She was grateful but proceeded to kick us out so she could rest. Faith went back to Asher, and I hesitated outside my room. Declan had gone back to the room when we arrived, but I couldn’t help but want to see Luca.
My fingers curled around my key card, digging the plastic into my palm. How could I have been so dumb? I didn’t like feeling this way, wanting to see a man that didn’t care about me. Maybe the girls from high school were right. Maybe all I was good for was a good fuck. I’d never be the marrying type. So, why did my heart react to Luca like he was my lifeline? And why the fuck did I want him when he didn’t want me the same way?
As my thoughts tore me down, a door opened, revealing the man that had stolen all of my commonsense. Our eyes locked, and my breath caught in my throat. He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to his adonis-like body. Just one look at him caused rational thoughts to fly out the window.
He closed the distance between us and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me flush against his chest. Despite the heaviness in my heart, my stomach fluttered at the feeling of my body pressed against his. I sunk into his warmth. Being in his arms made everything seem better.
“How are you?” he mumbled against my hair.
I shook my head as the tears soaked into his shirt. “I don’t know, Luca.”
He held me tighter and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. The gesture was simple, but it meant more to me than it was probably meant to. I was tired of fighting my feelings for him. I knew he felt something for me. But why wouldn’t he let me show him what we could be?
“Have you eaten anything?” he asked.
“Not yet.”
“Want to come eat with me? I have a pizza in my room.”
The thought of being in the hotel room alone with him sent hot tingles through me, but a cold jolt replaced it as I thought of the man I came here with. “I can’t. I need to go to Declan.”
His body tensed, and he let go of me, stepping back. “I’m sorry. I’ll see you guys at one for scuba diving, I guess.” He retreated back into his room and left me in the hallway reliving what had just happened.
I wrapped my arms around myself as I stared at the door. Luca was so much more than he let on. I had to talk to Declan. I was leading him on because there was no way I was ready to let go of the possibility of Luca.
I took a deep breath before unlocking our room. I found Declan grabbing clothes from the closet and packing them into his expensive suitcases. When he glanced up at me, he gave me a sad smile.
The guilt slithered through my veins like gasoline. “You’re leaving?”
He walked over, gripping my chin, and lifting my face to meet his gaze. “You’re in love with Luca. A blind man could see it. You don’t have room in your heart for me, little flower.”
Somehow, the nickname didn’t irritate me. Instead, it made me sad. “Did you see—”
He nodded. “Outside the door? Yes.”
“I’m so sorry, Declan.”
He let his hand fall and he shook his head. “Please, don’t apologize. You can’t control your heart.”
I nodded. “But I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment before squaring his shoulders. “Listen, you and Luca have something special. It was obvious he hated me for even breathing next to you. There’s something between you. Don’t let him push you away. We never know how much time we get with the person we love. Don’t waste it with indecisiveness.”
I blinked at him because fuck. A weight lifted off my chest. He was right.
“And to be completely honest with you,” he continued. “I’m not sure it’s time for me to move on from Sophie.”
I nodded, the tension in my shoulders had dissipated. “I’m sorry for bringing you out here.”
He went back over and resumed packing. “It was good to take a vacation for once. Besides, you taught me that I wasn’t ready to open my heart to someone new yet.”
And you taught me to fight for the love I knew I could have.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and helped Declan pack. I had to get to the bottom of whatever Luca and I had. Even if it ended badly, I would get closure during this trip. I was hellbent to get it and this time, I wouldn’t let him run away from me.
Day Three
1 PM - 3 PM - Scuba Diving
We stood on the edge of the boat with wet suits on. Oxygen cylinders were strapped to our backs and two respirators dangled at our sides. The diving instructor said there was one to breathe through and the other was a spare. I glanced at the instrument console: pressure gauge, depth gauge, and compass. The instructor had explained everything to us but was going through everything one more time before we were permitted to start diving.
“Alright. One more go through, and then I think you should be ready.” The shoulder-length, sandy-blonde instructor had a mile-wide smile as he stood on the edge with us. “Rule number one, never hold your breath underwater. Can someone tell me why?”
Evelyn popped her hand up. “Holding our breath underwater can result in serious injury and even death.” She repeated the words he had drilled into our heads before we boarded the boat.
He vigorously nodded his head. “Exactly. Keeping in mind Boyle’s law, the air in a diver’s lungs expands during ascent and contracts during descent. As long as you breathe continuously, this won’t be a problem because that excess air can escape. But when a diver holds their breath, the air can’t
