Chapter 104
“Exactly. That’s what makes it impressive.”
The breeze whips against my face as we pick up speed. I start to relax just a little. Maybe it’s the way he keeps checking in with soft, “You okay?” and “Left turn coming in 3… 2…” Or maybe it’s the way I know, deep down, he’s not going to let anything happen to me.
I tighten my arms around his middle, resting my head against his back and listening to his heart beat speed up. It’s harder to paddle in this position, but whatever.
—
I try to keep my groping to the minimum every time he lets out a yelp – I can’t let him kill us both, obviously – so I settle for
pressing my nose again his back.
Have I mentioned how good he smells?
―
At some point we, thankfully, stop paddling. “Okay,” Liam says. “First clue: ‘Take a photo sharing an ice cream under the pink umbrella at Main Street Creamery.“”
“How are we supposed to do that? I can’t even see the ice cream.”
“You don’t have to. Just open your mouth when I say ‘now.“”
I laugh. “That sounds dangerous.”
“Do you trust me?”
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“I blindly trusted you with a moving vehicle, didn’t I?”
He stops pedaling. “We’re here.”
A moment later, something cold and sweet touches my lips.
I bite down. “Mint chocolate chip?”
“Bonus points for guessing the flavour.”
He leans close. “Say cheese.”
I hear the click of the camera, and feel his arm around my waist. Even through the blindfold, I can feel his gáze. Warm. Close.
“One down,” he says softly. “Two more to go.”
The next clue read: Take a Piggyback Ride Through the Wildflowers.
“I’m going to break your back,” I warn him.
“Please. You weigh like a cloud.”
“That’s a simile.”
He bends down, and I climb on. His arms hook under my thighs. I hold tight.
The wildflowers brush my legs as we move through them. He hums a song under his breath. Something soft. Something that makes me want to press my face to his neck and never get down.
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“Write something cute in the sand,” Liam reads while we’re on the road.
“Is this the last stop?”
“Yes, love. I’ll draw you a bath when we get back.”
We reach a tiny beach spot.
“Want to know what I’m writing?” he says.
“Sure.”
I hear him crouch, his hand dragging through the sand.
He presses a finger into my palm after. One word.
Mine.
I freeze. But I don’t say anything. I just smile.
EMILIA
TWO DAYS LATER
We arrived at the dock five minutes early. Surprisingly, we were the first ones there.
Becca mentioned something about announcing the prize today, but honestly? I don’t care much.
Actually, I don’t care at all.
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Too much has happened these past few days. Everything’s been moving so fast, it’s hard to keep track of what matters.
At first, I hated being the face of the media on this cruise. The one who was always criticized by the media, having my life and private details on the front page.
But now, nobody on this cruise talks about the drama anyway. Probably because half of them are drowning in their own. Like, l‘ m not even the biggest scandal here — and that’s saying something.
—
Every day, more “oops–that–wasn’t–supposed–to–leak” photos drop. Celebrities. Influencers. People with last names that sound like they should own oil fields. All getting exposed left and right.
Which raises the question – who’s leaking all this stuff? And why?
Tessa swore up and down there’d be no media onboard. So either someone lied… or someone’s playing dirty.
I’m still chewing on that thought when Irma slaps her cards down on the table with a dramatic flourish and a smirk. “I’m winning.”
I squint at my own cards like they’re in a foreign language. “I don’t even know what game we’re playing.”
“You mean you don’t know how to play when Liam isn’t whispering cheat codes behind your back.”
It’s embarrassing how the mere mention of him has my cheeks heating up. Things have been pretty… weird between us and I
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almost kick myself every time I think about why.
Waking up in his arms and meeting his gorgeous blue eyes and having those dimples greet me good morning every morning is enough to get a girl to run mad.
Last night, I dreamt of us in the tub again, but this time, he didn‘ t have his back to the tub, no I pulled him in with me and-
My cheeks are so hot it’s uncomfortable to speak, but I do my best to keep my composure.
Emilia, what the hell is wrong with you?!
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