I couldn’t fall asleep. I heard every noise from his every breath and sigh and every movement he made. The air conditioner eventually kicked on as I stared at the cracks in the walls and then the ceiling. We had spent enough nights together that I knew he wasn’t asleep, too, just by the way he breathed, but we lay there, not speaking, not touching, both of us feeling tortured.

Chapter Twenty-One

It seemed like I had just dozed off when the birds outside began to chirp and squawk. Taylor sucked in a deep breath and blew it out, signaling that he was still asleep.

I crept out of bed, put on my swimsuit, cover-up, and hat, and I grabbed my sunglasses and phone before sneaking outside.

“Oh. Hey,” Travis said. “Are you going down to the beach?”

I nodded. “You?”

He shook his head. “Headed to Thomas’s room before they leave. They have an early flight.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, maybe I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah.”

Before I could take another step, Travis said, “Falyn? You make Taylor really happy. He didn’t just tell me that the other night, but it’s all over his face. Don’t let any boneheaded thing he might pull get in the way of that.”

My stomach sank. “Does everyone know?”

“Does everyone know what?” he asked.

I winced. “Nothing. Congratulations.” I passed him, trying not to run down the stairs.

I was the only one on the long stairway and the first one on the beach. The front row of loungers was free, so I picked one in the middle and relaxed.

Ten minutes later, another couple arrived. The sky changed gradually from black to dark blue to light blue, and then a spray of colors was cast across the sky, revealing the ocean and everything else the sunlight touched.

I closed my eyes and listened to the waves and the birds, trying to drown out my thoughts. I breathed in the thick salty air, failing miserably at keeping my focus on the beauty surrounding me and not the ugly visions of Taylor’s hands on the woman from California—his lips on hers, kissing and touching her the way he had done to me so many times before, how much she must have enjoyed herself because he was very, very good at those things.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the display, swiping when I saw a message from Taylor.

Is that you on the beach?

I turned, quickly locating him on our balcony.

Yes.

Okay. I’ll leave you alone. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.

You don’t have to.

I don’t have to what?

Leave me alone.

Within three minutes, Taylor was standing next to my lounger on the beach, wearing nothing but swimming trunks and sunglasses on his head. He sat down, still panting.

“We have a lot to talk about,” I said.