Chapter 31
SOFIA
So Easy (To Fall in Love) – Olivia Dean
The panel had been a fucking success.
Sofia still couldn’t believe how many people had shown up, and how well it went. She had braced herself for endless questions about their “relationship,” but instead, the room had been filled with people genuinely curious about who they were, what they did, and why they did it.
Someone even asked Ilias about Azul—a Moroccan guy living in Australia, visibly nervous but excited.
When Ilias admitted he was considering turning the surf school into an international hub, the crowd cheered.
If Ilias was still on the fence with that idea, that answer should be everything he needed.
“I mean, learning to surf from an Olympic gold medalist and two-time USL champion must be an experience in itself,” Sofia had said, smiling wide.
And she meant it. Ilias was magic in the water. His skills were unmatched. Even with the suspension, even with the pressure, he could still win it all. She believed that.
“Ilias,” Mark, the moderator, grinned, “have you taught Sofia a few moves out on the water?”
“Sofia already surfs really well,” Ilias replied, casual and proud. “She started around the same time as Alejandra López Romero, they’re best friends. She doesn’t need my help. She’s incredible out there. She’s more of a longboarder, though,” he added, squeezing her thigh gently.
“I like baby waves.” Sofia shrugged, grinning. “I leave the big ones to him.”
The Q&A flowed into questions about Salacia, her new research, and how she’d transitioned from Neptune to founding her own business. And by the end, when the crowd stood up clapping, her heart was so full she didn’t know how to carry it.
They took a group selfie onstage, waved goodbye, and disappeared into the backstage area.
“That livestream did crazy numbers,” Leo said, laughing. “You two are unreal. You look like the real deal. I’ve been married for twenty years. I can tell.”
Sofia nodded, thanking him, still buzzing. Ilias gave him a thumbs-up, and after a few more goodbyes, they were finally free.
“I’ve got a suggestion for the rest of the day,” Ilias said, stretching his arms behind his head.
“I’m all ears.”
“You, me, sunset surf session… and then dinner by the beach. Aussie-style. Laid back.”
As always, he slung an arm around her shoulders as they stepped into the elevator.
“I call that an excellent plan.”
The polished metal walls reflected their image, tidy but relaxed. She glanced at their mirrored selves and something warm fluttered in her stomach. Same them, just in better clothes.
An idea sparked.
“Wait,” she said, pulling out her phone. “Let’s take a photo.”
He didn’t move, just tightened his arm around her as she leaned in. She lifted her phone and clicked—and just as she did, he dipped his head and kissed her hair.
The photo was perfect. Casual. Intimate. Real.
She stared at it on the screen, thumb hovering over the image, brushing it like it was something fragile. Something important.
“What’s going on?” Ilias asked, his voice soft and low.
“I just…” She hesitated, then whispered more to herself than to him. “I liked how we looked.”
His eyes locked on hers, hazel and unreadable. Focused.
“How did we look, habiba?” he asked.
She chewed on her bottom lip, the heat crawling up her chest. How could she explain it? That flicker of something more. That ache for a future where none of this was pretend. A future where she could just say it, out loud and raw, that she was in love with him.
But she had said it, right? Just a couple of hours before, she had confessed, hidden behind the pretend blanket of their fake relationship. But she had meant it. Maybe not in love already, but she was pretty head over heels for him.
She blinked, swallowed, forced a smile. “We looked cute.”
The elevator dinged, breaking the spell. They stepped into the hallway.
“You make me look good,” Ilias murmured, teasing, but something deeper hummed beneath his voice.
Back in the room, they started to change for the beach.
Ilias’ boards leaned awkwardly in the corner like oversized props.
Sofia sat at the edge of the bed, checking her phone.
Notifications buzzed from all directions—TikTok, Instagram, Twitter—photos, clips, quotes from the panel, all tagging them.
“Look.” She showed him the screen, her voice tight. “Jamie and the marketing team are going to be thrilled.”
Ilias moved behind her, chin lowering to her shoulder as he peered at the feed. His body heat wrapped around her.
“It was fun,” he muttered. “But damn, I hate social media.”
“Do you think it’ll always be like this?” she asked, her voice softer now. Her fingers scrolled through photos, selfies with fans, press shots from the stage, a short clip of Ilias laughing as she nudged him.
“When we signed that contract,” he said, straightening, “we pressed pause on our private lives. We just have to protect it. After that…” He shrugged. “We’ll decide what happens next.”
We.
The word sat heavy in the air.
Sofia kept scrolling. Her thumb froze on a comment: “I can’t believe Daddy Ilias is taken. He should’ve been warming my bed tonight.”
Her scowl was instant. “God. People are gross.”
Ilias laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve read worse. My DMs are something else.”
Jealousy. Sharp and sudden. She didn’t even know where it came from, but it was there, gripping her gut.
“I try to block the annoying ones. Usually just dudes,” she said, too casually.
“Men and women,” he teased, gesturing to himself. “I’m lucky, I guess.”
She turned to face him, some knot tightening in her chest. The silence stretched, a quiet, pulsing beat of tension.
“Can I ask you something?” she blurted out.
He looked at her, curiosity kindling in his eyes. “Of course.”
“When this is over… would you still want to see me?”
The question came out raw. Exposed.
He didn’t hesitate.
“No.”
Her heart dropped.
But then, he stepped closer.
He tilted her chin up with two fingers, his touch featherlight, but sure. His eyes locked on hers, unreadable and dark with intent.
“I’d love to see you again, Sofia,” he said softly. “And you, habiba… would you want to see me?”
Her breath stuttered. His thumb slid down her jaw, then her neck, tracing slow, lazy circles that sent sparks down her spine. Goosebumps prickled her arms.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’d love to.”
His mouth tilted into a slow, wicked smile. “Good girl.”
The words landed like fire between her thighs.
Her body flushed. She swallowed hard, pulse hammering in her throat. Her voice came out tight, breathless.
“Are you ready?” Ilias stepped back with a cocky smirk.
She blushed so hard it felt like her skin might combust. And as she grabbed her towel and headed for the door, one thought kept looping in her head: She was so close to falling for him completely. And maybe… she already had.