Chapter 18
Junie
I thought I’d sneak back into the dorm room without anyone knowing but a delighted voice stops me in my tracks.
“Ooh la la, and where have you been all night?” Juliette tsks.
My face blushes deep red and a stupid, moony grin splits my cheeks. Fuck, Junie. Keep it cool. But the giggles bubbling in my chest grow even stronger.
Juliette gasps and throws her arm around me. “Spill it! I want to hear everything. Who is he? Or she? I don’t want to assume.”
“I really can’t say,” I tell her through the infuriating smile taking over my face. I had so much fun with Steven. It felt so good being in his arms—and his bed. I mean, the man washed my hair. It was the most intimate moment I’ve ever experienced. I’m even more drawn to him than before.
He looked so fucking cute when I left this morning, long messy hair disheveled from sweat and sleep.
He tried to insist I stay for coffee, but it’s too early for his caffeinated sludge.
I planned to grab a change of clothes and get to the sanctuary before anyone suspected I’d spent the night elsewhere—but that plan has obviously backfired.
I try to push the little bubble of golden happiness down and distract her. “And where are you coming from?” I accuse. “Is there a man or a woman…?”
“Nest watch.” She raises her eyebrows, letting me know I’m not off the hook.
“Oh yeah. Any new clutches?”
“We found two.” I feel a jolt of excitement before she adds, “Don’t change the subject.
“Fine. Yes, I was with someone. I had a really wonderful time. I am not on a walk of shame, I’m on a quiet, dignified walk to get a shower and a change of clothes.”
She squeals so loudly it’s sure to wake everyone up. I wince, glancing toward the door, and she takes the hint.
“So not a volunteer, obviously. Local or tourist?” she whispers.
Her giddiness is only stoking my own, but I’m not sure how Steven would feel about everyone at the sanctuary knowing our business, so I don’t let anything slip.
By the time we walk into the cabin, some of the others are stirring, and I hope they’ll assume that I’ve been with Juliette.
If I can just tamp down the glow of a woman who clearly had orgasms in the double digits last night, I might even get away with it.
I try to keep my distance at the sanctuary, sure that I won’t be able to act normal around him. Not now that we’ve been so close. Not when he agreed that I should come back over tonight, and every night, as far he’s concerned.
I smell him before I see him. His scent is like an aphrodisiac, all salt and sun and something uniquely him.
I’m working on the couch in the employee room when he whispers, “You look beautiful,” before disappearing on his second dive of the day.
“Something’s going on with Steven,” Thomas says, sipping tea on a break after his last museum tour.
“What do you mean?” I ask, ignoring the way my heart pounds.
“He seems… I don’t know. Weird. He complimented my hat.” Thomas’s puke green bucket hat is the subject of much lighthearted teasing.
“Hmm,” murmurs Juliette, her raised eyebrows visible behind her big mug. “That is quite out of character.”
“Maybe he’s just happy that Sweetie is getting released soon.” I have to press my lips together to hold my smile back. “I know I’m pretty excited about that. Aren’t we all going on the boat tomorrow to see her off?”
“Yeah, maybe.” Thomas sounds doubtful but he finishes his drink and moves toward the door. ”Are you both coming to The Local later?”
“Of course,” Juliette says. “Junie will be there too.”
She narrows her eyes, daring me to contradict her. I guess it’s not the worst idea to spend time with my friends before tangling back up in Steven’s sheets. I have a habit of making the men I date the center of my world. I should socialize before getting pulled into his orbit again.
Maybe part of me is getting cold feet. Yesterday was so perfect—what if something goes wrong? What if the magic doesn’t last through a second night? What if he decides he doesn’t actually want me there? I can’t abandon my friends now that we’ve slept together.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.” I nod and Thomas waves on his way out.
I absolutely did not plan to hang around the sanctuary waiting to see him, but I don’t have his phone number—I don’t have anyone’s on the island, except Mike, who’d given me his Whatsapp in case of an emergency. So unless I find him before heading to The Local, I don’t know how to contact Steven.
The thought of showing up outside his bungalow later and waiting to be let in makes my stomach do somersaults.
I can’t do it. So I do what any completely normal and chill girl would do, I sunbathe on the beach with a book until I see the dive boat appear on the horizon.
It’s the perfect activity to feed my chronic overthinking.
As he hops onto the dock like a choreographed dance, I let my sunglasses slip down the bridge of my nose.
I admire his strong biceps as he ties a mooring line in seconds.
I feel fluttery as I watch him help the guests back onto dry land.
They’re all grinning and happy—it must have been a good dive.
I can’t wait to get back under the waves tomorrow.
When the guests are offloaded, I wander down the dock, trying to make it seem casual.
“You guys need any help with the gear?” I ask, as if I want to be helpful. As if my blood isn’t practically singing for this man.
“Nah, we’ve got this, sunshine.” He pauses to give me a complete once-over, taking in my braided hair, my sarong, and my rapidly deepening tan. He seems to like Island Junie. His gaze feels like a cool drink of water, a soft breeze rippling over my skin. It gives me goosebumps.
“We’re all heading to Local tonight for a couple of drinks.
I don’t know if you want to… after, maybe…
” Shit. I’ve had hours to come up with a cool and sexy way to ask him if he still wants to meet up later, and that’s what I end up with?
I start chewing my lip, an anxious habit I hoped to leave behind when I landed in paradise.
“Good on ya, sounds fun,” he says, resuming his work.
I try not to feel disappointed by his lack of interest. Does he not want to meet up after all?
I push down the awkward feeling that I’ve somehow misread the situation, that the words he whispered last night and this morning were all said in the heat of the moment—a long stream of sweaty and pleasurable moments—and I should’ve let them roll over me like waves.
I’m the one who asked for more, who didn’t want to take things slow.
He passes tanks and hoses from the boat to the deck, lifting heavy equipment like it’s nothing, sweat dripping down his neck. I have to shake myself to stop dreaming of running my tongue over those smooth lines.
“So I’ll see you later,” I throw out, my voice rising in pitch at the end, then turn on my heels and flee.
Perfect. I’m desperately thankful I kept my mouth shut all day.
I have no idea where we stand on tonight, but I can’t ruin our working relationship—I’m looking forward to Sweetie’s release tomorrow morning, and the last thing I want is for things to get awkward between us.
If it ends up only being one night, then so be it.
God, I realize, he’s the only man I’ve been with besides David in years. No wonder I’m having problems keeping it cool. I’m not a one night stand kind of girl, but I’m not sure if I can be a casual island girl either. This is a bigger mess than I thought.
Walking into The Local feels a bit like coming home. My friends greet me with shouts and smiles and a bucket of Bintang. I swallow half a bottle in one gulp. I need a distraction from sexy Aussie dive instructors or I’m going to lose my mind.
But if I thought I’d find peace with my friends, I was sadly mistaken.
“So where were you last night?” Mason asks with a mischievous grin.
I shoot Juliette a look, but she throws up her hands. “I said nothing!”
Everyone laughs and I take another big sip of beer, nearly draining the bottle.
“Nowhere! Just enjoying paradise. A month feels like a long time, but it’ll be gone in the blink of an eye. I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” I say, and everyone clinks their bottles to that.
“She’s right. We’re almost done with our internship. Next week, we’ll both be certified dive instructors!” Juliette grins, punching Mason playfully.
He rubs his arm as I fish another beer out of the rapidly melting bucket of ice.
“It won’t be official until you pass the snorkel test though,” Victoria says knowingly.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“You’ll see next weekend.” Thomas winks. “The party should be great.”
“Better or worse than the pub crawl on Gili T?” Juliette asks.
“Oh, I’ve heard of that!” I say. “I think I saw some flyers for it around the island.”
“I keep forgetting you’re so fresh.” Mason says. “I’ve been here almost three months, and it just feels like you’re part of the fam.”
I feel warm all over. I surreptitiously dab at my eyes. Here I am, obsessing about more boy-drama. It touches me deeply that I fit in here and they accepted me so quickly.
“We’ll hit up the pub crawl after the Divemaster ceremony. It’s an unofficial requirement for certification. It takes a few months and a lot of dives.”
“Including a naked dive,” Juliette winks.
“What?” I shout, laughing. I try to imagine being underwater in my BCD, strapped to my tank, completely naked.
“It’s a tradition for your 100th dive.” That rough, gravelly voice makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Before I can turn and take him in, his arms are around my neck and he presses a rough, scratchy kiss to my cheek.
I turn as red as a tomato as the faces around me become wide-eyed in surprise. “It’s a rite of passage.”
“Mine is coming up, but I’m a little nervous,” Juliette says, clearly keeping the conversation moving to give us a moment. My heart swells in gratitude for her as Steven claims the bench beside me.
“Hey.” He captures my lips with his. He tastes of salt and sun and when his tongue pushes gently against me, my lips part, drinking him in. “I’ve been waiting to do that all day,” he says when we finally break apart.
I feel it all the way to my toes. I feel at home here. Safe, accepted, wanted. Part of the family. Part of his life. I would have been content to remain his dirty little secret and not upset the fragile balance of our small island life, but that kiss felt like a claim. And I feel like a prize.
The tension falls from my shoulders as I relax against him and rejoin the conversation.
My friends are obviously surprised but they’re tactful enough to bite their tongues.
For now. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it later when they aren’t afraid of pissing off their grumpy boss.
I wonder if Victoria can relate to this feeling of being in the spotlight.
She and Mike often disappear around the same time.
Over the next two hours, Steven is never out of reach.
His hands rest on my thighs or tangle with my fingers.
He laughs loudly and unselfconsciously and it makes my core burn hot to see him so animated.
Where is the surly, silent man of the past week?
It’s like yesterday and last night, we pushed past some wall he’d put up to hold me and everyone out.
Now that he’s free, it’s like sunlight breaking through the clouds. He’s beautiful.
Maybe I should be annoyed that a man is publicly staking a claim to me so soon after my break up with David, but tell that to my heart. I feel treasured.
I’ve never put it into words before, but being with David felt normal. Inevitable. Just like every step in my life has been carefully planned.
But Steven feels spontaneous. Surprising. He treats me like someone he’s proud to be seen with. Someone he doesn’t want to lose.
We go back to his villa and fuck for hours. When we finally fall asleep, sweaty and satisfied, I know I’m in deep.