Chapter 6
Chapter 6:
Sandra and Ethan were kissing and giggling, clearly lost in their own world. I averted my eyes and focused on the distant figure of the woman I loved, watching as the wind whipped through her long hair and her strapless floral dress.
God, she was beautiful. She was so beautiful.
My heart tugged with guilt. I knew something was wrong the moment she said she wanted to go see the beach. Of course, there was nothing wrong with wanting to see it—it was the way she said it. It felt like something was bothering her, and I hated myself for still sitting there while she stood out by the shore, lost in her thoughts.
“Hey guys, I’ll be right back,” I announced to the kissing duo as I stood from my chair.
They only hummed in response, too busy with their lips and hands on each other. God help me. I felt so oppressed by them.
I grabbed my phone and a bottle of water from the table before leaving. The air grew fresher and more humid against my skin as I walked closer to the beach. The blue ocean stretched endlessly across the horizon, as if it were touching the tip of the clear afternoon sky. Funny enough, the weather was surprisingly cool despite the bright afternoon sun.
Finally, I reached Isla and stopped a couple of steps behind her, still drinking in the sight of her milky white skin and the way her chestnut hair cascaded in waves against it. Her elbows jutted out slightly, telling me her arms were crossed.
I stretched my hand to touch her shoulder, but as if on cue, she turned around and smiled.
“Caught you! When will you stop sneaking up on me, Asher?” she teased, still smiling.
“Well, I like sneaking up on you p>
She smiled again, but this time it didn’t reach her eyes. For a split second, we stared at each other, then she looked away.
“Are you alright?” I asked, worry lacing my voice.
“Yeah, uhm… I’m fine p>
She was lying.
“Hey, Isla. Remember, you’re talking to Asher Kane, the only guy on this planet who can read you like a book. I don’t mean that literally, but I know you’re lying—and I know something is definitely wrong p>
God knows I tried to keep my voice as light as I could. It took a moment, but then Isla smiled again.
She shrugged. “Well, I agree with you, Asher. Something is definitely wrong with me, but I don’t think you can help me p>
“Why?” I asked, suddenly feeling sober.
She stared at me for a long time. A long time. And I couldn’t help but wonder why.
Ł𝖆𝖙𝖾𝘀𝖙 𝙘ђ𝖺𝐩𝑡𝖾𝗋𝘀 ɡ⍺𝗅ⓝ𝗈ν𝓮𝗅𝓈﹒ⅽ𝗈𝗺
Her eyes drifted down to my lips. I sucked in a breath, swallowing hard, feeling like I had been punched in the stomach.
The silence between us was suffocating. It was killing me. I wanted to close the distance and crash my lips against hers.
But wait, Asher. This is her birthday. Maybe this isn’t the perfect time to throw all caution aside and confess your feelings.
“Asher p>
I blinked at the sound of her voice, the only voice in the world capable of echoing through my head and pulling me back to reality.
She took my hand in hers, and I swallowed again when her thumb brushed gently across it.
“Asher, I want to say thank you for the necklace. For the surprise. For letting me stay at your place. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me these past few days, and I want to say thank you p>
She was speaking, and her words, but I couldn’t stop watching her lips as they moved. Maybe it was because I loved watching them right now, but the truth was, I desperately wanted to kiss them. I had wanted to kiss those lips since the first day I saw them in Literature class back in college. They were the first lips that smiled at me. The first lips that stopped time for me. The first lips that offered me a seat when I stood frozen in front of the bustling class like a deer caught in headlights.
Or maybe like a guy struck straight through the heart by Cupid’s arrow.
I was snapped out of my trance when I felt warm arms wrap around my back. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. Her vanilla scent gave her away, reminding me once again how desperately I wanted someone I might never be able to have.
She’s your best friend, Asher. Don’t blow it.
I wrapped my arms around her, completing the embrace. I only hoped she couldn’t hear how violently my pulse hammered in my chest. I prayed she wouldn’t look up at me and ask why it was racing, because if she did, I had no idea what I would tell her.
I didn’t know what to say.
I placed my lips lightly on the center of her head and kissed her there. I knew she wouldn’t feel it—just like she might never feel or know how much I loved her.
After what felt like an eternal, sweet but torturous moment of bliss, Isla pulled away and tucked her her long hair behind her ears. “Uhm, Asher, could you please excuse me? I want to get myself some tequila from the bar inside the resort p>
Again, I caught the uneasiness in her voice. She was rubbing her palms repeatedly over her dress, and Isla never had sweaty palms.
“Oh… okay,” I stuttered, suddenly feeling like I should give her some space. “I’ll tell Sandra and Ethan that you’re at the bar p>
She nodded. “Thank you, Asher p>
And with that, she turned and walk away. briefly, I hoped she might glance back at me, or smile, or… something.
But she didn’t.
Not even as she reached the door of the bar and closed it behind her.