Page 31 of Once Upon a Holiday Vacation
For several long moments, we lay there, tangled together and gasping for breath. I could feel his heart racing against my chest, matching the frantic rhythm of my own. Slowly, carefully, I eased out of him, both of us wincing.
I went to the bathroom where I disposed of the condom and wet a washcloth with warm water. Carrying it back to the bed, I gently cleaned him up then tossed the washcloth onto the floor before climbing back into bed.
He yawned as I pulled the blankets over us and tucked him into my side. I gazed into his sleepy eyes, still marveling at the intensity of what we’d just shared. “That was...”
“Incredible,” he finished, a shy smile playing on his lips.
I nodded, pulling him closer. “Yeah. Incredible doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
We lay there in comfortable silence for a while, my fingers tracing lazy patterns on his skin. I could feel his heartbeat gradually slowing, matching the steady rhythm of my own.
Easton’s breathing had started to even out, his body relaxing further into my embrace. The room was bathed in the soft silvery glow of moonlight sneaking in through the window. His eyelids fluttered, fighting against the pull of sleep. “West?” he murmured, his voice thick and drowsy.
“Yeah, babe?” I whispered, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
He snuggled closer, his lips brushing against my collarbone as he spoke. “I love…”
His voice drifted off, replaced with a gentle snore but I felt like I’d just had a bucket of ice water thrown on me. My heart hammered in my chest. Had Easton been about to say helovedme?
I mean, I knew he did. The two of us had said we loved each other for years, but that had always been in a friendly, brotherly sort of way. But I had a feeling this time, he meant it in acompletely different way. The way you said it when you were IN love with someone.
I lay there for a long time, staring up at the ceiling as my mind raced. His warm breath tickled my neck as he slept peacefully beside me. How had we gone from best friends to this in just a few short days? And more importantly, where did we go from here?
The thought of losing Easton terrified me. He’d been my rock, my constant, for as long as I could remember. If we tried for a real relationship and it didn’t work out, not only could I lose my best friend, but also the only family who had ever given a shit about me.
As the first light of dawn crept through the curtains, I found myself still wide awake, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. I carefully extricated myself from Easton’s embrace, padding quietly to the small balcony attached to our cabin.
The crisp morning air nipped at my bare skin as I stepped outside, leaning against the railing. The ocean stretched out before me, a vast expanse of deep blue kissed by the pink and orange hues of the rising sun, but I barely noticed any of it.
The thought of losing Easton, of things becoming awkward or ending badly between us, made my chest ache. He was more than just my best friend—he was my family, my home.
The idea of not having him in my life was unthinkable, the risk too much, the price of losing too high. With a deep breath, I turned back toward the room, steeling myself for what I was about to do.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
WESTON
I stepped backinto our cozy cabin, the cool morning air still clinging to my skin like a ghostly embrace. My eyes immediately landed on Easton, who was just beginning to stir.
He stretched languidly under the crisp white sheets, his dark hair tousled and his hazel eyes blinking away the remnants of sleep. My breath caught in my throat as he smiled up at me, that soft, sleepy smile that always made my heart skip a beat.
“Morning,” he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. “Come back to bed? It’s still early.”
I hesitated, my heart aching at the sight of him looking so inviting, so utterly perfect. God, how I wanted to crawl back under those sheets and wrap myself around him. But I couldn’t. I had to stick to the plan.
“Actually,” I said, forcing a casual tone that felt entirely wrong, “I was thinking we should make the most of our last day on the ship. You know, go out with a bang and all that.”
His brow furrowed slightly, surprise flickering across his features. “Oh,” he said, sitting up slowly. “I thought... never mind. Yeah, that sounds good.”
I watched as he fumbled for his glasses on the nightstand, my chest tightening with each passing second. This was for the best, I told myself. “Great,” I said, plastering on a grin that felt more like a grimace. “Why don’t you grab a shower, and I’ll order us some breakfast?”
He nodded, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. “Okay, sure. Thanks.”
As he padded towards the bathroom, I couldn’t help but let my eyes linger on the gentle slope of his back, his pert little ass. I wanted to memorize every detail, knowing that soon, this would all be just a bittersweet memory.
The sound of the shower starting up snapped me out of my thoughts. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. This was going to be harder than I thought, but I had to do it. For the sake of our friendship. Even if it meant breaking my own heart in the process.
The sun beat down mercilessly as we made our way to the pool deck. The air was thick with the scent of sunscreen and chlorine, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional splash. I squinted against the glare, scanning the crowd for an empty spot.
