Page 59 of All at Once

What the fuck did I just say?Apparently, I also don’t know how to compliment Enrique without sounding like a complete moron.

He narrows his eyes at me amusedly. “Fluffy? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

It’s nice to see that he’s not completely repelled the way I’d be if someone said that to me.

“Oh. It’s great,” I clarify with burning cheeks. “The texture is just super soft.”

I don’t get it. I know what I want to say to him, but when I start speaking, I realize how jumbled everything sounds after the fact.

Luca must second the notion when I notice his puzzled expression from my periphery. Although, it’s clear to me that he’s masking the more amused one underneath, hoping that I don’t sense it. But when I see past it, I feel evenmoreembarrassed.

While he reassured me that there’s no wrong way to approach this, I feel like I’m doing everysinglething wrong. Letting go of Enrique’s hair, I decide to keep my hands back to my sides unless I’ve planned my next move accordingly.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Sofia thankfully says, “Okay, Jasmine and I are choosing what to do next.”

“Absolutely,” I agree enthusiastically.

Luca’s brows furrow at his sister. “Weren’t you the one who told us a week ago to come here? Something about ‘nostalgic memories from a few summers ago?’ Oh and how the view of the ocean here isn’t comparable to anywhere else? And—”

“You made your point smartass,” Sofia interrupts. I love how she answers him the way I want to, almost making me forget about my embarrassment from a moment ago.

“What about a bonfire?” I suggest.

Sofia gives me a smile. “Relaxing by a fire on the sand sounds perfect, but sadly the only day we’re allowed to have a fire on the beach is on June 23rd that’s calledLa Noche de San Juan.”

“But we have a lounge area at the resort that’s right by the shore,” Enrique offers. “And since it’s a private beach, I could reserve it just for us for tomorrow night. There’s plenty of lights there so we could justpretendit’s a bonfire,” he adds playfully, his dimples brightening up his face.

I smile warmly at him. “That’s perfect. Thank you.”

“I can get there a little earlier to set up our things,” Luca says.

“I can help,” I offer.

“That works since we’re not going to be working with anactualfire,” he says, his lips curving to the side.

If we were in private I would flip him off again. Instead I just scowl back, while Enrique adds, “Okay sweet. I’ll tell a few others to join us as well.”

The sudden modification in the plan isn’t one I expect, notinganothermoment that could have possibly given us more time to spend with each other had Enrique not added more people to it.

Sofia’s smile distracts me from this, when she glances over at Enrique and me knowingly. “Okay,” she says, “Luca and I will meet you guys at the end. We wanted to check out this one trail.” Something about the look on her face tells me she suggests this so that Enrique and I have a chance to be alone.

Grateful for her help, but also wondering what in the world I’m going to say now that they’re gone, my chest starts to tighten again.

I take a deep breath, reminding myself that when I’m more in my head about things, they usually don’t turn out great. And conversely, end up exceeding my expectations when I don’t try as much.

So when I look at Enrique and he notices, I take that as a cue to reach out toward his hand. I don’t particularly feel bolder, but who knows if Ieverwill?

Despite the doubts running through my mind, not to mention shaking hands, I brush my fingers over his. My effort to push myself pays off when he takes the initiative to intertwine his with mine. He glances at my lips briefly to which I almost forget how sweaty we both are, playing it coy with a simple smile on the outside. While beaming on the inside at the realization that I’m holding hands with a guy in a romantic setting for thefirsttime.

It's then that I remember Luca’s hand holding mine when he taught me how to surf, reminding myself how that wasjustpurely professional. Though my heartbeat was just as loud then as it is now.Maybe even more.

Enrique’s voice quickly pushes out the distracting memory. “Do you like steak?”

“Yeah, why?” I reply eagerly, my mouth also drooling at this point. “Are we going to have some now?”

He chuckles. “No. I was thinking of making some for tomorrow night.”

“You cook?” I say, my brows raised, realizing I haven’t asked Enrique all that much about him. And then suddenly feel a bit guilty for that. Although, he technically hasn’t asked much aboutmeeither.

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