Page 29 of The Last Sunrise

No problem just text me when you’re done

I press the L button and ride down to the lobby to see if Amara’s there while I wait. The desk is empty when I step out, but I hear her distinct laughter coming from a hallway nearby. I follow the noise and find her pressed against the stone wall, her hands held above her head, with Prisha’s mouth on hers. Amara’s knee moves between Prisha’s thighs, gently pressing between them.

I can’t seem to look away. I should, I most certainly, definitely, absolutely should, but Julián pops back into my head and I can’t help but imagine him pinning me against a wall…

“Oh, Ry. Hey!” Amara says, snapping me out of my voyeurism.

I cover my face with my hands, though it’s obviously too late to pretend.

“Sorry, guys! I heard you laughing and came to find you!” My voice is loud and creaky.

Kill me.

“It’s all good.” Amara laughs as Prisha lowers her hands down to her side, still holding them.

Prisha turns to me. “Ry, I hope you got home okay last night.” Her face crinkles in worry. “I’m sorry we weren’t paying attention to what was happening to you,” Prisha explains, sincerity in her large brown eyes.

She’s less dressed-up today in tight jeans, a tucked-in black T-shirt, and strappy heeled sandals. Her makeup is subtle and she’s even more drop-dead gorgeous in the light of day. Amara seems to agree, not taking her eyes off Prisha as we talk.

“No, no. It’s totally not your fault. I’m sorry I got drunk and danced with that creep. One too many Fabio shots.” I laugh a little, and the two of them nod, agreeing with laughter.

“I just came down to say hi while waiting for my mom. We’re having breakfast, then a boat ride, then blah blah blah…” I sigh, leaning against the cold stone wall on the opposite side of them.

“You’re not meeting Julián?” Amara asks, nodding in the direction of the lobby.

I shake my head. “I wish,” I blurt out.

Both of their brows lift, and they share a look.

“Well, your wish is his command, because he’s been waiting in the lobby for you for like two hours,” Amara tells me.

Taking a few steps toward the lobby and peering out of the hallway, I search for him. How did I miss him when I passed by? “Really?”

They nod. Amara talks first.

“Oh yeah, realllyyyyy.” She draws out the sounds in the most dramatic way.

“You two get back to… yeah… and I’m going to find him,” I say, moving so quickly I’m not sure if they can even hear me.

I turn the corner and there he is, sitting on the arm of one of the oversized couches in the lobby. Seeing him is such a relief and such a rush, it’s confusing and contradictory, but god, it feels so good.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you have a job?” I tease him.

“I do, but since I’m the second-in-command, I can show up a little late.”

“Ah, okay, big shot.” I’m touched that he would spend his time here, waiting for me, so I stop the teasing.

“I’m sorry I didn’t know you were here and I passed by but didn’t see you,” I tell him, not able to hide the growing smile on my face.

His lips curl into an equally cheesy smile. “I had to pee. I’d been holding it forever, so I ran to the toilet, and of course, that’s when you came down.”

“Have you really been here two hours?” I ask, tilting my head and taking him in.

The teal color of his T-shirt looks so good against the color of his skin.

Raising one hand, he rubs the back of his neck. “It was closer to three, but yeah,” he admits, shyness covering his words.

“Well, thank you. I really wanted to see you today, and since my day is booked up, I thought I wasn’t going to be able to.”