Chapter 4- Beach and Bikinis

The flight was only two hours, but it felt like forever.

Frank and Tina sat together, whispering and laughing the whole time. I sat by the window, silent, pretending to read a magazine I wasn’t really looking at. Every time Frank leaned close to Tina, I felt something inside me crumble a little more.

And every time I looked up, Eric was watching me.

From across the aisle, his eyes never really left me. He didn’t smile. He didn’t say a word. Just watched—calm, distant, unreadable.

It made my skin heat and crawl at the same time.

I told myself not to look again.

I did anyway.

By the time we reached the resort, the sun was already dipping low, painting the sky in pink and orange. The ocean stretched out endlessly, the air warm and salty. Everyone else seemed excited—laughing, taking selfies, running toward the beach.

I just wanted to find a room and hide.

“Come on, Sabrina!” Frank called over his shoulder. “Let’s go check out the water!”

I forced a smile. “You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

He shrugged and ran off with Tina, their laughter echoing in the breeze.

I stood there for a long time, feeling like an outsider in my own life. Everyone else seemed to belong. I didn’t.

That evening, I sat on a lounge chair, my toes buried in the cool sand. The others were out in the water—splashing, playing, chasing waves. Tina was screaming with laughter as Frank carried her deeper into the sea.

They looked perfect together.

I wrapped my arms around myself and tried not to cry.

I didn’t even have a bikini. I couldn’t afford one. All I had was a faded sundress that barely reached my knees. So I stayed where I was, watching the ocean swallow the sun.

Then I heard a sound beside me—the pop of a drink can.

I turned my head and froze.

Eric was there. Sitting casually in the chair next to mine, sunglasses pushed up on his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

My chest tightened. “What do you want?”

He didn’t answer right away. He just took a slow sip of his drink, eyes flicking toward the water, where Frank and Tina were laughing like they were in some romantic movie.

Finally, he said, “You’re not joining them?”

“I’m fine here.”

“Doesn’t look like it.”

I glared at him. “Why do you care?”

He smiled faintly. “Who said I do?”

I turned away, trying to ignore him, but he didn’t move. The silence between us stretched, filled only by the sound of waves and laughter.

After a moment, he said quietly, “You’re really going to sit here all night and watch him chase someone else?”

The words hit deep. I swallowed hard. “Mind your own business.”

He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just stood there, eyes locked on mine until I felt my heart slam against my ribs. The sound of the waves faded away, the laughter, the wind—everything disappeared.

It was just him. And me. And this unbearable tension that I couldn’t seem to escape.

Finally, he spoke. “Come with me.”

“What?”

He reached out suddenly, his hand wrapping around my wrist. His touch was warm, steady—too steady. “Come on.”

I tried to pull away. “Eric, let go.”

But he didn’t. He started walking, still holding my arm, his grip firm but not painful. I stumbled after him, my heart pounding. “Eric! I said let go!”

He ignored me completely, striding across the sand like he’d already decided for both of us.

“Eric!” I tried again, breathless. “Stop!”

He turned his head slightly, his voice calm—too calm. “Relax, Sabrina. You need to learn how to enjoy yourself.”

My pulse kicked harder. “You’re insane.”

He chuckled, low and quiet. “Maybe. But you’re coming with me.”

“Where the hell are you taking me?!” I asked, trying as hard as I could to pull my hand away from his but he wouldn’t budge.

It wasn’t until I finally saw where he was taking me did the real panic set in.

A freaking bikini shop!

I shook my head. “No, no way, I’m not going in there with you!”

But his only response was to turn to me with a smirk and then he was dragging me into the shop.