Page 23 of Jilted
“Nothing.” He smiled, and then added, “You just look...I mean, the way the moonlight is shining...” Brett sighed, then chuckled. “I have no idea what I’m trying to say.”
Amy cocked her head to the side and gave him a quizzical look. He was acting so weird. She wondered if he’d been infested by a rare, aquatic parasite that was slowly eating at his brain, making him say and do things out of character. Don’t be ridiculous! She really had to stop watching all those shows on Animal Planet. They walked several more feet in silence.
Then Brett said, “The way you were staring up at the stars, you looked absolutely beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She felt her face flush with warmth. Dear God, was she blushing?
Brett raised their hands and pressed a kiss to the back of hers. Then, without a word, he lowered them, and they continued to walk as if nothing had happened. Amy was starting to feel like she was in an episode of The Twilight Zone.
Several yards in front of them, a couple lay on the beach. The distinct sounds of moans floated on the light breeze. Amy glanced at Brett. “Are they...?
“They’re having sex,” he whispered.
They stopped walking and stared at the couple with disbelief. Amy couldn’t believe that anyone would have sex like that, out in the open where anyone could happen upon them. Yet, as she forced herself to look away, she couldn’t help but be envious of them. That’s what Amy had always wanted – a love so strong, so intense that nothing would prevent them from being together, that they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
“C’mon, let’s head back.” Brett turned, and Amy followed.
A few moments later, Amy asked, “Are you going to take her back? Vanessa, I mean. Are you going to try and talk to her, work things out when we get home?” Amy’s heart raced as she waited for his answer. It was a question that had been bothering her since they arrived yesterday, and considering Brett hadn’t talked about Vanessa at all, it was really weighing on Amy’s mind.
“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about talking to her,” he said after a long pause.
Amy was afraid of that. Brett always blamed himself for every breakup, regardless of whether it was actually his fault or not. And he would always try to make things right, too, even if he’d been the one to end the relationship. He was too nice sometimes.
“But not at the expense of you or our friendship. I’m realizing that no woman is worth that. Besides, why rush things, right? I’m sure there is a woman out there who will love me and accept my friendship with you.”
She laughed bitterly, and then clamped her lips shut. Shit. She hadn’t meant to laugh at him like that. “I’m sorry. It’s just...well, we’ve both been down this road before. No one seems to understand us. I’m beginning to believe that it’s hopeless.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. The last thing she wanted to do was be a pessimist. Brett, even though he would never openly admit it, was a romantic at heart.
“Do you really believe that?” Brett asked.
Amy shrugged. “If the past is any indication of the future, then yes, I really believe that.”
“Hmm,” he said like he was thinking of something else to say. “What about that one guy? He seemed okay with our friendship.”
“Finn?” Amy laughed long and hard. “He was bi-sexual, remember? He wanted to invite you into bed with us.”
“Oh, right, thanks for dumping that guy.” Brett laughed.
Amy yawned. The bungalow came into view. She reluctantly released Brett’s hand and put her shoes back on. It had been a good night.
Chapter Ten
Brett kicked the blanket off him and onto the floor; then he rolled from his side to his back with an audible sigh. When he’d agreed to sleep on the couch and let Amy have the bed, he didn’t realize just how uncomfortable the couch was. That, combined with his racing thoughts, he hadn’t slept a wink since turning in three hours ago.
He rubbed his hand over his chin – the same hand that had held Amy’s earlier. Why he’d done that, he had no idea. But he’d liked it. His initial reaction was how perfectly her hand fit into his, which was odd considering he’d held her hand dozens of times when they’d danced. Of course, holding her hand while dancing and holding her hand just because were two completely different things.
Swinging his legs over the side of the couch, Brett stood. Sleep was elusive and continuing to lay there was only going to annoy him. Before he could think about what he was doing, he was up the stairs and standing at the foot of the bed. He watched Amy sleep, the steady rise and fall of her chest, the way her hair fell across her forehead.
Closing his eyes, he recalled how she’d looked earlier when she stared up at the stars. The moon had cast a soft glow over her face, and he could see the stars reflected in her eyes. It was like he was seeing her for the first time, and the reaction he had to her was overwhelming. How could he have known her for so long and not noticed how beautiful she was? How smart and caring and funny she was? A part of him always knew, but he’d never really known to the level that he was now realizing.
He opened his eyes and focused his gaze on her once again before quietly opening the double doors and stepping out onto the balcony. A light breeze blew in from the ocean and caressed his bare chest. It gave him goose bumps.
He rested his forearms on the railing and leaned over, letting his head fall. Like it or not, he had to come to some sort of resolution with Vanessa. He knew he didn’t love her, that he didn’t want to be with her, but...there must’ve been something between them. If there wasn’t, then why had he proposed to her in the first place?
What they shared was intense and hot. After six months of being together, that initial excitement of a new relationship hadn’t faded. God, was he that desperate to settle down that he’d propose to a woman simply because the sex was good?
And Amy. God, what was he going to do about Amy? They’d been on this island for less than two days, and each moment was pure torture. Every second that passed, every smile she gave him, every laugh they shared made it harder and harder not to grab her and kiss her. He honestly didn’t know how much longer he could be around her and not tell her how he really felt.
