She closed her book right after they left. Poured some more wine into her glass. The silence was loud. It used to be comforting, that night, she felt alone. She stepped out of the balcony with her book still clutched between her arm and her waist, white wine in her left hand. Once in a while, in these kinds of nights, she felt there's something missing in her life.
She didn't feel it very often, that empty space inside. Sometimes she filled it with books, sometimes with music. More often than not, Kelsey made her forget there was even a space to fill. Preston never failed to turn up whenever she needed him, and lately, there was Nathan who started to feel more and more like someone that fits the mold.
Spending so much time with Nathan for the past month made her forget that he was Kelsey's boyfriend. The dozens of times their eyes met, she wished she didn't feel that tingle in her stomach, but she did. She looked away every time, but Nathan
They talked until she finished the whole bottle of wine, and then some more. It was almost 3 AM when she fell asleep on her bed and Preston was the one who pressed the red button. She slept through the night, the last memory of the night was Preston's voice talking to her.She felt a little soar in her throat when she woke up. She went out to the pantry to get some water with a mild headache. She jumped and spilled some water when she turned and find Nathan leaning against the corridor wall staring at her."Good morning, did you finish that book last night?" He looked fresh and not the least bit hungover."No ... actually, I was on the phone with Preston 'til late," she replied.He pressed his lips together, "That explains the empty bottles, how is he?" he pretended to care.She lifted her shoulders, "He's okay ... how was your night? Did you guys have fun?"
When he saw her on the other side of his door, his heart fell. She was a sight for sore eyes, for sure, but her being there meant his night was taking an unexpected turn. He was enjoying his night too much for any altercation. A few drinks and three bars later, he still thought his night would've been better at home.His heart and his mind were saying one thing, but his body couldn't resist her. He knew she wasn't faithful to him, even though he hasn't got any proof yet, but her behavior was sending all the signs. He knew he didn't have half much fun being with her than being with Julie, but Kelsey was still his girlfriend. If he ended it with Kelsey for no apparent reason, he would've come out as a jerk, and lose his friendship with Julie as a result.So when they were back at his villa, in his bedroom, despite all the scenarios he had played in his head, he succumbed to his bodily weakness. It was easy, it was quick, and it was good. The r
It was something they never spoke about again after that night. Just like the kiss on New Year's Eve. It was better to pretend that it was nothing.She worked on her report diligently. She worked for Ardor equally hard. She drafted their financial report, calculated their taxes, managed their social media accounts. She designed their digital marketing campaign, she was doing everything. And he was growing more dependent on her, professionally, and personally.He built another shelf for her. He organized all her books on the old shelf, and was going to take her out on another book shopping spree. Two months into her internship, he can hardly remember what life was like before her.Kelsey had been calling him more frequently. She talked about her feelings more openly towards him. He found himself numbed, unable to return her affections. She cheated on him, he was sure of that, but he didn't even care anymore. He couldn't b
He watched her from Ardor's balcony that afternoon. He had to do something about it because it was slowly driving him crazy. Wanting to be with her as much as he did and not being able to touch her, or even say anything about it to her.She felt it too, he was sure of it, but she was too good to do anything about it. He had to do it the right way, and there was no right way to do it. She was already avoiding him after that call from Kelsey. She went on a stroll by herself all afternoon and locked herself in her bedroom when he came home. No matter what he'll do, the chance of losing her was there.He couldn't sleep that night. He went back and forth to the front of her door. He wanted to knock but changed his mind, twice. He laid awake on his bed, stared at the ceiling, figuring out ways to make it work. He thought about it until his head hurt, there was no way around it.**********
Nathan asked her to pack light but prepared a few outfits just in case they get wet. So she packed a few changes of clothes and a beach towel. It seemed like Nathan wanted to do the video by the water. It's a remote area where not many people know, it's barely touched by tourists.They packed up all the equipment needed in one giant backpack. Nathan stuffed his seasonings in a duffle bag. They made it as light as possible, but it was quite some baggage. They rode on a pick-up truck that came to take them to the beach. Julie chose to ride on the back, Nathan joined her and leaned on their stuff while enjoying the scenery along the way.She filmed their trip across the island when they pass the paddy fields, through narrow roads in villages, sometimes rocky roads by local farms where there were cows and goats fed on the green grass. She turned her camera to Nathan who at some point fell asleep. The trip to the beach took almost four hours only
Neither of them could sleep that night. They laid on their own matrasses in silence, in the dark, pretended to be asleep. She got out of bed just in time to see the sunrise. She thought Nathan was sleeping, just when she inhaled the first-morning breeze, he was already standing behind her."It's the best sunrise I've ever experience anywhere," he said startling her. She smiled. "That's another reason why I brought you here ... an island getaway," he added."It wasn't supposed to be for me, I wish the circumstances was different."Silence.He walked over to her, stood right behind her, he put his hands on the railing. She felt his breath on her hair, on her neck. He didn't touch her, but it felt like he was undressing her.He was having a moment. In his mind, she was the lover that he always wanted to bring to that island. But she was still afraid of him, how she felt about him.
She hugged Kelsey as she pass, and then lingered her tight embrace on Preston."How's my favorite girl in the world?" he put both arms around her and swayed her."I'm so glad you're here," Julie said.Nathan had his arms around Kelsey but his eyes were on Preston."Trouble in paradise?" he sensed the hostility from the host."Please get me out of here," she whispered."My plan exactly," he said with a naughty grin and kissed her forehead.Preston helped them put their stuff inside before excusing himself. "You have a very lovely home here, Mrs. Sommers, but I need to check-in at my hotel and get some drinks with Julie ... we have a lot of catching up to do.""Oh ... butI hope you'llbe joining us for dinner at Ardor? I've arranged a nice private dinner for all of us there at 7," she said.
It was a good night's sleep she needed. Her sweet smile was back on her face the next morning. Her mood was lighter, and she couldn't wait to spend the day with Preston. He wanted to explore the island with her and end the day at The Rockabillies. She took him to her favorite beach, favorite hangouts, a cool vintage clothing shop that Preston would love. Nathan Sommers was not in her mind that day.He didn't want to ruin her mood, so he held it for a while longer. The thing he was going to tell her will be hard to hear, as much as it was going to be hard for him to say. She was laughing at his jokes, mocked him as he was trying on funky clothes. Preston loved to shop. He had a wide collection of strange outfits that he can pull off easily. Julie was probably the only girl he knew who had the patience to wait on him while he shopped.She always chose the items for him, he always listened to her. She's the one he goes to for any advice, school