Chapter Eleven
Kaylee
I wake up with body aches and a smile on my face, last night with Tristan fresh in my mind. He’s wrapped around me, his chest pressed to my back and his face buried in my hair. Each time he exhales, it tickles my neck, but he feels so warm and good I can’t bring myself to care.
I’m happy.
I can’t remember feeling this good, this satisfied, this elated … ever.
Then, I remember what day it is. Sunday.
The wedding weekend is almost over. The only event left is a thank-you brunch being hosted by Ashley and Eric.
Then, we’ll all head back to our real lives, and my heart feels heavy at the thought.
I’ve had the best weekend I could have imagined, which is incredible considering how it started with me dateless. Before Tristan stepped in.
That was kindness, but the rest of it? The snorkeling, hanging out on the beach, him helping with the centerpieces, the long talks …
and the sex. That was something more, for me, at least, which is the problem.
My emotions are involved, but I can’t let myself read too much into his actions.
Not everyone is like me. I’m the type to seriously date the men I sleep with.
I look for that spark and try to coax it into a flame.
And I’ve never felt for any man what I feel for Tristan.
But I warned myself going into this, it was a fun weekend only, and I plan to stick to that promise.
I can let myself dwell on the fact that I’ve developed real feelings for a man I knew wasn’t emotionally available, or I can take the good memories from this weekend and remember them fondly without feeling sad about what could have been.
The latter is the far better option. The one Tristan deserves.
I softly turn in Tristan’s arms until I’m facing him.
He’s still asleep, and I brush my lips over his cheek before getting out of bed without waking him up.
As much as I want more time, the best choice is to leave before he wakes up.
No messy goodbyes. No forcing him to feel obligated to explain it was one weekend only.
I dress and quietly throw my things into my suitcase and walk to the door. Pausing just before I leave the room, I look at Tristan’s sleeping form and smile.
It really was a great weekend.
Heading down the hall, I stop by Ashley and Eric’s room and knock on the door. Ashley pulls it open, wearing a terrycloth robe with mascara smudged under her eyes. Her hair is a mess, but she looks purely happy, and I’m glad.
“Hey!” she says. “What’s up? Why do you have your suitcase with you?”
“I’m going to take off a little early,” I say.
“Why?” Ashley doesn’t look upset that I’ll be skipping the brunch, but she’s concerned.
“I’m just exhausted from the weekend, and I want to get back home a little early so I’m well-rested for work tomorrow.” It’s a lie, and not even a good one, but I don’t want to bring my fake relationship drama to my cousin on her first day as a happily married woman. She doesn’t need that today.
“Okay,” Ashley says, and I’m not sure if she believes me, but I appreciate that she’s not pushing me for a real answer.
Hugging her, I congratulate her once again and leave the resort.
During the drive home, my determination to look back on my time with Tritan as nothing more than a fond memory wavers.
I want to be as casual about the whole thing as I’m sure he is, but with each mile I put between us, the more my chest aches with the certainty that my feelings for Tristan are too strong to get over easily.
I have no choice and one day, I’ll look back knowing I’m over the man that was never mine to begin with.
I hope.