Chapter 37 37.

Chapter 37 37.
Chapter 37: Ashley’s POV

I officially hated everyone. Especially Steve and Troy. Because after that sunscreen comment, they would not stop. Not even for one peaceful minute.

“Marcus Bryson caring about SPF protection wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card,” Steve announced dramatically from the shore. Troy looked emotionally invested already.

“He probably reads ingredient labels too.”

Marcus looked entirely unimpressed. “You’re both embarrassing.”

“No,” Steve corrected calmly. “You’re suspicious.”

Meanwhile I stood ankle-deep in ocean water questioning every life decision that brought me here. Especially the yellow swimsuit. Because somehow—Marcus kept looking at me. Not obvious enough for anyone else to fully call out.

But enough that I noticed. And again, I am at the very dangerous situation. And it just start making me uncomfortable... and conscious.

I quickly walked farther into the water before my brain created more problems for me. The ocean felt warm and refreshing against my skin while soft waves moved gently around me.

Finally. Peace. Well—for approximately thirty seconds. Because naturally Marcus followed. I turned immediately in disbelief.

“Why are you still here?”

“You swim like someone who might accidentally drown.”

“That sounds... insulting.”

“Whatever you wanna call that.”

I splashed water toward him instantly. Marcus barely reacted as droplets landed against his chest. Honestly rude. A faint smirk appeared instead.

“There it is.”

“There what is?”

“Violence. Your natural communication style.”

I narrowed my eyes aggressively. “You make me violent.”

“Oh. Do I?” Oh my God.

Before I could answer, another wave hit against my legs unexpectedly harder this time, throwing me slightly off balance. And unfortunately—my body reacted slower lately because pregnancy apparently affected everything. The next thing I knew—Marcus grabbed my waist instantly to steady me.

Oh. Oh no. Everything stopped for a second. The water. The noise. My brain. Because Marcus’s hands were suddenly on my waist.

Warm. Firm. Close. Way too close. I looked up automatically and found him already staring down at me. And somehow—the playful teasing disappeared from his expression completely.

Dangerous. Very dangerous.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

I swallowed once. “…Fine.”

Neither of us moved immediately afterward. Which honestly felt worse. Because suddenly I became painfully aware of everything. The ocean between us. His hands still on my waist. The fact our faces were way too close now.

From the shore—Steve’s dramatic voice suddenly echoed again.

“Oh they’re definitely becoming a problem.”

Marcus finally released my waist slowly afterward. Too slowly. And somehow—that felt dangerous too. I immediately stepped backward. Too fast honestly. Like distance alone could calm down whatever strange thing just happened there.

The water moved softly around my legs while my heart beat embarrassingly loud against my chest. Marcus looked just as calm as usual though.

Of course he did. Meanwhile I was internally malfunctioning because this man touched my waist for three seconds. Pregnancy hormones truly destroyed dignity.

“I told you,” Marcus said calmly after a moment. “You swim recklessly.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “That’s your conclusion from this situation?”

“You almost slipped.”

“Because the ocean attacked me.”

“The ocean?”

“Yes.”

Marcus shook his head slightly, clearly unimpressed by my logic. Then unfortunately—his eyes dropped briefly toward me again. And somehow that felt worse now after the waist thing. Much worse. I crossed my arms immediately in self-defense.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” I opened my mouth confidently—then realized I genuinely had no idea how to explain it.

Like he noticed too much lately. Like every glance lasted longer now. Like the air around us kept changing when we were alone. Dangerous. Dangerous. Dangerous. Before I could embarrass myself further, Troy suddenly came running dramatically toward the water.

“Oh my God,” he announced loudly. “The sexual tension reached the shoreline.” Oh God I really hate them now. And I'm starting to hate supposedly...peaceful vacation trip.

I nearly inhaled seawater. “There is no sexual tension!”

Marcus looked suspiciously amused beside me. Troy pointed aggressively between us.

“He literally grabbed your waist.”

“So I wouldn’t fall.”

“That’s how romance novels start.” I wanted the ocean to consume me immediately. Now. Like literally now.

I turned toward Troy with pure betrayal in my eyes. “You are no longer my friend.”

“That’s fine,” he replied dramatically. “I’ll still attend the wedding.”

“There is no wedding!” I shouted.

Marcus looked deeply entertained now. Which honestly made everything worse. Steve was practically dying laughing from the shore while Vanessa simply removed her sunglasses slightly like she was observing a social experiment.

Meanwhile Mia looked one second away from defending me.

Finally.

“Leave Ashley alone,” she called out.

Thank God. Then unfortunately—“She’s clearly overwhelmed.”

Traitor. I closed my eyes briefly.

“I hate all of you.” I somehow mean it but not totally.

Troy ignored me completely before leaning closer dramatically. “You know what the real problem is?”

“There are many.”

“You two look good together.” I couldn't help but grimace in his opinion.

I pointed aggressively at Marcus. “He insults me constantly.”

“And you insult him back romantically.”

“That’s not a thing!”

Marcus finally spoke beside me. “It unfortunately is.”

I slowly turned toward him in disbelief.

“You’re agreeing with them now?”

“I’m observing.”

“That word should be banned from your vocabulary.”

A faint smirk appeared again. Tiny. Annoying. Dangerously attractive. Before anyone could continue humiliating me further, Steve suddenly stood from the lounger and stretched lazily.

“We should do something fun today.”

Troy gasped dramatically. “Yes.”

Vanessa looked suspicious immediately. “Your definition of fun concerns me.”

Steve ignored her. “Island hopping.”

Honestly? That immediately caught my attention.

Because the surrounding islands looked ridiculously beautiful from shore. White beaches. Crystal-clear water. Tiny hidden coves. Paradise basically.

“Oh wait,” Troy suddenly added while looking toward me dramatically. “Can pregnant women island hop?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m pregnant, not dying.”

Marcus crossed his arms beside me. “She still needs to be careful.”

I stared at him immediately. “Why do you sound like my personal bodyguard lately?”

Marcus looked entirely calm. “You lack survival instincts.”

Rude.

Accurate.

But rude.