Page 10 of Room 810

Toby led the way back to the cabin and stopped at the door. As soon as he let go, my hand felt empty without his. I didn’t want to say goodbye yet, but I was struggling to find anything to say to make him stay. “Um, I’m going to be so sore tomorrow,” I grumbled, rubbing at my thighs.

“Mm, the best thing you can do is keep moving so your muscles don’t cramp up.” He took a step back down the pathway and smirked. “And that’s where the next stage of my plan comes in,” Toby said mysteriously, tapping his nose like I should know what he meant. “Go shower and change, and I’ll come pick you up in an hour.”

Instead of walking through the room with my dripping swim trunks and sandy feet, I walked around to the outdoor shower. I now understood why they had it outside instead of inside the room.

I turned the water to scalding and closed my eyes, tipping my face up to the spray. My hands shook as I scrubbed hard at my skin, gritty from the salt that had dried across my body. I blew out a shaky breath. I realized Toby hadn’t really been in danger of drowning, but that possibility was still there in my mind, and it left me rattled. And it wasn’t because he was my tour guide…

I felt something more for Toby.

6

Toby

Theskywasthebest part about a storm, even before it began. The setting sun had lit the sky on fire. It had something to do with high-pressure systems trapping particles in the atmosphere or something, but I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy the vibrant red sunset today. Instead, it felt more like an omen hanging heavily over my island, like a shroud.

I should’ve told Gabriel…

I couldn’t say exactly why I hadn’t mentioned the storm. He had a right to know, just as every guest here did, but every time I considered telling him, I found myself going quiet. And now that the final flight was leaving in about an hour, he would be forced to stay here until after the storm had passed. There was no sense in worrying about it anymore. He would find out soon enough.

Pushing the thought from my mind as I jogged down the path to Gabriel’s room, I drew on my smile and knocked on his door. Without waiting for an answer, I pushed it open. “Yoo-hoo!” I called, sticking my head through the gap.

There was a yelp and a flurry of movement, and I turned to see Gabe clutching a towel over his crotch. He was fresh from the shower, water still beaded on his skin, pink from the heat—or maybe from a blush.

Proper etiquette dictated that I should back out of the room, apologize for intruding… but I didn’t look away. Or more accurately, Icouldn’tlook away. He was showing no more skin than he had during our surfing lesson, but it was far more intimate this way, knowing he could expose it all by simply opening his fist and dropping that towel.

My whole body felt tight, my breath skittering past my lips in a pant. I cleared my throat, and I was suddenly glad for the loose sarong I was wearing, for its ability to hide a bulge. “Are you ready?” I asked, though it was painfully obvious he was not.

“Uh, almost.” His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he licked his lips. His eyes flicked just once down my body.

“Well, hurry up! They’re going to start without us.” I forced myself to step out and gave him a few minutes. He finally came out wearing a fresh set of swim trunks, bright blue this time. I grinned. “My Paradise Isle logo looks good on you.”

He smiled, but it was a bit strained. “Thanks. I appreciate your generosity with the clothes. Still no sign of my luggage, though?” he asked.

The question made me uneasy. This was my chance to come clean, but instead, I waved away his concern. “Don’t worry, it’ll show up.”

I led the way down to the beach in front of the main building, where I kicked off my sandals and dug my toes into the sand. It was still warm from the sun, even as I felt the cooler breeze coming off the ocean.

“A bonfire?” he asked.

“We have one every weekend,” I told him. “There’ll be music and food—and drinks, of course.” The fire was just getting started, the flames reaching toward the darkening sky. There were a few locals playing some instruments and singing softly.

Normally the evening would start with a movie for the kids, that we projected onto the side of the building, but with the impending storm, all the young families had already left. Tonight’s gathering would be mostly staff, long-term guests, and a lot of locals.

Perched on a log beside the fire, Miguel waved at us and held his drink up in a salute. He looked loose, his smile too wide; he’d obviously had a head start on the alcohol. He had the right idea.

I hooked my arm through Gabriel’s and drew him over to the tables we had set up along the patio. “You need a drink,” I declared, grabbing a bottle of the local beverage of choice. I poured the thick brown liquid into a hollowed-out coconut shell and passed it to Gabe. “Here, this will help you relax. I guarantee it.”

“Who says I need to relax?” he asked, and I shot him a look. He huffed a laugh. “Okay, fine.” He glanced into the half-shell and frowned. “It looks like mud.” He sniffed it and jerked back with a wince. “Smells like it too. You expect me to drink this? What is it?”

I smiled slyly. “Would knowing what it is change your mind about whether you’re going to drink it or not?”

“Yes, obviously,” he said without blinking.

Without hesitation, I took the cup from him and tipped it to my lips, holding my breath to brace against the flavor. I swallowed quickly, and felt it begin to work its magic almost instantly. Then I passed the drink back to him and raised an eyebrow, issuing a dare.

He sighed, but the corners of his mouth quirked up. “Fine. You win. I’ll admit, it’s important for me to partake in the full experience.” I loved seeing him step out of his comfort zone, even if it was just for the sake of his blog review. Scrunching up his face, he took a cautious sip. “It’s… not bad. A little bitter, and…” He frowned, working his jaw back and forth. “Why are my lips going numb?”

A few people laughed; they’d been watching him drink, waiting for his reaction.

---