Chapter 28
28
It’s amazing how much better sitting out in the sun makes you feel. Sure, I’ve got a world full of worries, my job is on the line, I’m single, there’s no wi-fi – blah, blah, blah. None of it matters right now because this, in theory, is so relaxing that I couldn’t care less.
Well, I shouldn’t – I’m doing my best.
I’m trying to read my book but I’ve been stuck on the same sentence for what feels like an eternity. I don’t know if it’s my eyes or my mind or both, but something refuses to cooperate.
Normally a romcom novel would have me gripped, but it’s a dream love story of my own that I’ve got on my mind. I can’t stop thinking about Travis. His warm, sunny smile, his kind eyes. I can still hear the honesty in his voice from our last conversation, and I love the way he laughs at my terrible jokes, and I can’t shake the image of his muscles glistening in the sun when he emerged from the water earlier, droplets cascading down his tanned skin like a waterfall, and… oh God, listen to me. I sound like a lovesick teenager.
Honestly though, it’s like the image of him in his trunks is burned into my brain, I can see it when I close my eyes, I can see it… right now.
‘Hi,’ he says simply, flashing me a grin.
‘Hi,’ I reply.
‘What’re you reading?’ he asks, popping himself down on the sun lounger next to me.
His abs flex as he sits. I need to remind myself to breathe.
‘Oh, just a novel,’ I reply, setting my book to one side, because the only love interest I’m interested in is right here.
‘It must be good, you were biting your lip,’ he points out.
My cheeks feel suddenly sunburned. Was I really doing that? So embarrassing.
‘Oh, it’s, um… just a romantic comedy,’ I say. ‘More comedy really – which is also how I’d describe my love life.’
He laughs. See what I mean, he laughs at the worst jokes.
‘Fair enough,’ he replies. ‘I won’t keep you, I just thought I’d return something you dropped earlier.’
I can’t help but look puzzled.
‘I wasn’t carrying anything,’ I reply, gesturing vaguely at my bikini-clad self. ‘There are no pockets in this thing, so it was the only thing I had to drop, and thankfully, it stayed on.’
Travis smirks but he doesn’t say a word.
‘So, I don’t think I dropped anything,’ I continue.
‘It was an earring,’ he tells me as he holds out his hand towards me. ‘It must have fallen out of your ear.’
I instinctively take what he’s offering me and it isn’t an earring at all, it’s a small, folded piece of paper.
I tilt my head curiously, suspicion creeping in, and I want to ask him what it is but he doesn’t give me a chance.
‘Anyway, I’ll get back to my mates, but I’m sure we’ll chat more later,’ he tells me. ‘Be careful with that earring.’
What in the world…?
My fingers fumble to unfold the paper, and my heart races as I slowly reveal what’s written inside. When I see it, I can’t help but laugh with delight. It’s Nolan’s wi-fi password.
I stare at it for a second, a no doubt ridiculous smile fixed on my face.
I guess now he knows how desperately I need it for work, he’s gone out of his way to get it for me.
Honestly, he’s going to have to stop being so perfect, or I might be in serious trouble.