Chapter 25
LINCOLN
The morning breeze coming off the sea felt good on my skin.
I stood on the balcony of my room with a coffee mug in hand.
After my birthday, I felt good—better than I had in a long time.
It was because the visceral feeling of fear that I was missing out on something had dissipated significantly.
That something was lying in my bed, within my grasp.
I glanced back at Ava, visible through the glass door.
She lay on her stomach, with one hand stretched to my side of the bed.
The sheets were tangled around her waist and legs, leaving her back exposed.
She faced me, with one side of her face hidden in the pillow.
Her profile was soft in the light, lips slightly parted, long, thick lashes resting on her cheek.
Her hair was a tousled halo across the pillow.
She looked unguarded, peaceful, and… mine. For now, at least.
Who knew what would happen once we got back to LA and she eventually returned to Massachusetts.
She might decide that I wasn’t worth a second chance and disappear from my life completely.
The thought started a dull ache in my chest. What if she went back to the guy she almost married? She still refused to tell me about him.
Sighing heavily, I turned back to look at the sea view. I’d stop worrying about how long Ava would be mine. Why not just get lost in the fantasy of us while we were here? That method was better for my peace of mind.
I sipped and watched the waves slosh onto the stretch of sand. I must have been staring out for a while because I heard the thud of footsteps behind me. I didn’t turn around, but when she stopped beside me to lean on the limestone railing, I smiled at her.
She smiled back. “Hey.” Her voice was still thick with sleep. Sexy. Just like the rest of her.
“Do you hear that?” I asked.
Ava looked around, her eyebrows crinkling. “What?”
“Silence.” A grin tugged at my mouth. “No music, no chatter, no camera flashes. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Her laughter carried on the wind as it whipped around us. She swept back her hair. “It’s wonderful. I’m so glad that party is over and everyone has left. Not that I’m antisocial, but interacting with so many people at once was exhausting.”
I nodded in agreement. “I’ll never throw another birthday party like this, no matter how much my friends beg me to. It’s too much.”
She turned to me. “Lincoln, I don’t know how to thank you. Using your special day like that to support something I’m not even certain about yet…” She shook her head. “I feel like the words thank you aren’t enough.”
I gazed at her for a moment. “How long have you known me?”
She smiled. “A long time.”
“When have I ever given you the impression that I wouldn’t do absolutely anything for you?”
Her smile slowly faded as she pulled in a deep breath.
Her eyes widened a fraction as I held her captive with mine.
I refused to look away, willing her to see it in my eyes, and hear it in my words, that I still loved her.
I’d been trying to tell her without telling her because I understood that she was still skeptical about me.
To my chagrin, she looked away. “So are we leaving together? Us and your friends, I mean.”
My chest tightened with disappointment. I understood her deflection. Every time we got anywhere near the topic of our deeper feelings, she dodged and practically sprinted in the opposite direction. Though I got why she did it, it still stung.
I looked back out at the waves. “I’m not sure what the guys and their wives are up to. I’ll find out at breakfast.”
She nodded. “They’re great, you know. Hanging out with all of them wasn’t as terrifying as I thought it would be. They all made me feel like part of the gang. Especially the ladies. Mia and I are even planning a girls’ night before I leave LA.”
I smiled. “That’s great.” However, the mention of her going home didn’t sit well with me. There would be thousands of miles between us.
“Olivia is awesome, and Charlotte is too,” she went on with a smile. “Sometimes Charlotte looks at me funny, though. Not in a bad way. It’s more like a smug smile. I swear she looks gleeful every time she sees us together.” Ava chuckled. “I don’t get it, and I’m afraid to ask her.”
I rubbed my nape. “Oh… well… there’s something I didn’t tell you.
” Charlotte was ecstatic about my supposed second chance with the love of my life.
I’d confided in her some time back about my breakup before I met and started dating her.
It was too bad the second chance wasn’t for real. “Charlotte and I dated.”
Ava blinked. Her smile faltered. “You dated Charlotte?” she repeated.
I nodded slowly, watching her reaction. “Yeah. It was years after you and I broke up. I was in a weird place. She was… great. Fun. We had a lot in common. It didn’t work out. We make better friends.”
“I see. So it isn’t weird, considering she’s married to Jamie?” Her eyebrows furrowed. “Although I haven’t detected any weirdness…”
I made a hum of amusement. “No weirdness. I was the best man at their wedding.”
Her eyebrows elevated. “No shit.”
“Yup. I told Charlotte about you once. So she gets that smug look because she thinks you and I are getting it right this time.”
“Because they think we’re really together. I hate lying to your friends, Lincoln.”
Taking in her troubled expression, I said, “Me too.” But I didn’t verbalize my next thought. I wish we’d stop pretending to be together and do it for real.
Her expression softened. “Thanks for telling me about Charlotte when it really isn’t my business.”
I felt like she wanted to add because there’s nothing serious between us. I watched her profile as she turned her attention to the spectacular view. A part of me had hoped she’d share something about her ex-fiancé after I told her about Charlotte.
Ava and I avoided the heavier topics for the rest of the morning.
Later, we joined the others for breakfast. This morning, we sat on the beach under a massive umbrella.
The staff had arranged everything—fresh fruit, warm pastries, eggs made to order, and pitchers of juice.
Plus, the scenery was to die for. Being here made me realize that I hadn’t taken advantage of my island nearly enough.
I started picturing plenty of mini-vacations with Ava right beside me. But I was getting ahead of myself.
I zoned back into the conversation to hear Spencer suggest, “We should stay here a few more days. Might as well. We’re overdue for our group vacation.”
Ava popped a grape into her mouth. “You guys have group vacations?”
“It’s been our thing since we graduated college,” Jamie said. “Every year, we go somewhere we all agree on. Now, we have a few additions to the group.” He smiled at Charlotte.
I glanced at Olivia and Alex, and then Mia and Michael, who were huddled on the same seat. I wanted what they had.
Spencer eyed everyone with a smirk. “Even though I’m the only one without a partner, I think we should make this our spot this year. We’re already here. The place is amazing and there’s plenty to do.”
“I agree,” Michael said. “After this, I’m going to be pretty busy. Who knows when we'll get another chance?”
“Same here,” Alex said.
“I like it,” I chimed in. “What do you ladies say?”
“I’m in,” Mia and Oliva chorused.
Charlotte grinned. “Me too. And Ava is staying with us, right?”
Ava shook her head. “What? No, I can’t impose on your group vacation…”
“Come on, Ava,” Mia said. “You have to be a part of this. You’re a part of the family.”
Ava’s cheeks glowed under everyone’s attention as they watched her with pleading looks. Just as I was about to rescue her by saying she had work, she gave in.
“Okay, I guess I can spare a few more days. I can still work from here and wrap up when I head back to LA.”
Satisfaction rolled through me. I’d have her on this island paradise a bit longer. It was perfect. That gave me more time to persuade her about us as a real item.
Ava’s laughter rang out across the water as she teetered on her paddleboard. She was terrible at this, comically and hopelessly terrible. Her knees wobbled, and she failed to use the paddle properly.
She’d already fallen off twice, and judging by the way she swayed, she was seconds away from a third.
“Don’t laugh at me!” she called, trying to steady herself.
“I can’t help it,” I said. “You’re adorable.”
“Adorable?” she snorted. “I look like a drunk penguin trying to moonwalk.”
I burst out laughing, nearly tipping my own board, but I caught my balance.
Mia wasn’t so lucky. On account of her laughing at Ava’s joke, she lost her balance and face planted into the water. Ava’s giggling then escalated, causing her to flail around and take a tumble. She resurfaced wearing a grin.
I was immediately at her side. “Are you okay?”
“I’m great.”
Despite her not wanting to stay at first, I knew she was having a blast. My friends had welcomed her with open arms, and all the couple-centered activities we’d done together had been fun. It seemed Ava genuinely liked all of them, and I was glad.
Mia huffed and slicked her hair back. “Alright, guys, I finally quit. I suck at this. Meet you back at shore.”
She took off, kicking to propel herself and board toward shore. Michael met her halfway to help her carry the board. The others had retired to the beach minutes ago, but Mia and Ava had been determined to become paddleboard pros. I’d been their patient teacher.
“I think I should follow Mia and quit,” Ava said. “I’m hopeless.”
“You did great.”
“You’re only saying that to make me feel better.”
I chuckled. “It’s harder than it looks. Go easy on yourself.” Sitting on my board, I held out a hand. “Come on.”
I helped her up, so that she was seated in front of me. Then I strapped her board to mine and began a leisurely row back to shore.
She leaned against me, and I loved the feeling of her back pressed to my chest.
“This is more like it,” she sighed. “I think I’ll have you paddle me around from now on.”
My face cracked into a dopey smile. “I’d happily do it, gorgeous.”
Our fake relationship was feeling realer by the day.
About three days into our group vacation—after all the shared meals, the late-night bonfires, the sports activities—I knew for sure that I wanted this.
A real relationship with Ava. The back and forth between us was driving me crazy.
One minute, we were easy with each other like a real couple, the next, I wasn’t sure where I stood with her.
I had to remind myself to be patient. She still needed time to trust me.
When we reached shore, we joined the others.
“Guys, I’m starving,” Spencer announced. “After all that activity, I need to refuel. What are we doing for dinner this evening?”
“We are having fattening junk food at the bar because we’re getting drunk tonight,” Mia said.
Alex pointed a finger of approval at her. “Brilliant,” he said.
The two high-fived.
“He’s found the female version of himself,” Michael muttered. However, there was humor in his eyes—he adored them both.
The others shared in the amusement as we gathered our towels and bags and headed toward the villas.
Ava and I reached our room—our adjoined rooms, rather.
I turned to face her. “So, are you coming to my room or are we going to yours?”
She raised an eyebrow. “That sounds suspiciously like you want me in yours.”
“I absolutely do,” I said without hesitation. “There are some interesting things I’d like to do to you in the shower.”
“Lincoln,” she gasped. However, she blushed profusely, which satisfied me. She cleared her throat. “I suppose I’m curious about those interesting things.”
My smirk was downright devilish. “My room it is.”
“Actually, I’ll join you in a few minutes. I have to make a call.”
“No problem. Don’t be long.”
“I won’t,” she said, going inside.
Before she closed the door, she smiled at me, and it was like the rest of my week was made. I wanted her to look at me like that forever.