Page 8 of My One Rule

We stop to put our feet in the water. He snaps a photo of that as well and he posts all four photos to Instagram.

“Now people might realize we’re here,” I warn.

“Oh…”

Regret ruins the moment.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m fine with it,” I tell him.

There’s the question of if I’m sure when he looks at me next.

“Yes, please. I want you to do whatever you want and not feel uncomfortable.”

“Okay,” he says with a smile.

Taking out his phone, he starts uploading the photo and shows me the caption before posting.

It says: Palm trees, kisses and cones, what could be better?

It’s so him. And I absolutely love it, just as I love him.

“It’s perfect.”

Three

Oliver

Dinner consists of sitting by the ocean side and watching gymnasts perform as we’re served dinner. I can truthfully say I’ve never experienced anything like it before. The restaurant’s lights shift from blue to red to a yellow glow throughout the performance.

Ace carves into his stake while I enjoy my shrimp and noodles as the people move with precision and a kind of flexibility I thought was an exaggeration.

We’re halfway through our meal when it comes to an end and the lights shift to a dim, warm yellow and remain that way.

“What did you think?”

Slurping up a noodle, I try to chew quickly and swallow. “It was really cool.”

Honestly since pulling into the resort, my mind has been focused on our time together instead of everything else that’s been eating away at me. It’s a nice change.

“I’m glad you liked it.”

Narrowing my eyes I say in the most serious voice I can manage, “It pales in comparison to the nudist pool though.”

Ace nearly chokes on the wine he’s sipping.

My shoulders shake from laughing and I have to bite my bottom lip as he recovers.

“You’re so right,” he finally says.

“Let’s spend as much time there if we can,” I say jokingly as I twirl the noodles with my fork.

“Of course. Let’s skip everything else. We can even sleep there if you’d like,” he says back to me.

“I’m already undressing as you speak.”

Ace cracks and we both chuckle.

“My mom would love you,” he says unexpectedly. He clears his throat and adds, “Would have loved you…”

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