Chapter Fifteen
Faye
The next day, the air blanketed them, thick and humid, as they trekked through the forest. Riley and Ella led the group through the lush vegetation, while Faye and Quin lingered at the back.
Chitters and chirps rang out from the trees above, birds flying overhead from canopy to canopy.
It would’ve been paradise for Faye if Diana hadn’t been avoiding her all day.
Faye’s confidence from psyching herself up in the mirror dwindled with every step. She repeated Carla’s words to herself—“You’re the dog’s bollocks”—but even that started to lose its effect.
She’d already dealt with tricky situations on the island; what was one more? But she knew deep down that she liked Diana more than she cared to admit. This couldn’t end yet. Not like this.
The sight of Diana walking at the head of the group with Molly made Faye frown again. She needed to talk to her, and for that she needed to get her alone. But how?
Quin bumped her shoulder, pulling the navy baseball cap further on their head, their black coils bursting out in every direction. “So, when are you going to spill the beans on Mrs Robinson?”
Faye shushed them, though she knew Diana couldn’t hear. “There’s nothing to spill—and please stop calling her that.”
“You do know I have a sixth sense for sexual chemistry? I was blessed by the gay gods. That’s why my hair is so curly.”
“You’re full of it.” She looked down at the soft mulch underfoot and adjusted the backpack on her shoulders. Ahead, the river they’d been following curled around the corner out of sight. The waterfall must be close; that made her even more nervous.
Quin shook their head, putting extra bounce in their step. “Nuh-uh. That’s how I know something’s up with Blondie over there, too. You guys having a three-way?”
“Quin!”
The older couple in front of them, Henrietta and Marvin, turned their heads. Faye offered a weird half-wave, and they spun back around, whispering something to each other.
She gave Quin a stern look. “You’re gonna be starting rumours in a minute.”
“Is it a rumour if it’s true?”
“It’s not true.” She grimaced. “That’s just…gross.”
“Don’t knock it ’til you try it.”
Her voice had a bite to it. “They’re mother and daughter.”
“Oh.” Quin’s smile slipped for a moment, then they shrugged. “Fair enough, then.”
Large ferns and blue hydrangeas popped up beside the path, adding a burst of colour to the endless green. Faye brushed the leaves with her fingers but couldn’t shake the feel of Quin’s gaze on her.
“What?” she asked. They raised their black eyebrows, and she sighed. “Fine. But it’s a bit of a weird one.”
Quin grinned. “That’s what I was hoping.”
After Faye had explained what had happened, from that first night meeting Diana at the bar, and how Molly had approached her wanting to get back together, Quin sucked in a breath. “That’s quite the soap opera. No wonder you’re stressed.”
“Yup.”
“And do you know what you want to do?”
“Yeah.” Her eye landed on Diana again. That had never been in doubt. “I just need time to talk to Diana about it.”
“I’m sure I can help with that. I’ll be your wing-pal. The gender-nonconforming Robin to your Batman.”
The path curved into an incline, winding around a rising cliffside, and Molly grumbled something from the front.
“It’s not much further now,” Ella said. “I promise it’s worth it.”
Molly huffed, her face brightening when she spotted Faye at the back of the group.
Please don’t come over. Please don’t come over.
But Faye’s familiar must’ve been sleeping at their desk.
Molly stopped, waiting for Faye and Quin to catch up. Diana turned around too, but when she caught eyes with Faye, she turned back to the front.
I hope she doesn’t get the wrong idea, Faye thought.
“I feel like we’ve been walking for days,” Molly whined, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
Faye shrugged. “I enjoy it.”
Which was a chronic understatement. Faye loved the outdoors, the fresh air, the feeling of blood pumping around her body. All she needed was a bat detector and a clipboard, and she’d be in her element. She’d missed being outside so much.
Molly cast her a glance. “Don’t you think it’d be better to just use those buggy things and save us all some time? I could be back sunbathing by now.”
“You can’t rush it. It’s all part of the experience.”
“I don’t get it.” She brushed her arm against Faye’s. “You know, we could’ve buddied up for this. Got to catch up properly.”
Faye shot a look at Quin that said, “Help me”.
Quin cleared their throat. “Anyway, we were just talking about cheese.”
“Cheese?” Molly didn’t hide the repulsion on her face.
Is this their idea of being a wing-pal?
“I like fun cheeses,” Quin continued, undeterred. “Babybels, Cheesestrings, those cute little triangles of cheese, you know? But Faye prefers aged cheese, like a good Cheddar or Gouda. Ain’t that right?” They shot her a grin.
I’m going to kill them.
Before Faye had a chance to consider pushing Quin back down the hill, the sound of rushing water filled her ears.
“You hear that?” she asked, picking up her pace. “We must be nearly there.”
She passed Henrietta and Marvin, hoping they hadn’t overheard any of their conversation, and caught up with Ella and Riley as they crested the top.
Just below, water flowed between the rocks, cascading down into a deep blue lagoon.
The pool split into two sides. A larger, deeper one for swimming, and a shallower stretch sheltered by large boulders.
Plants sprouted from every surface, growing up the cliffside and colouring the whole area in a vivid green.
She watched Diana take in the scene. Did she see natural beauty like Faye did? Or a time-wasting excursion like Molly?
Though they were only a few feet away from each other, it felt like miles. She wanted to close the distance between them, to kiss her like she had in her bedroom, to help her understand there was nothing going on between her and Molly, and really, there never had been.
Faye knew that this was all temporary, but she couldn’t bear to waste another second of it. Not when that person was Diana.
Riley clapped her hands. “Right, let’s head down, and we can take a dip.”
A light mist coated Faye’s skin as they descended the path, the rushing water soothing to her ears. Even Quin was quiet beside her, while others posed for photographs by the railing.
The waterfall spilt over the mossy rocks in a wide silver curtain, mist rising and tangling through the dense ferns at the bottom.
The group peeled off to leave their bags on the dry land, and people started undressing.
The sun peeked through a hole in the canopy, casting a stream of golden light onto the water.
Riley wasted no time removing her vest and shorts, revealing a blue swimsuit. Ella needed a bit more convincing, but then the two ran hand in hand—Ella shrieking all the way—and jumped in together with a big splash.
The others were more tentative, dipping in toes first or taking time to take photos of the waterfall crashing into the pool.
Faye and Quin waited on the pebbly beach, Quin’s backpack still hiked up high on their shoulders.
“You not going in?” Faye asked.
“I don’t think so.” They bit their lip, watching Riley and Ella floating on their backs. “Ever since…well. Ever since my top surgery, I just get nervous undressing in front of people. Not that I ever enjoyed it before, but…”
“I understand.” A group of green parakeets swooped low over the water, wings flapping. “Ever since my surgery, I feel the same.”
Quin turned to her. “Your surgery?”
“Yeah.” Nerves pinched her stomach. She wanted to tell Quin more, but the words stuck in the back of her throat. What if they ditched her like her other friends had?
You told Diana. You can tell Quin, too. Come on.
“I have an ostomy bag. I’m still getting used to it, and even telling people is hard, never mind them seeing it.” She blew out a breath, trying to hide her shaky voice.
“I had no idea.”
“Really?” She didn’t know if they were just trying to make her feel better.
“Not a clue. But you shouldn’t let that stop you.”
“I could say the same for you.”
They were quiet for a moment, just the rush of the waterfall crashing and people shrieking as they entered the lagoon.
“Yeah,” Quin said. “It’s just so easy to say ‘Don’t care what people think.’ Doing it is different, isn’t it? I hate people staring at my scars and seeing the looks on their faces.”
Faye nodded, relief settling. “But those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
“Is that a Senhor Arenoso quote?”
She shook her head, a smile curving her mouth. “Dr Seuss.”
“Sweet.” Quin took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You’re full of secrets today.”
“That’s it now. I’m pretty boring.”
“I don’t think so.” They grinned. “You’re a pretty cool encyclopaedia.”
She laughed, then, feeling a surge of bravery, inclined her head towards the water. “How about we start by dipping our toes?”
“I think I can handle that.”
With linked hands, they kicked off their sandals and crept towards the water, the hard stones digging into the soles of their feet. Quin squeezed her hand harder as they stepped into the shallows, and Faye screamed.
“Jesus! It’s freezing.”
Quin giggled, tugging Faye deeper into the pool. The water prickled goosebumps up her legs, and she shivered.
“How are those two swimming in this?” she asked, eying Riley and Ella swimming in the depths.
“Probably don’t notice it ’cos they’re so hot for each other.” They nudged her. “You could have that too, you know.”
Faye’s gaze found Diana, paddling at waist height on the other side of the pool. A ruched red swimsuit fit snugly to her body, the open back revealing the neat cut of her shoulder blades. Faye’s pulse kicked up a notch.
Molly stood on the pebbles not far away, arms crossed, like Diana’s personal bodyguard. Any possibility of getting Diana alone dropped by the second.
“I got this,” Quin said. “Let me take care of Princess Peach.”
Before Faye could argue against it, they’d started making their way over to Molly.
This should be interesting.
She sucked in a breath. Whatever Quin was saying seemed to be going surprisingly well, and after a few moments, they led Molly away to the small pool on the other side of the rocks.
How the hell did they pull that off?
Not wanting to waste any time pondering Quin’s tactics, Faye waded towards Diana, flinching as the cold lapped up her legs and thighs. Any higher, and her shorts would be soaked through. Diana turned as she approached, her expression giving nothing away.
Nerves coiled in Faye’s belly as she stood beside her, leaving enough room so as not to draw unwanted attention.
You got this. Channel that ‘dog’s bollocks’ energy.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
A bit of a lame start, but a start, nonetheless.
Diana looked straight ahead, where a few more daring people had joined Ella and Riley in the water. “It’s a lot to comprehend.”
When she didn’t elaborate, Faye jumped in. “I just want you to know I had no idea—”
“I know.” Diana said it softly, but so resolutely, her reply didn’t fill Faye with ease.
“It’s not ideal, I know, but that night we spent together?
” Faye lowered her voice, wanting to reach out and touch her, for her to look at her at least and see how much she meant this, but Diana continued watching the swimmers.
“I’ve not felt that way in such a long time. And I know you feel it too.”
Something flashed across Diana’s features before it was neatly tucked away again.
The emotions stirring in Faye’s chest climbed higher and higher.
She needed to get everything out. “I don’t want this to end.
Not like this. I know we live different lives in different places.
I’m not expecting us to run off into the sunset when this all ends, but why not enjoy the time we’ve got together, like we agreed? ”
“It sounds simple when you say it like that.”
“Me and Molly haven’t spoken in a year.” Diana’s dark gaze locked with hers, and Faye’s emotions spilt over. “There was more connection between you and me that first night at Raul’s than the whole time I’ve known Molly. Don’t let it go to waste, Diana. Don’t let me be something you regret. Please.”
Shrieks from the waterfall drew their attention. Louis and Charles had jumped into the deep together after encouragement from Riley. Louis flicked his long hair back while Charles scrambled back to the safety of the rocks, cursing.
Faye turned back to Diana, heart fluttering when she found her already looking at her. Those deep, chocolate eyes only pulled her deeper, and she almost forgot where she was until another splash burst her bubble.
Was that Quin and Molly?
Diana still hadn’t said anything. Faye took that as her cue to give her some space. She took a step backwards, the water rippling around her. Her heart in her throat. She let her gaze drift down Diana’s swimsuit, lingering on the expert way it lifted her cleavage. “You look incredible, by the way.”
Then she turned, wading through the water, releasing a shaky breath from deep in her lungs. Holy shit, that was intense. But she did it. The ball was very much in Diana’s court now.
Now get me out of this freezing water.
She shivered as she stepped back onto the pebbles. Another scream came from the other side of the boulders, along with flailing arms and a flash of blonde hair.
If Faye didn’t know better, she’d think Quin was trying to drown Molly. What the hell?
She pulled a towel out of her backpack and dried her legs. As she tied it around her middle, she chanced a look at Diana.
She was still in the water, fingers drawing ripples around her hips. Golden light shone on her, illuminating her beauty. As though she could sense Faye’s gaze, her focus flicked towards her. Then Faye saw it. The smallest movement of her lips. The hint of a smile.
And it lit Faye up like a firework.
She itched to run to her, dive right into the deep with no reservations, and kiss that gorgeous mouth. Instead, she soaked it in, letting the feeling buoy her until she was rising high above the trees.
Then she smiled back.