the moment his plane touched the clouds.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll feel the same way too.
I won’t.
I know I won’t.
“Just in case I never see you again,” I begin.
“I’m going to see you late tomorrow,” he interrupts.
“Please, humor me and let me say what I have to say,” I plead.
“Fine,” he sighs, a trace of frustration in his breath.
“In case I never see you again, I wanted to say… Thank you.”
“For waking you up early?” he teases.
“No. For making me laugh when I had nothing to laugh about. And for helping me let go.”
“Nah, you did that yourself.” He kisses the top of my head again. “I was the lucky guy who got to witness it.”
I direct my eyes to my lap and give him a squeeze. Daniel wraps an arm around me and holds me tightly.
“It’s time. The show is about to begin,” he says, his tone filled with enthusiasm.
Accepting my early morning fate, I look toward the edge of the earth. Brilliant hues of vibrant pinks, purples, and oranges slowly paint the dark sky, lighting it up like a flame.
As the sun rises higher over the horizon, its warm rays caress my skin, like a comforting embrace. I breathe in the new day in all its colorful glory, allowing myself to fully immerse in this awe-inspiring moment. In the background, the palm trees sway gently, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. This giant fireball, awakening all my senses.
I steal a glance at Daniel, his eyes full of wonder, as if he’s witnessing this spectacle for the first time. Our gazes meet, and he smiles affectionately, sharing in the beauty that’s unfolding before us.
“Every day it’s different,” he says, his voice carrying a sense of reverence. “The hues change. Warmer rays. Colors that dance on the water’s ripples. And other days they lie still, like the ocean’s made of glass. The same spectacular sun, showing off in a new way every single day.”
“Mother nature is an amazing artist,” I say in awe.
“She is,” he agrees. “With a palette that no man could ever replicate.”
As the sun wraps me in its gentle embrace, my past worries fade away, leaving only a sense of peace. It’s as if the world has wrapped an arm around me, reminding me that there are miracles to be found every day if only we open our eyes and watch for them.
If you look, you will find it.
Jorge said that when I arrived here.
And I did. I found what I didn’t know I was looking for all along.
My true self, unburdened by baggage and free from anger.
Just me.
I’ve made my peace with the universe. In return, I was gifted with gratitude… and him.
This incredible man, who became my rock and my refuge.
My old problems seem trivial. I’m alive. I’m breathing. I’m present.
It’s a humbling experience, to witness the beauty of life unfolding before your eyes. Every day, a once-in-a-lifetime miracle. And the fact that I got to share it with him makes it even more extraordinary.
“I wanted you to see this,” Daniel says, gesturing towards the breathtaking sunrise, “to remind you that new beginnings happen every day.” With a gentle touch of his index finger, he raises my face to his and softly kisses me. “It’s up to you what you do with yours.”
“I think my new beginning has already started.” I give his waist a loving squeeze, relishing in the comfort and closeness as I snuggle him.
“Mine too.”
We’re sitting in the lobby entrance, the soft hum of distant conversations filling the air as we wait for Daniel’s taxi to the airport. My gaze falls upon his suitcase and backpack, neatly placed next to the bellhop’s podium, and my heart sinks. In an ideal world, my suitcase would be right there beside his.
“What are your plans for today?” Daniel asks, his voice cutting through the background chatter.
“Without you interrupting me every five seconds, I’ll finally get to finish my book.” Playfully, I nudge his side with my elbow, attempting to conceal the ache in my heart.
“You’ll have to fill me in on Cyrano and Esmeralda.”
“That’s not their names… and you know it.”
He chuckles, taking hold of my hand and tenderly kissing the back of it.
“I hate that you’re leaving,” I grumble.
“Distance is a good thing. It’ll give you time to think.”
“About what?” I ask.
“Us.”
“Please tell me now if you’re having second thoughts.”
“About you? No. But you may feel differently once you’re no longer under my irresistible charm,” he jests. “Or Sex-God spell.”
“Impossible.” I shake my head, a quick smirk forming on my face.
He pulls me close and presses a sweet kiss on my lips.
“Se?or.” The bellhop clears his throat, interrupting us. “Your car is here.” He grabs Daniel’s luggage and lugs it toward the taxi’s trunk.
“Un momento, por favor,” Daniel holds up a finger to the driver, then turns back to me. “I guess this is it.” He stands and holds out a hand to me.
I swallow down the lump in my throat, take hold of his hand as he pulls me out of my seat. “This is harder than I thought it would be,” my voice trembling.
“It’s not goodbye,” he reassures me.
“I know,” I say, my breath shaky. I stare down at the ground and kick an invisible rock, a brief distraction from our impending farewell.
“Tess.”
“Hmm?”
He places his index finger under my chin and tips up my face until our gazes meet. “This isn’t goodbye.”
“I know.” I offer a weak nod.
“Look, I’m just going to come out and say it. You already know I care about you. Probably more than I should. And although when we first met, you were generally cranky and unpleasant,” he trails off with a playful smirk.
“Hey!” I protest, a tease of a smile breaking through.
He chuckles and continues, “I was drawn to you from the first time I laid eyes on you. Everything logical inside my head told me to run in the opposite direction. But here we are. Feeling what we’re feeling. I want our memories of this week to be more than a souvenir we take home with us.”
“I do too,” I tell him honestly.
“So, if you want this… if you want to see where we go from here—I’m in, Tess. I’m in all the way.”
“Damn you,” I whisper, the emotions welling up inside me, threatening to spill over. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“I’m not asking for much. Just give me your heart.” He tilts his head to the side and runs his index finger down my cheek. “And I’ll give you mine.”
My pulse races and my stomach flutters at the most romantic thing ever said to me.
“This would be so much easier if I still disliked you,” I tell him.
“Unfortunately for you, I’m exceptionally likable. No turning back now, Wicked Temptation.”
“No,” I say wistfully, my voice barely above a whisper. “There’s no turning back, Air Marshal.”
He pulls me closer, his touch electrifying, as he grabs me by the waist, his grip firm and reassuring. He leans in, his lips meeting mine in a sweet kiss, the touch spreading a wave of warmth through my entire body. “Catch you on the other side,” he murmurs against my lips.
I nod, with tears brimming in my eyes as he takes a step back, then slides into the waiting car. He presses his hand against the window and the car heads down the long driveway as it leaves the property.
“Please don’t break my heart,” I whisper as I watch him drive away.