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“Ready to go home?” I ask, trying to break the silence.
“I don't know,” Andries responds, his voice heavy with uncertainty.
As the conversation continues to be awkward and disjointed, Elise starts to discreetly caress my inner thigh under the table. When I first feel her hand, I almost bite the inside of my mouth in surprise while I chew, and she chuckles softly. Having her here sitting so close to me is wonderful, but nothing can compare to the last few nights together. We’ve had sex on every surface in my suite, Elise never losing her hunger for me, and the more I’ve been able to have of her, the more addicted I become. Falling asleep and waking up together in a facsimile of domestic bliss is an adding cherry on top, and those moments have been some of the most satisfying of my life. I can’t believe that commitment is the one that I crave right now, after spending so many years never seriously dating and chasing pleasure above all else. Each moment, each touch, each kiss, all of it feels like a dream.
Tonight will be our last night sharing my suite, and tomorrow I will be back in my empty bed while Elise catches up on everything she has to deal with back in the real world. The thought is so disappointing that I feel a pang in my heart. I’m not ready for this to be over.
I want to distract myself, so I take Elise’s hand where it’s still on my thigh, and slowly move it toward the white napkin I’ve placed on my lap. I meet her gaze and raise my eyebrows, which makes her smirk before picking up her champagne with her free hand and taking a heavy sip just as her fingers slide under the napkin and she palms my erection fully. Even just the touch of her hand through the fabric of my pants has me harder than I would have thought possible.
The antipasti course ends and entrees come up, along with a crisp white wine, which I all but chug as Elise’s caresses become more direct and forceful. Lili and Robin are gushing about how incredible the holiday has been, while Roxanne smiles hollowly as she listens. When Elise starts stroking me fully through my pants, I clench my jaw to hold back a moan.
The ambiance at the restaurant is perfect, with the soft candlelight and the gentle sound of the Mediterranean Sea in the background. But even the stunning view of the sea from the terrace and the delicious food on my plate can't distract me from the storm brewing inside of me. And then, just as I'm about to take a bite of my risotto, Andries's voice pierces through my thoughts. “And you, Dan? Ready to go back to Amsterdam?”
The question catches me off guard, and I find myself staring at Elise, wondering if our summer fling will continue once we return to reality. Her hand stills on my rock hard cock, the mischievous look on her face fading. I open my mouth to speak, but I'm at a loss, my mind reeling with emotions. Andries and Roxanne look at me expectantly, waiting for a response.
“Not really, but we have a wedding to prepare for, don’t we?” I manage to choke out. I realize it’s the wrong answer immediately when my best friend sits his fork down with an audible clang and Roxanne blanches white, looking slightly ill.
It's Elise who eventually breaks the silence. “To the groom and bride,” she says, raising her glass of wine, and we all join in for another toast. But even as we clink glasses and laugh, I can't shake the feeling that something has shifted forever.
18
Elise
Breakfast is brief,with just a quick espresso and croissant, and before I know it, I find myself heading to the airport with the rest of the group to fly back home. I had this one last morning to wake up in Dan’s arms, and now, our interlude in paradise is over. We had a lot of ups and downs, but more than anything my feelings for him have grown so large I can’t write them off as a crush anymore. I think I’m in love with him, but I still don’t know if there is room in my complicated life for a committed relationship. Losing Dan is also unthinkable… so I do just that. I don’t think about it. At least not for now.
After boarding the private jet with the rest of the group and taking my seat beside Dan, I notice a sense of unease creeping over me. Andries and Roxanne, once so undeniably in love and committed to each other, now sit opposite each other, their bodies turned away and their eyes fixed firmly on the ground. Andries grips his whiskey glass tightly, his knuckles turning white as he takes sip after sip, while Roxanne absently swirls her gin and tonic, lost in her own thoughts. Alcohol before midday? Well, that’s never a good sign. The atmosphere is tense, and it's a stark contrast to the lively chatter and laughter that fills the rest of the cabin.
I lean in close to Dan and whisper, “Have you noticed how my brother and Roxanne have been acting? They seem so distant.” The weight of their silent suffering hangs heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the otherwise celebratory mood as we make our way back to Amsterdam.
Dan nods, his expression grim. “I've noticed it too. They've been like this for the past few days. I tried to talk to Andries about it, but he shut me down, saying everything’s fine.”
I bite my lip. “Something is off. I expected them to be distant after Andries found out about the cabaret scandal, but I never expected them to ice each other out like this. I thought it’d be passionate arguing or that they’d make up as soon as possible.”
Dan shrugs. “I'm not sure, but it's not our place to ask. We’ve done enough. More than enough, really. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
As the plane takes off, sadness grips me, watching the turquoise blue water and the emerald green of Capri fade. Not only is my time with Dan coming but also the end of this carefree and magical holiday. I look over at Dan, and give him a small smile, feeling grateful for the memories we’ve created together. But as I glance over at Andries and Roxanne, I wonder what their future holds, and if their relationship will survive.
I lean over to Dan again, “Are you sure we shouldn’t say something? Who knows how long it will be before we see either of them once we’re home. Especially if Andries decides to isolate himself like he seems to love to do.”
Dan shakes his head. “I still don't think it's a good idea. They'll talk to us if they want to. Let's just enjoy the flight back home.”
I nod, understanding Dan’s perspective, but I cannot shake off the feeling that the clock is ticking down too fast. Not just when it comes to Dan and me, but with everything.
I doze off, not even caring about everyone watching me as I rest my head on Dan’s shoulder. The flight slips by me, and when he wakes me up while we circle the airport to land, I have to shake off my sleepiness. I’m oddly exhausted… maybe from how much my emotions have been through the past few days. I gaze at Dan, and think of how I may just love him, and then over at my brother and Roxanne, and consider how lost they must be feeling. I know I must not be the only one who is exhausted down to their very bones.
As we step off the plane onto the tarmac, my eyes widen in shock as I notice the cars parked nearby. They’re not normal cars, but instead are blacked out––more discrete than marked cars but clearly armored. They’re police cars.
I blindly reach beside me and find Dan’s hand, never taking my eyes off my brother and Roxanne where they stand a few steps ahead of us.
“What’s going on?” I ask, throat tight.
“The worst case scenario,” Dan answers, his voice emotionless.
My heart races as we watch a group of police officers exit the vehicles where they were waiting for us. Their expressions are grave, and my eyes narrow at the stern-looking woman with short brown hair who follows them––the only one without a police uniform––as she holds a stack of papers and folders. My mind reels as I try to understand what is happening.
“Dan,” I start again, but he squeezes my hand and shakes his head.
“I don’t know anything, El. Let’s just see how it plays out.”
