Page 38 of Overachiever
The day with the girls is everything I hoped it would be when I ordered the pricey tickets. Relaxing fun on the ocean while we catch up and talk the day away. It’s evening when we have our scheduled massages, and it’s a perfect way to end the cruise.
After a very thorough rubdown from a man whose hands need to be placed in the hall of fame, I join Serena and Zara on the deck to watch the sunset while the boat heads back to shore.
Owen would love one of the night cruises, where he could see the stars. Maybe we could take one. I can’t wait to tell him about the dolphins and—something inside me snaps to attention. I’m thinking about Owen. Looking forward to talking to him. We’ve only been apart a day and…I miss him.
I’ve let myself get too attached. With all the times I’ve reminded myself that it’s just a temporary fling, some part of me forgot. Was it the sweet sex this morning? The message he sent me earlier showing him on a jet ski? Even in the middle of the fun he was having, I came to his mind the same as he did mine.
This isn’t supposed to happen in a friends with benefits situation. Is it?
“I need advice,” I blurt out. “I’m thinking about Owen.”
“Okay.” Zara pauses. “Thinking what about Owen?”
Sighing, I rub my cheek. “No, I mean, he keeps popping into my head when he shouldn’t. And he messaged me earlier so maybe I’m in his head too and that isn’t how this is supposed to go. We’re just sleeping together. It’s temporary. It’s just sex.”
A look is exchanged between them before Zara asks in a soft voice. “Is it, though?”
“Yes!” It has to be.
Serena tucks her legs beneath her. “Okay, let’s talk it out a little. You agreed to be friends with benefits.”
“Right.”
“Only while you’re in Florida.”
“Yes, just a summer vacation fling.”
Zara’s gaze meets mine. “Vacation flings usually end because you both go back home. To separate places where you never see that person again. You and Owen are going to see each other. A lot. I don’t think you’ve thought this through.”
No, I didn’t, which isn’t like me at all. I just said to hell with it, let’s get laid, and now things are spiraling in my head.
“Is it only sex, Remee?” Serena asks. “Do you ever sleep in the same bed?”
“Well, yes, it doesn’t make sense to switch beds after.”
“So only when you’ve had sex?” My answer must show on my face because she nods and adds, “Every night. I’ve seen you together. He holds your hand, you smile at each other constantly. Have you spent most of your time together since you got here?”
Damn near all of it. “Yeah, we have. It’s not like we really know anyone else though.” That’s bullshit, and I know it. The guys from work often invite him out and some of their girlfriends have tried to include me when we all end up hanging out at the beach.
Zara speaks up. “Have you talked about important stuff? Been there for each other? Comforted each other?”
I think back to holding his hand while he freaked out meeting his favorite author, him tending to my sunburn, holding me when I was upset over the guys at work being assholes, our talks about the future and what we hoped to get from it.
Serena rubs my shoulder when I bury my face in my hands. “That isn’t how friends with benefits or fuck buddies or whatever works. That’s not a fling. It’s a relationship, whether you’ve defined it or not.”
“I can’t be in a relationship. It’s not in my plan. Not yet, anyway. First, I have to graduate, then find a good job and get settled into my career. I’m not even halfway to that goal.” Panic sneaks into my voice, and I take a deep breath.
“You can’t plan for love,” Serena says, squeezing my hand. “It just happens.”
“He doesn’t love me! We’re not in love. It’s just…he’s good in bed and fun, and I need to put an end to it.” The last words strike me hard with their truth as they spill out of my mouth. I have to end it now, and the thought hurts more than I want to admit.
“Remee.” The reasoned calm of Zara’s voice pierces my growing hysteria. “It doesn’t have to be one or the other, you know. You can date and be successful.”
They don’t understand. They don’t understand how the smallest mistake can screw everything up, how one slip up can steal your life. “It’s fine. I’m making too big a deal of it. I just need to talk to Owen and tell him we need to stop. We’ll all be back home in three weeks. Everything can go back to how it was.”
Serena looks at her phone when it won’t stop buzzing. “It’s Graham. The guys are at the hospital.”
Fear races through me for a few seconds until she continues, “Marty broke his leg.”
