Chapter 15 Luke
Luke
My hands slid up her thighs, fingertips grazing that silk-soft skin, slow and greedy like I had all the time in the world and every intention to use it.
Somewhere in the background, a beach shimmered.
The taste of ripe fruit lingered on my tongue—papaya, maybe mango.
Or maybe it was her. Then suddenly, I was holding her.
I reached for her ponytail, swinging in the light breeze, curled my fingers around it, and gently pulled.
A soft moan slipped free as her neck arched, bare and inviting.
I breathed her in, pressing a tender kiss to the delicate curve.
Then her eyes met mine, daring me to go further.
And fuck, I was going to.
Bam! I jolted upright, heart pounding, as the window slammed shut and morning light spilled into the room. I exhaled slowly. I had a sex dream. But did I, though? It certainly felt like it.
After a minute of staring at the ceiling with my mind still foggy, it was clear I wasn’t going back to sleep. I crept to Hazel’s door, gently pushing it open, careful not to make any noise, but her bed was empty. A wave of relief swept over me, tinged unexpectedly with disappointment.
After the shower rinsed away the last traces of the dream, I made my way downstairs. Laughter floated up from the kitchen. Hazel, Alex, and Ava were sitting around the table, eating breakfast. Hazel was in jean shorts and a white T-shirt, her hair tied back in a cute ponytail.
“Good morning,” Ava greeted as I slid into a seat at the counter.
“Morning,” I mumbled through a yawn. Ava placed a plate in front of me—eggs, avocado, greens, and toast.
“Your friends were just telling me about your wild college days,” Hazel said casually, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I didn’t know you played chess.”
I choked on my toast, coughing violently. Hazel grinned at my reaction, while I shot Alex a murderous look.
“What exactly did he tell you?” I asked, feigning calm.
“Just why you got so good at it,” she replied, her tone teasing. “Like those interesting bets you made. Running naked around the campus, for example.”
Hazel walked to the cupboard, her back turned. I turned to Alex.
“Oh, boo-hoo. You found someone new to embarrass me in front of. Let’s not forget your first time smoking weed in college wasn’t so graceful either.” I stuffed my mouth with eggs to avoid cursing at him.
“Ah, college. The good old days,” Alex mused.
“Well, in ten years maybe this vacation is going to be the good old days.” Hazel chimed in, setting a coffee cup in front of me. Her words hung in the air, stirring a shift in the mood none of us had expected.
“You’re probably right.” I let my eyes linger on hers a moment too long before flicking to the cup, then back to Hazel.
“Extra shot and cinnamon,” she whispered, gently bumping my shoulder. I couldn’t help but smile as I brought the cup to my lips. Sweet mother of God. It was even better than at home.
But as I glanced at her again, I knew it wasn’t just the coffee. It was the coffee maker.
I let my gaze drop, and I could finally read the tattoo on her forearm that I had noticed before. It said ‘choose to be kind’ in an old typewriter font. Every cell in my body fought the urge to touch the inked skin. Wasn’t I just in the shower dealing with these feelings?
Somehow, those words on her didn’t surprise me.
“So, what’s the plan for today?” Hazel asked.
“Tour of Lisbon,” Ava said. “And since the weather’s perfect, surfing in the afternoon.”
“When do we leave?”
“In an hour.”
“Since we have some time, I’ll head to the beach for a swim,” Hazel said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her rosy cheeks.
“We have a pool,” I reminded her. “It’s not the same. I like to get salty.” She smiled, and I swallowed the sudden fantasy that forced its way into my mind. I’d love to get you salty.
“I’ll join you,” Ava said. The two of them headed upstairs to grab their things.
“Look at our girls, vibing,” Alex said, grinning as he leaned on the counter.
“Keep it in your pants, Quasimodo,” I shot back, annoyed, and smacked one of his elbows to throw him off balance. He just laughed and started humming a tune to himself.
* * *
Lisbon was breathtaking. We explored the Belém district, wandered through Alfama, and visited Saint George’s Castle. Sintra was on the list, but we saved it for another day. That kind of beauty deserved more time.
However, nothing, and I mean nothing, could’ve prepared us for Norah’s dramatic reactions to every piece of architecture in the city.
“Incredible! Look at this masterpiece. I’d have loved to live in this era.”
“But then you wouldn’t have met me,” Logan said, stealing a quick kiss that made her linger.
“Ugh, get a room,” Ethan muttered, earning a light slap on the face from Summer.
“True. I take it back,” Norah teased, breaking the kiss with a grin.
“You two are adorable. How did you meet?” Hazel asked.
“Logan tried to sue my dad for wrecking his car,” Norah said casually.
“What? You’re joking.” Hazel laughed, her surprise unfiltered, then looked at me.
“No, it’s true,” I confirmed. “Although Norah could’ve done better.”
“What did you just say?” Logan shot back, grinning but ready to attack.
“Oh no, the pickled-ass boy is out to get me,” I yelled, mocking Logan as I took off running.
But he was already leaping toward me, locking me in a headlock and pretending to choke me.
We wrestled for a moment before he threw me to the ground.
Unsurprising, considering Logan’s built like a mountain. I never stood a chance.
“Yeah, my dad caused the accident. But he was rude and stubborn about it. Logan threatened to sue, so I stepped in to smooth things over,” Norah explained, sharing the story we’d all heard a hundred times.
“Logan told me he’d drop the lawsuit if I went on a date with him.
I figured, sure, one date. I wasn’t going to magically fall in love or anything. ”
“But she did,” Logan added, now back at Norah’s side. Hazel listened intently.
“I knew she was the one before the waiter even reached our table.”
“It almost sounds like you caused that accident on purpose,” Hazel remarked casually, biting into an apple.
Norah froze, her head snapping to Logan, searching his face for answers.
“You’ll never know,” Logan replied mysteriously. I grinned, thoroughly enjoying how this conversation had unfolded. I had to admit, they were a sweet couple. But I would never say that out loud. Where someone could hear me.
“So, do you get along with her dad now?” Hazel asked.
“Well, imagine watching every awkward sex scene in movie history with your parents in the same room. That’s how uncomfortable the first holiday season was. But now, it’s just a funny story at family gatherings,” Logan explained.
“Five years married. We’re just waiting for the next weddings now,” Norah teased, noticeably eyeing Ava and Alex.
Alex looked at me in full panic mode, his expression screaming, Danger, danger! I rolled my eyes. Relax.
“Oh, give it a rest,” I said, waving off the suggestion. “Ava needs to let him into her kitchen first before marriage can even be on the table. Let the happy couple breathe.” Ava rolled her eyes at me this time.
We finally reached the oceanarium, our last stop of the day. Hazel had suggested it during our earlier argument about how to spend the remaining time. Nobody, except Norah, wanted to see another massive building. The boys argued for a seafood restaurant. This was our compromise.
As we approached, the building’s sheer size was impressive, but once inside, it became even more stunning.
It felt like walking into the ocean itself, an underwater world brought to life.
Yet, my eyes kept drifting to Hazel. The shimmering blue tones danced in her hair, and the light reflected in her eyes as if she belonged here, among the graceful sea creatures. My own mermaid, walking beside me.
The group naturally divided. Some headed toward the exhibitions, while others wandered ahead.
“So, Luke.” Hazel’s curious look broke my thoughts. “Did it really happen? The chess and the naked run?”
“Why? You interested?” I teased, watching her dimples deepen as she smiled.
“Not the nakedness, particularly, the game maybe.”
“You want to play chess?”
“I want to know if you’re really that good.” Oh, I’m good, baby.
I gave her a devilish smile, and she rolled her eyes.
If she kept reacting like that every time I flirted, she’d end up hurting herself.
That reminded me—why was I flirting with her?
I loved flirting with gorgeous women; it almost felt like second nature.
That being said, I wasn’t like a sex addict.
I could control myself around people. With Hazel, though, it wasn’t calculated.
My body just kept finding ways to make her smile, like it had a mind of its own.
“I wouldn’t say I’m great, but I like to learn,” she said, watching the sea creatures swim by.
“So, I’ve heard.”
“Besides, you could tell me more about your college years. There’s got to be more to Luke Davis than your job and bachelor life.”
I felt a warmth spread in my chest.
“I don’t know how interesting I used to be, but we had some fun.”
“Well, it must’ve been,” she said softly, her gaze settling on me, “if it made you who you are.” I wished I could drown in those eyes.
“What do you mean?”
She gazed into the water, as if she belonged to the ocean, her words flowing out with wisdom I wasn’t used to hearing from pretty girls like her.
“My mom used to say that we’re all just a compilation of our memories. Whether we realize it or not, we are shaped by what’s happened to us. The more you understand your past, the better you can decide if you want it to shape your future.” I contemplated her words.
“So, you want to analyze me?”