Chapter 12
chapter twelve
Mia
The Coconut Beach Boys, a local band that sings Beach Boys songs, performs in the lobby as Luke and I make our way back to the hotel room after breakfast. We watch the older gentlemen rock their hearts out in their bright Hawaiian shirts and shorts.
We’re standing next to a couple of kids, who are obviously on holiday, as they chow down on watermelon spears.
Luke and I exchange a glance as the young boy drops his spear on the ground, quickly picks it up, and stuffs it back into his mouth.
Luke grins at me, and we share an unspoken memory of when he was twelve and stuffed his face with so much watermelon one summer that I had to give him an ultimatum—share it with me, or I wouldn’t share my cookies.
“Shall we head up?” he asks when the band finishes “Good Vibrations.” He drops a twenty-dollar bill into a top hat sitting atop a small table in front of them.
“Sure.”
We make our way to the elevator and wait for it to arrive. A group of tourists in sun visors and Life’s a Beach T-shirts walk past us, and I lean forward to whisper in his ear.
“Juniper designed those shirts,” I say proudly as I nod toward them. “Aren’t they cute?”
“Real cute.” He watches the tourists as they walk past and turns back to me with a smile. “She’s always been so artistic.”
“Yes, she designs most of the postcards that we sell as well.”
“Outstanding. Today went okay, don’t you think?” He questions me in such an earnest way that I smile at him as I nod my confirmation.
I’m trying to ignore how my heart is racing and how my body is more aware of him than it ever has been.
I’m noticing things about him I’ve never noticed before, like the way his bushy eyebrows are silky but could do with a slight waxing, or the way his blue eyes are so deep and vibrant, or the way his lips are just that perfect touch of pink, and his hands—they’re elegant, slender, and soft.
I tremble, thinking about them on my body.
What they did to me the evening before still has me shook.
I felt like I was floating in the air in a state of perpetual bliss, and I very much wanted to feel the ground beneath my feet again.
This is a new level in our relationship, and my overanalytical brain isn’t sure what it meant.
I loved feeling so happy, but I wanted to know what it all meant.
“Earth to Mia. What did you think?”
“Oh, yeah, it went really well, I think. Rex was giving us odd looks, but thank God for Andi and her being so touchy-feely with him.”
“She definitely wanted his full attention.”
“Well, it was the official breakfast to start off the two-week festivities.”
“I cannot believe that my brother is having two weeks’ worth of festivities for his wedding. Like, we’re not the royal family, and we’re not—” Luke groans as his expression tightens. “I still can’t believe he never told me he was seriously dating someone.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” I say, touching his arm, enjoying the ripple of his muscles beneath my fingers.
“We can both still work if we really have to, and we’ll just take part as best as we can.
Plus, we get to stay in that really gorgeous hotel room.
” Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to work too much.
We hadn’t spent much time with each other in ages.
Why? Why did I bring up the hotel room? Will he think all I want to do is spend nights in bed with him, practicing and exploring? Why didn’t I think before I spoke?
“How did you sleep last night?” he asks as we step into the elevator.
My heart flips at his comment, and my face flushes as I press the button for our floor.
I look up at him through lowered eyelashes.
I really hope he will not ask about what went on again.
I don’t want to discuss it—not because it wasn’t amazing and not because I am upset, but because I am confused about how to process everything.
Not because it didn’t feel amazing, but more so because I found his touches to be achingly sexy and sweet.
And I’d never expected to experience passion and lust for Luke.
He is Luke. My Lukey. My best friend forever.
He was the first boy to see me cry. The first boy to hold my hand.
The first boy to tell me I was pretty. He was the boy I spent nights on the phone with, talking about other boys.
And now … now I’ve done things with him that made me blush.
I’d never looked at him like that before, and now, him standing there with his muscular, lithe body, all I can think is, Why not? How have I never noticed how gorgeous he is? I know if I’d seen him at Cocktails the island is small.
A treasure awaits somewhere rocky.
Don’t trip, or you’ll fall.