15. Fantasy Or Forever

I tried to pull myself together, tears stinging my eyes. I was emotionally confused. Happy one moment, then unsure the next. I had never been this way before in my life. I’d always known my next step in life.

Ready or not, this was happening.

There was no escaping this place; I tried, but I didn’t succeed. Instead, I was distracted and tempted further. My legs trembled—this wasn’t a dream. Everything I’d read earlier in that note was about to become reality in a few short hours. A thousand emotions crashed through me: fear, disbelief, a wild thrill, and the thought of even a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

There was no turning back.

One moment I was calm, and then another I wanted to run; the next I ached to be tantalized and desired—by all three men. The images from my dream replayed in my mind, heat surging through me. Did I want it all? Or just one man, one lasting connection? Never in my life did I think this would be my problem, my heart torn between fantasy and forever.

Everything I knew about my world and life had flipped. Soon, I’d have one-on-one time with each man—including the mysterious stranger I glimpsed under the waterfall. Even the idea of inviting a friend felt surreal. Was any of this real? My nerves buzzed with anticipation and disbelief.

The longer I thought, the more my nerves frayed. Suddenly, a light bulb flickered in my mind: I was at the center and main character of this wild story. The choices, the men, the risk—the power, everything was about to begin. I had questions, but for some reason, all this time, they’d been held back in my brain. But now, many are coming to the surface.

“Who would I date first? Why me, why now? None of this made sense. Mark—he couldn’t have set this up. He never made me happy, and I seriously doubt he wanted to see me happy. This was fate, or a test, and my life as I once knew it- heart and body was on the line.

I buried my face in my hands, struggling to hold in a scream. Was I being watched? I got up and searched my bungalow for hidden cameras. Was this some elaborate prank? I kept scanning the room for hidden cameras, paranoia prickling my skin. I forced myself to breathe, to focus, since I didn’t discover anything. I had to be ready for whatever came next. I needed to think clearly and make a wise decision.

But time seemed to crawl. I lay on my bed, barely able to believe this was my life. It felt like an illusion—but it was real, and soon it would all begin. By five, I was getting ready for my first date at six. I had no clue who it would be, but I’d dress to impress. Old fears threatened—what if this was a setup, another Mark disaster? I shoved the past doubts down. Since I’d been here, I had no reason to believe anything that I experienced with Mark would ever take place. I could tell these men held themselves to a higher standard than Mark ever could.

Tonight, I had to be bold.

The clock struck five; it was time. I showered, nerves electrified. I’ve always been a good girl, careful, and cautious. Giving my heart and soul to only one man. But now, three impossibly attractive men wanted me, and I couldn’t help but remember the dream I’d had—wild, vivid, awakening a hunger and craving I’d never felt before. That dream gave me just enough confidence to face the night ahead.

‘What am I thinking? These men are no different than any other. Lies! Lies!’ I giggled to myself.

They’re the kind of men my friends and I talk about and wish we could meet. They are not your average men who walk the streets where we live. No, these are guys you see in magazines, on television, and in movies.

I searched through the gorgeous dresses that had been hand-selected for me in the closet; nothing like what I could afford back home. My instincts screamed to choose something for a candlelit dinner, so I picked a light blue and silver dress with thin straps that tied behind my neck and across my back to hold it up. It was thigh-length, flirty, and seductive enough for what tonight might bring.

It fit perfectly sexy, but not desperate. I laced on some silver heels, glanced at my reflection in the mirror, and headed to the pier. The ocean shimmered, silent and waiting, just like me.

I stood under the moonlit sky, nerves jangling. I fidgeted with my rings, checked my reflection twice, trying to steady my breath. Who would walk up that pier to meet me first?

Could it be Diamante, with his tempestuous smile? Blaze, confident and intense? Or the enticingly dangerous stranger from the waterfall? My heart thundered as footsteps echoed on the pier.

The story—my story—was about to begin.