Chapter 10

Thea and Paul are so absorbed in each other that they don't even realize we're standing right in front of them. Paul and Thea are completely lost in the moment. "That's our cue to leave, don't you think," I asked Elliot. 'Definitely. What do you say about a walk along the beach?" "That sounds nice" "Great. Let's get out of here." Elliot and I leave the party, and I instantly feel more relaxed. As we're walking along the beach, our feet shuffling the sand, Elliot is the first one to speak up. "So, that was intense. I didn't expect them to hook up" Elliot speaks up. "Seriously? It was bound to happen!" I replied. "Really? How come you're so sure?" His smile challenges me. "It was obvious. They only had eyes for each other. I'm really good at understanding body language, you know." I answered his question. "Hmm, is that so?" Elliot picks a strand of my hair and twirls it around his finger. "How about me then?" Elliot questions me. "You want to kiss me" I replied. "You're right, you're really good at this." My pulse beats hard in my throat, and my face feels flushed and overheated. "So, uhm... back to Thea and Paul. Do you think there could be something real between them, or was it just a drunken kiss?" I change the subject. "Honestly, I don't know." "I just don't want her to be hurt. She has a habit of picking the wrong guys." "That's something they have in common then." He comments. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Well, you would have found out sooner or later, anyway... Paul tells this story to everyone because he thinks it's hilarious. You see, he had three wives–" "Definitely unlucky in love" I interrupted. "That's not the unlucky part. Paul's first wife ran off with his friend. They met at her best friend's bachelorette party and instantly fell in love." He explains. "No way." "Wait, it gets better. His second wife dumped him to become a bartender. She thought having a husband would hinder her career." "And the third one?" I asked. "Being married to him helped her realize she's gay. She and her new wife moved to Vermont, and she and Paul still keep in touch." "Poor Paul. He really has the worst luck ever." I can't help myself but chuckle a bit. "Isn't it funny how we're gossiping about our friends when we're the ones getting all the action?" I questioned. "You're certainly right." Elliot's eyes turn dark and challenging. "Do you want to go for a swim?" "Right now? I don't have a swimsuit." "There's no one here. Why don't we skinny dip?" I laugh, thinking he was joking. My laughter catches in my throat as he suddenly starts taking off his clothes. "The water is probably cold. I should just stay here" I say to myself. I look at him in the water standing tall and proud. The moon is big and bright, making his skin almost glow. I can't help but admire his body as he looks at me with a grin on his face "he is so beautiful." Elliot starts to walk out of the water and toward me. He dries his hair with his shirt and then put his boxers back on."You had a nice swim?" I asked. "Not really" "Why?" "You weren't with me." "I was afraid the water could be cold. I wouldn't want to get sick on my honeymoon." I explained. "That's smart. What if I get sick" He questions me. "I'll take care of you in that case." I replied. "You're the best." He gives me a warm smile. We sit down on the beach and look at the sea. "This place is so beautiful. I never want to leave" I turn to Elliot to find him staring at me. He puts an arm around my shoulders, and I scoot nearer to put my head on it. "You know... I could have never predicted any of this to happen, but I'm happy it's with you." He smiled. "Really?" "Yeah. Despite everything, it's been fun having you as a fake wife." Elliot turns to me, and his gaze finds mine before it drops to my mouth. He licks the salt off his lips, and I'm not able to resist leaning in to taste him. He kisses me back slowly and passionately, savoring the moment. Every touch makes me dizzy. I want more. I crave more. I pull away from him and give him a smile. "Maybe we should go back to the hotel?" I asked Elliot. "Yeah, it's getting a bit cold. We stand up and dust off all the sand. Elliot takes my hand and together, we start to walk toward the hotel. The next day... A loud knock on the door wakes me up. I look at the clock on the nightstand - 8 a.m. - and I groan. "Ugh too early." I complained. "Evie, I know you're in there. Open up!" "It's Thea. What does she want?" I drag myself out of bed and open the door. "Good morning!" "Thea, it's 8 a.m" "So?" "Some people like to sleep in." I huffed. "And waste all this beautiful sunlight?" I sigh. "What's up?" I asked her. "I really need my best friend right now. Let's go for a cup of coffee." She responds. "What's going on?" Elliot walks through the door, his bed hair all spiky and messy. "I'm going out with Thea for breakfast. I'll be back soon" I answered. 'Okay. I'm going to sleep another hour." "Let's go," I tell Thea. She scans me from head to toe. "Don't you want to put on some clothes first?" She asked me. "Oh, right!" A moment later... "I'm ready!" I yell out. "Let's head out!". We got to the coffee shop and ordered our coffee. "Okay, I HAVE to tell you something." Thea looks completely freaked out. "I'm starting to get worried. This is unlike her." I thought to myself. "Thea, is everything okay?" "I slept with Paul last night!" "So that's what worries her." I say to myself. "Om my gosh, no way!" "I know!" "I'm in shock!" "If you're in shock, how do you think I feel?!" She asked me. 'Well, I should have known. Elliot and I saw you making out at the club last night." I explained to her. "You did? Oh gosh, how embarrassing. I had too many tequilas, and Paul looked so handsome..." Thea admitted. "What are you going to do now? I mean, you're staying in the same with him." I questioned. "I know. I'm a little worried about that. I didn't truly think of the consequences last night, I just went with." A smile escapes her. "I really like him, actually. We talked a lot yesterday." She confessed. She gets a dreamy look on her face. "He's funny, sweet, and smart. Even though it's way too early, and I just got dumped... I could really see myself with him, you know?" She blushed. "Is that really a good idea? Paul has also been hurt recently." I asked her. 'You mean his three ex-wives? Yeah, he told me about that." She replied. "The thing is... you're both kinds of reckless in love. Is this really a smart combination?" I questioned. 'Why are you doing this?" "What?" "Every time I'm happy or excited about something, you have to ruin it. Are you jealous or what?" She begins to get angry at me. "What? No! Of course not." "You haven't exactly made good life choices either, but I've always supported you! Why can't you do the same for me?" Before I have the chance to reply, Thea storms off. "Thea, I didn't mean–" "Trouble in paradise?" Mina interrupts me and smiles. "Ugh, not HER!" I say to myself. Mina takes a seat in front of me, and I groan. "How's Elliot?" I cross my arms and stare at her with poisonous eyes."Enjoy it while you can. Because when your fake marriage is over, he'll forget all about you. Is that really worth losing a friend over?" Mian smirked. "I don't know what you're talking about." "Sure you do." "As much as I appreciate your concern, you have no business discussing my relationships. Walk away." Mina smirks like she knows something I don't. "I've been collecting information on Elliot for years, and I know his type of woman. Sorry, doll, you're not it." Anger boils through my body, and I feel the sudden urge to shake her. Mina stands up and leaves the table before I can do anything rash. I put my head in my hands, suddenly tired. When I feel a pair of lips on my ear, I jolt. I look up and see Elliot. 'I couldn't go back to sleep, so I thought I'd join you for breakfast. Is everything alright?" he asks me. 'I fought with Thea, and she stormed off. Then Mina said I'm not your type of woman." I explained. Elliot sits down beside me and takes my hands in his. "Don't ever listen to anything that comes out of that woman's mouth." he gently caresses my cheek. "I'm sorry about Thea. I'm sure you'll work things out soon. She's your best friend, after all. "Yeah, I hope so too. But she can really hold a grudge, that one..." A few days passed, and Thea and I were still not on speaking terms. She was still upset about what happened and avoided me like the plague. Elliot did everything to cheer me up. He took me snorkeling, dolphin riding, and even paragliding. While it was fun, it still didn't stop me from being upset about my best friend. "I have a surprise for you." Elliot tells me."You do?" His face breaks into a wide smile."What do you say to a balloon ride with champagne and strawberries?" "I would love that! Wow, you're seriously spoiling me, Elliot. We've done so many dates already, it feels like we've been married for seven years." He chuckles. "It's our honeymoon, sweetheart. We're supposed to be doing stuff like this. And seeing you smile makes it all worth it." He grinned. "When he gives me pet names in private and looks at me like that, it's hard to remember that this is all fake." I said to myself. "Thank you I just need to get dressed, and then I'll be ready." Moments later... "Alright, I'm ready." "You look beautiful as always. Actually, no. I think you look more beautiful than ever." Elliot compliments me. "You flatter me too much. We grin at each other. "I need to take a quick shower. Could you call the reception and ask them to come by with the tickets?" "I'll go get them myself." I head to the lobby and immediately see familiar faces. "There's Mina and Fabian! I'm seriously not in the mood for them right now." I hide behind a large palm tree hoping they won't see me. The first thing I notice is how... distant they seem. "Did they have a fight?" I try to listen in. "What do you have for me?" Mina asked Fabian. "On Monday, they went snorkeling." "So they're still keeping up with regular couple activities?" Mina questioned. "Definitely. And they haven't been around their friends much." Fabian replied. "What the— I knew it! Fabian's not her boyfriend. She's hired him to spy on us!" I say to myself.