It's 10:35 p. m., and after going out for dinner, I watched Netflix, and called my sister April before I googled Majorca all night. I'm now ready for bed. I brush my teeth and tie my long, dark hair in a braid, and then I walk into my bedroom. Nathan is lying on his side, reading his book. The room is dark, the only light from his bedside lamp.
"Is the book good?" I ask.
He turns the page, distracted. "Very."
I turn my blankets down and smile as I watch him. "I can't believe I got the job." The email came in a few hours ago, and I'm still processing it.
"I told you that you would."
"It's so exciting, you know? Something new to learn, and they approved our vacation, so it's all good."
"It is." He replies distracted.
I climb into bed. "Can we go shopping tomorrow for bikinis?" I could ask for anything when he's reading and he will gladly agree, just to shut me up.
"If you want." He turns another page.
I get into bed and turn my back to him. "Let's get up early and go out for breakfast. Then it's shopping all day."
"Hmm," he mutters, distracted. He grabs my hipbone and pulls me back so I'm snug up against his body. This is how I fall asleep the fastest.
"Did I say thank you?"
"A hundred times, now go to sleep." He taps my hip in a silent shut up now signal.
I smile into the darkness. "Are you going to read all night?"
"Probably."
"Night, Nathe."
He taps my behind. "Night, babe."
Nathan
"Then I want to go into that new place that opened in the mall," Eliza says as she drags me down the street.
Why the hell did I agree to come shopping all day? What was I thinking? "Yeah, okay." I sigh. "I need more coffee."
"You've had two already."
I look at her, deadpan. "I need more."
She rolls her eyes, unimpressed, and drags me into a lingerie store. "Sit there." She directs me to sit in a large velvet chair outside the changing rooms.
Thank fuck… a chair.
I slump into the seat and wait as she looks around. I take out my phone and scroll aimlessly through it. Eliza eventually picks up a few things before she walks into the changing room. "Won't be a minute."
I exhale heavily. This is the last place I want to be on a Saturday.
I stuff my phone back into my pocket, link my fingers together, and put my hands behind my head.
After a few minutes, she says, "I like this one."
"Show me."
She opens the curtain. I stare at her for a moment and then frown. She's wearing a gold, skimpy bikini. Her hips are curved and her skin has a beautiful honey tone to it. Her breasts are full and voluptuous.
She holds her long, dark hair up on top of her head in a ponytail. "Is this all right?"
My brow furrows as I stare at her. The blood begins to rush around my body, and my throbbing heartbeat echoes in my ears.
"Erm…" I pause as I think of the right thing to say. She looks more than all right. Fucking hell!
Eliza flicks her bikini bottom and wiggles her hips. "I think I'll get it."
My cock instantly hardens.
What the actual fuck is going on here?
She puts her hands up and rearranges her breasts in the bikini top, and my dick clenches in appreciation.
Jesus Christ.
I've never reacted to Eliza this way before, and I've seen her in every possible way.
I break into a cold sweat. The room begins to spin, and I stand up in a rush. "I'll meet you outside."
Eliza
I frown as I watch Nathan practically running from the shop. What in the hell's wrong with him?
I turn back to my reflection in the mirror and smile as I look at myself. I actually look good in this. All those mornings in the gym are finally paying off. I turn to look at my behind and readjust the top over my breasts. Yep, I'm getting it. I try on the second one but it doesn't look anywhere near as good. Gold it is.
I get dressed and take the bikini to the cashier. "I'll take this one, please."
"It's lovey, isn't it?" She folds it and wraps it in white tissue. "It just came in on Thursday. It comes in red, too. Did you see that one?"
"Yes, I did. "My eyes roam over to the others on the rack. "Thanks, but I prefer this color." I glance out through the window to see Nathan pacing back and forth on the sidewalk. His hands are raking through his hair, and he looks like he's just seen a ghost. What is he doing?
"Have a nice day." The cashier hands over the bag, and I bounce outside.
Nathan's eyes meet mine, and he swallows a lump in his throat.
"What happened?" I ask. "Did the hospital call?"
His face falls. "Yes." He looks around nervously. "That's it, the hospital called."
I link my arm through his. "Everything okay?"
"Yes." He glances down at my hand on his bicep.
"Do you need to go straight away or are we grabbing you more coffee?"
"Umm." His eyes hold mine.
"It's fine." I sigh. "You're off the hook. Come have a quick breakfast with me and then you can go to work. I don't mind shopping alone."
He raises a brow. "If you don't mind shopping alone, why do you always make me come?"
"To torture you, of course." I smile.
"Hmm." He grunts. "It's working."
"Don't forget we're going out tonight."
"Yes, I know." He frowns as he stares out at the people around us, totally distracted. "What time are we leaving?"
"I've got Monica's baby shower this afternoon, and you're meeting us at the bar, remember?"
He rolls his eyes.
I frown up at him. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." He grabs my hand as we cross the road.
"If you don't want to come out tonight then don't come."
"I'm fucking coming, all right." He glances down at me. "Did you get the gold one?"
I smile broadly. "Uh-huh. I'm going to be loving myself sick in that bikini."
"Hmm." He replies flatly. "It was a bit skimpy, wasn't it?"
"Nope, I might even go topless over there. Maybe even nude." I widen my eyes. "The possibilities are endless really."
"That won't be happening."
"Why not?"
"Because…" He frowns. "I'm not protecting you from the sleezy gazes of men. Women get abducted from Majorca all the time, you know."
"They do not." I giggle and kiss his shoulder. "Doesn't bother you here. Being my bouncer is your favorite pastime."
I glance down to realize that we're still holding hands. Nathan seems to notice at the same time. He drops my hand like a hot potato and takes a huge step back. "Listen… I'm going to take a raincheck on breakfast."
"Oh, okay."
"I'm very busy and I can't be loitering around the shops with you all day. Goodbye, Eliza," he announces formally.
Jeez, this patient must be really sick if he's acting crabby. "See you tonight, then?"