AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I can tell how much you like it, and I love how you react.”
“It just it makes me seem….”
“Like you deserve someone to point out how wonderful you are? We all deserve that.”
“How do you always know the perfect thing to say when you’ve never had a real relationship?”
“I know how to care for people. I just didn’t think I wanted that responsibility all the time. I’ve had…My family was shit as you know, and I don’t want to disappoint anybody.”
“There’s no way you could be a disappointment, Worth. You give me all the things I need.”
“And you do exactly the same for me.”
We didn’t say anything else. We just sat there, looking at each other, feeling the warm connection between us. I think we were both afraid to take things any further. This was good now, but what were the chances we would work back in New York, where it would be painfully obvious I wasn’t part of Worth’s world.
“Come on. Let’s go back inside, clean up, and order some dinner?”
I grinned. “Did all this exertion make you hungry?”
“Fuck yes. I’ve got to keep up my strength with you.”
Worth ordered us sandwiches and also asked for a sampling of all the desserts like he had the other night.
This time I didn’t even frown at the ridiculousness of it. Clearly, during my time here I was meant to taste everything, every possibility.
Curled up with Worth in his giant bed, I slept more soundly than I had in years. When I woke with the bright Caribbean sun streaming through the window, Worth was on his back, splayed out and taking up a good portion of the bed.
I moved carefully, trying not to wake him. I walked over to my bathroom, relieved myself, then leaned against the sink as I brushed my teeth. I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess, but I looked happy for the first time in ages. Worth was responsible for that.
Fear rushed in, pushing aside the good feeling. Did I really get to be happy? Was there any chance this feeling could last? The walls felt like they were pressing in on me. I needed to get out of the villa to take in some fresh air and think.
I slipped on a swimsuit, slid my feet into the extremely expensive posh version of flip-flops Worth had bought me, and sent him a text letting him know I’d be by the pool or on the beach, but he should sleep as long as he wanted to.
I moved as quietly as I could until I’d locked the door behind me. Then I hurried down the path to the pool area. It was early enough that the water would feel cool. I needed that. I dove in the deep end and came up gasping and shivering.
I swam a bit, thinking how I’d completely fallen under Worth’s spell. My last call to Beck had been brief, and I hadn’t texted him since. I’d rejected his help for so long, then finally grown desperate enough to ask for it, only to now do the one thing he asked me not to do while I was here in Aruba.
I tilted my head back so I could push my hair off my face. No matter how much I worried about what Beck would say, I didn’t want to lose Worth. Could I have them both in my life? And could I do that without letting them take over my life completely? I wanted independence, not a life where I was kept and supported. What the hell was I going to do?
I paddled over to the ladder at the side of the pool and pulled myself out. I slid my feet into my shoes and headed for the beach. I needed a lot more time to think.
21
WORTH
When I woke up, I felt rested and ready to face the day. When was the last time that had happened?
I stretched, reaching my arms over my head and pointing my toes. I could feel the way I’d used my body the night before, but it was the kind of soreness I was proud of.
I rolled over and realized Laurie was no longer in bed with me. I listened but didn’t hear anything. He wouldn’t have gone back to his own bed, would he?
Suddenly my optimism for the day faded. “Laurie,” I called, heading toward the door of my room. Maybe he went to get dressed or shower in his own bathroom where his things were.
Somehow, though, I knew he wasn’t there. The stillness told me I was alone.
I checked his room, the balcony, and went to get my phone. Maybe he went to get some breakfast. Don’t panic. I was desperate to know where he was and that he was okay. What if he was regretting what had happened between us? How could anyone regret something that fucking perfect?
When I picked up my phone, I saw a text from Laurie. He’d gone to the pool or the beach. I couldn’t tell anything else from the words on the screen. Had he just wanted to feel the sun or had he wanted to run away? What if he’d changed his mind. What would Beck do to me if he thought I’d pushed too hard and hurt Laurie? It wouldn’t matter because Laurie had my heart. If he decided he didn’t want me, he might as well crush it.
