No. He couldn’t be. He is a good guy. A really good guy. A guy who held me tight under the light of the stars and told me about his old friend in college. He kissed my lips and caressed my skin and made me feel wanted in a wholly new way. He held me in his arms all night and yet I don’t even know his last name.
My heart starts beating hard. What am I even thinking? This is insane. Being here, dreaming about a future with him when he is a man that I hardly know on his way out of town.
But as I get up from the mattress, pulling on my bra and panties… I blink back tears, frustrated with my own doubt because I do know him. Don’t I?
“Hey,” he says, waking and looking up at me as I pull my sundress over my head. “You don’t like to sleep in?”
I sit down on the mattress. “I have to work the brunch shift.”
He runs his hand over my thigh. “And I have a wedding to get ready for.”
I bite my bottom lip. “I had fun last night.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Fun? That’s what we’re calling this?”
I lift my shoulders in a shrug. “Well, I don’t know…”
He sits up. “I was hoping we could call it the first night of forever.”
I laugh, not taking him seriously. Because why would I?
“You know next to nothing about me,” I say softly.
“Then tell me everything I need to know.”
I laugh gently. “Tanner, I also know nothing about you.”
“Ouch.” He presses his palm to his heart. “You sure know how to bruise a man’s ego first thing in the morning.”
“I’m not trying to hurt your feelings. I’m just saying thanks. I had fun.”
“That word, fun, again,” he says with a bitter edge to his voice. He runs a hand through his hair. “See, I thought we had something special.”
He grabs his clothes and dresses quickly.
I’m conflicted — both wanting to protect my heart and wanting to give it to him freely.
“Do you want to meet up later? After the wedding?” I ask. “I get off at three.”
“The wedding is at two.” He smiles. “Join me at the reception?”
“At the Grand?”
He nods. “Now, can I at least buy you coffee before you go to work?”
I groan, pulling my phone from my bag. “Sorry. I’ve got to open the whole place up. I need to be there in thirty. I’ll just have enough time to change and get over there.”
We walk through the woods, his hand on the small of my back, and I love it being there — but I also feel fear winding its way up my spine. There is a reason locals don’t fall for tourists. There’s always a shelf life on the relationship. And maybe for some people that works just fine — a summer fling — but I’m not most people.
My heart goes all in. And I want to go all in with Tanner. Trouble is, he’s here for the weekend. And I’m looking for someone who isn’t going to leave.
During my shift, Xander comes to the restaurant and sits at the bar, waiting for me to take a break. Eventually I get a minute, and Jose makes us both Bloody Marys. I don’t have a hangover, but Xander clearly does.
“Last night got wild,” he says. “I thought you were gonna come out.”
Jose’s eyes meet mine. Heat rises to my cheeks.
“What aren’t you guys telling me?” Xander asks.
I shake my head, blushing.
Jose chuckles. “She left with a man. A very handsome man.”
“Really?” Xander slaps his hand down on the bar. “Hot damn, it’s about time, Twila!”
I roll my eyes. “Lower your voice if you want the details. Do we need the entire restaurant to know that I was a virgin?”
“Was?” Xander and Jose raise their eyebrows.
I laugh. “Whelp, I guess I broke the don’t kiss and tell rule.”
“Was he good to you?” Xander asks, all joking aside.
I groan. “Yeah. It was incredible.” I take a big gulp of my ice-cold Bloody Mary to cool off — the mere thought of Tanner naked, on top of me, gets me all worked up. “We went to my secret garden.”
Jose shakes his head. “That’s what people are calling it these days?”
“It’s not a metaphor,” I laugh. “I’m talking about my literal garden, the one back behind my mom’s house?” I wave my hand in the air, shoving the comment off. “Look, it was incredible, but it’s not happening again.”
“Why is that?”
“Because he’s a tourist. Because I know next to nothing about him. Because it’s stupid to consider this love at first sight when it might all be one-sided.”
“Wait, we’re talking the L word already?” Xander asks, eyes bugging out.
“Maybe?” I exhale. “I felt so… alive with him, but also at peace? Like anything was possible. Like we were possible.”
“So maybe it isn’t one-sided,” Tanner says. “Maybe he is your one and only.”
“You don’t think I’m crazy?”
Jose and Xander laugh. “Oh, we’ve always thought you were crazy. But in the best possible way. And if you think he might be the one, go find out if it’s the real deal, girl. No one deserves happiness like you do.”
Deciding my friends are right, after my shift I go to the Bahamas Grand Hotel with confidence in my step. Why shouldn’t I find happiness in the space of one night?
When I enter the crowded lobby, I see my mom working the front desk.
“Hey Mom.” I lean over the counter and give her a hug. “Miss you.”
“I miss you too, darling. You’ve been so busy acting wild and free.”
“Are you annoyed? I left a note.”
Mom laughs. “Twila! You’re a grown woman. I want you to be out having fun. So who were you with? The regular crew?”
I shake my
