Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
The sun dipped low as the girls walked together along the lush garden path toward the resort entrance where the dinner show would be held.
Their short and strappy sundresses swayed in the breeze, heels clicking softly against the polished stone walkway.
Palm fronds rustled above them, and torches flickered to life as the first stars peeked out.
Tessa glanced back for another look at the lagoon, her fingers on the shell necklaces around her neck that Russ had given her.
The resort was a dream come to life. Thatched-roof bungalows stretched in a gentle arc over the glittering lagoon, each one lit like a lantern.
The soft scent of vanilla and hibiscus filled the air, mingling with the scent of sea breeze and coconut oil.
“This place is unreal,” Jenna whispered, wide-eyed.
“I want to come back here for my honeymoon someday,” Avery said, snapping a picture of the lagoon reflecting the pink-orange sky.
“Forget that,” Marin added with a grin. “I want to come back without a man and just book a bungalow for myself. Spa day, fruit drinks, and zero snoring. You’re all invited.”
The women burst into laughter.
“Married life that bad already?” Tessa joked.
Marin laughed. “I’m totally kidding, you guys.”
“We know,” said Avery.
In front of them, the guys walked in a relaxed cluster, shirts tucked, hair damp from quick showers, joking about something or other that Tessa hadn’t been following.
Drew turned around with a grin and a soft whistle. “Looking good tonight, ladies.”
“You know it,” Marin shot back, and they all laughed again.
Tessa smiled, but her eyes slid briefly to the group behind them, where Russ walked beside Malik and Jules. He wasn’t looking at her, but just as she turned away, he glanced up and caught her eye.
He smiled.
Not big. Not obvious. But just enough.
Her heart skipped a beat. If only he could be her date here tonight, amidst all of this. It was such a romantic setting, and it was on nights like these that her lack of a plus-one status came rushing back.
But she wasn’t alone anymore. She had Russell. Even if she had to hide it—they had a connection. She brushed away the feelings and directed her attention back to the girls.
Inside the resort, the staff welcomed them with flower leis and gently guided the guests toward a picturesque photo op before the dinner show.
Just beyond the torch-lit garden, two oversized straw chairs were arranged to form a heart when viewed together, their woven patterns intricate and warm under the lantern light. A sigh came from Tessa.
“That’s so cute,” Jenna said as the staff placed a traditional flower crown on the head of each woman as the couples sat down for the photo.
“This is going on our holiday card,” Marin declared. Tessa nodded her approval for their sake but looked on with a gnawing sense of dread.
Her shoulders sank. Another perfectly romantic moment in which she could not truly partake. Another solo ride in the land of couples. Oh, well. Things could certainly be worse. At least she was here, in paradise, and the man she cared about wasn’t far away.
She watched as each couple took turns sitting together, hands entwined, posing under the evening sky and floral gardens, sometimes even kissing for the shot. One after another, the seats filled with smiling faces and clicking cameras.
Tessa stood in line behind the others, waiting her turn, almost ready to bolt and skip ahead to Avery and Nate, who’d already finished.
Marin and Jenna looked over, noticing.
“Want us to jump in with you?” Jenna offered. “Come on, we’ll do a girl’s pic.”
Avery had already joined Nate further ahead and out of earshot, so the picture wouldn’t include all of them.
Tessa smiled and shook her head. It was tempting, but it felt like pity.
“No, it’s fine.” A photo by herself would be a friendly reminder, at least, that she’d had a great time coming on this trip on her own.
And thank goodness she had come alone, because she never would’ve come to know Russ in the way that she had.
Still, her throat tightened. This would be awkward, at best. Maybe she could still skip it entirely?
But the hostess waved her in, placing the flower crown on her head before she could say no. Tessa sat down in one of the seats, the other half of the heart-shaped arrangement ridiculously empty. She crossed her legs and straightened her shoulders. She could do this.
But they should really have a singles line—a singles photo chair—shouldn’t they? She might write an email to the management when she returned home about it. She held back an irritable sigh, feeling every bit the old maid, despite her best attempts.
But throngs of dinner guests waited their turn in line, watching. So, she smiled, and the photographer snapped.
Russ stood off to the side with Malik and Jules, watching the group finish up their pre-dinner photo ops. The couples were all laughing and affectionate, the flower crown and heart-shaped chairs making for picture-perfect memories of a Tahitian holiday. But it was Tessa who held his attention.
Alone. Again .
She was alluring in her thigh-high, form-fitting white dress and flower lei, those long, now fairly tanned legs in tall heels—he could hardly look away.
She smiled bravely for the camera, but Russ could tell the moment she sat down on the throne-like seat that this was anything but pleasant for her.
She was doing her best to play it cool, but she felt out of place, and it was driving a small knife right through his chest.
“She’s by herself again,” Jules murmured, crossing her arms. “Poor girl.” They’d all heard the story about Ethan.
Russ clenched his jaw. “I hate seeing her like this.”
Jules looked at him sidelong. “Sitting there alone would be torture after a breakup, if you ask me.”
Russ agreed. He knew she was over the breakup, but still. He needed to do something. So what if Malik and Jules thought he was out of line?
“Wait, Russ?” He heard Jules’ voice from behind him as he crossed the small patch of lawn that stood between them and stepped into the photo area just as Tessa was about to get up.
“Mind if I join you for a shot?” he asked.
Tessa’s head jutted back. She nodded, speechless, lowering herself back into the seat.
Russ shot her a look as her gaze softened, her eyes lighting with surprise.
He sat in the other seat and leaned in toward her, their shoulders touching, his arms crossed casually as if they were merely friends. At least she wasn’t alone, and that’s what mattered to him. They smiled.
The camera clicked .
From a distance, he caught the disapproving shake of Malik’s head and the surprise on Jules’ face.
But he didn’t care.
Tessa smiled again, and he could see that this time it was for real.
The photographer waved the next couple in, and the two of them moved out of the frame.
“Thanks, Russ. That was…” She didn’t seem to know what to say.
“It’s okay. Glad to help.”
Her smile seemed genuine. “I should… probably go… catch up,” she said, glancing in the direction of the dining room terrace where the rest of the group had drifted.
He nodded and pushed his hands into his pockets to stop himself from throwing an arm around her. “Yeah, I’ll see you inside.” He watched as she meandered off, his heart lifting further, if that was even possible.
Grinning—because he was finding it impossible not to—he made his way back to Jules and Malik on the other side of the garden. A dry and somber look filled Malik’s face, but he said nothing. Russ studied him.
Jules shifted her weight uncomfortably and glanced between the two men.
“I’ll, uh, go grab a drink and find our seats,” she said lightly, though her eyes flicked between their faces. “You two look like you’ve got something to talk about.”
“Thanks, Jules,” Malik said flatly.
She nodded once and turned toward the open-air pavilion, her sandals whispering against the stone path.
Malik turned back to Russ. “You got a minute? ”
Russ exhaled, already sensing where this was headed. “Yeah.”
The garden was quieter now, the sounds of conversation fading behind them. A torch crackled softly beside a cluster of hibiscus bushes. The sky had almost gone deep blue, with a single star beginning to show.
Malik didn’t waste time.
“I saw what happened back there. The photo.”
Russ didn’t respond.
“You didn’t just save her from feeling awkward,” Malik said. “You looked like you were exactly where you wanted to be.”
Russ glanced toward the pavilion, where the laughter and chatter of the evening’s dinner crowd carried faintly on the breeze. “I was.”
Malik folded his arms. “Look, I’m not here to scold you.
But you’re not being subtle anymore. Guests are noticing.
Crews might notice.” Malik had a point. They weren’t the only charter boat group at the show tonight.
Russ hadn’t seen anyone he recognized, but that didn’t mean there weren’t people there that didn’t recognize him or Malik or Jules.
Russ rubbed the back of his neck. “I haven’t crossed any lines.”
“Not technically,” Malik said. “But you're skimming the edge, man. And if someone decides to read it the wrong way, you’re not just losing a gig. You're done with this company. And me and Jules, we could be too, if you’re not careful.”
Russell’s jaw flexed .
Malik’s tone softened. “I get it. I do. I’ve just never seen you like this before.”
Russ let the moment stretch as he tried to decide what to say.
He’d never felt like this before. Not in… years, at least.
Malik kicked a pebble into the grass, then added, “You know, back when I got canned in Papeete? I was spiraling. Broke, no references, nothing lined up.”
He looked at Russ. “And you didn’t hesitate. Just made a call. No lecture. Just had my back.”
It was true. He and Malik had become fast friends after meeting at the marina in Papeete.
Malik had been working at the docks, loading and unloading the cargo ships when a massive layoff hit him hard.
Russ had gotten him a job with his charter company, and Malik’s life had turned around quickly.
The money was significant, and Russell knew that Malik never wanted to find himself in that position again.
Russ dropped his gaze to the stone path.
“So yeah,” Malik said. “I’ve got your back. I always will. But you gotta tell me something straight.”
Malik paused. Russ looked up, his muscles tensing.
“Is she worth it, boss?”
Russ didn’t waver. “Yeah. She is. But don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
Malik studied him for a second longer, then nodded once. “I hope so.”
Russ stayed behind a moment longer, staring into the shifting torchlight as his friend walked off.
The soft thump of a drum signaled the start of the show about half an hour after Tessa had taken the photo with Russ.
She’d taken her seat along the long, L-shaped table set close to the outdoor performance area, with Avery and Drew on one side of her and Marin and Kyle on the other.
The scent of grilled pineapple and sizzling pork drifted on the warm night breeze as torches flared, casting flickering shadows across the palm-fringed terrace.
Drums thundered. Tessa glanced down the table at Russ, who sat on the end where she could glance at him easily, despite the side-by-side seating arrangement.
He’d been so thoughtful to step in and take the photos with her.
He’d risked a lot doing it. But he didn’t seem to mind.
And the pictures, which they’d sent to her phone, had turned out great.
She smiled and raised her glass to him. He raised his in return, and her heart warmed again. They both sipped, eyes glued to each other.
No one seemed to notice. Her friends were too busy chatting, drinking, and eating. And even Malik’s and Jules’ gazes steadied on the drummers.
The mood was high. Tessa felt a surge of excitement. Talk about bucket-list material and someone special to share it with, even from afar. Besides her friends, of course.
Her attention was drawn to the dancers that stepped onto the floor next, their hips rolling in rapid rhythm, colorful skirts fluttering, headdresses bobbing with every movement.
Music pulsed from traditional wooden instruments, a beat that was both primal and beautiful, echoing across the open-air venue like the heartbeat of the island itself.
When Tessa glanced over at Russ again, just to get his reaction to the show, their eyes met across the flickering candlelight, lingering a little too long once more, making her heart flutter each time.
He smiled, probably glad she looked to be enjoying this so much. She wished they could’ve sat together. But this was almost as good. They probably would’ve been too obvious about their feelings for each other if they had, and that wouldn’t have gone well for him.
Marin leaned over and whispered something to Tessa that made her giggle. Kyle gave Tessa a warm smile and threw an arm around Marin.
Tessa took another few bites of her meal. Delicious grilled fish in banana leaves. Roasted taro root. Tropical fruits she couldn’t name. Sweet rum drinks in frosted glasses that made everything glow just a little brighter.
She spoke into Avery’s ear—loudly because of the drumming—and Avery returned with something amusing. Tessa laughed and caught another glimpse of Russ chatting with Jules and Malik.
Tessa tried to soak it all in—the lights, the laughter, the pulse of the music, the sparkle of the stars overhead—wanting to freeze it in her memory.
Because she would miss this.
And she’d miss him. More than she could even imagine. Because what if she never saw him again? What if all of this was… just a moment in time? A short, unbelievably good moment in time? One that would never continue into the future? What if this was all they had? All they’d ever have?
A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed. Don’t think like that, she scolded herself. He’d get the job. He’d be in Florida in a few months. Have a little faith. Right?
They had a future.
She’d been telling herself that same thing all week. But with every beat of the drum, every hour ticking down toward Sunday when their plane would leave for Miami, it was getting harder and harder to believe.
What if he was just telling her everything she wanted to hear so he could have a meaningless fling for the week? What if none of this was real for him? What if he met someone else after she left?
Still, when she looked up and saw Russ watching her, his eyes warm and filled with something that looked a lot like the same longing that she felt, her heart whispered: maybe.
Maybe this wasn’t just a vacation? Maybe this wasn’t just a trip to paradise? Maybe this was something with a future.