Page 27 of 7 Dirty Lies

“Five.Fifty.Why can’t real life belikethis?”

God he was handsome.Even in the shadows of the night.The moon cast the faintest glow through the white curtains, lighting the side of his face up enough for me to admire.He’d shaved this morning so there was a decent layer of stubble on his rugged chin now.His nose was long and narrow but not perfect.When I got to his eyes I froze.He was waiting for me.Waiting with a look so desperate for me it overwhelmed every thought inmyhead.

“I forgot what you justasked.”

“Why can’t real life be like this?”he whispered,hoarse.

Raw.He was raw.His eyes, his words—everything—stripped bare, down to his soul,forme.

“Responsibilities.”

He swallowed.“Right now I don’t care about any of them.”He brushed his lips over mine.“I’m fucking miserable.Day in and day out I work myself to death for all ofthem.Why?”

I didn’t know the answer to that.“Youlovethem?”

His eyes pinched at the corners.With pain?Sadness?“I’m starting to wonder if it’s enough.”He kissed me again.“I’m giving up—” he hesitated, his lips moving but no words coming outuntil, “—this.”

A sharp ache sliced through my chest.Even if we threw everything out the window and tried to see each other again, it wouldn’t be the same.The man and woman who went on a waterfall picnic weren’t who we really were.It was better that we keep thatmemorypure.

Didn’t make it hurtanyless.

Besides, how would I ever explain that I’d lied about who I was?If I wanted to enjoy these last few hours with Colt, I needed to hold tight to this illusion I’d created forusboth.

“What if we come back next year?One year from now we’ll be different people.There’s no way I’m going home and picking up where I left off.Maybe you shouldn’teither.”

“A year?”His voice held a mix of disappoint and hope.“A year tochange.”

“You’re a workaholic and my life is kind of a mess right now.I think if we tried to keep this—what we have right now—we’d ruin it.I don’twantthat.”

“NeitherdoI.”

Good.A year would give me enough time to figure out how to explain my little white lies.And maybe he’d be so happy to see me again he wouldn’t care as much as he wouldrightnow.

“I’m a sunshine and rainbows, glass-half-full, pot-of-gold, pain in the ass, but I have goals, Colt.Just because I think positive doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to reality.”I took a deep breath, hoping it would give me the courage to finish this.“The last two days have been the best I’ve ever had.Because of you.I hope when I come back next year I’ll see your cowboy hat by the pool.Maybe we’ll be readybythen.”

“Is this a brush off?When I come back will I be all alone again, pining for a woman who never really existed?”His tone was teasing, but his eyes were deadlyserious.

I just wish he wasn’t so damn close to thetruth.

“I’ll be here, Colt.That’s not even a question.I’m a little bit addicted to you and Iwantmore.”

“Good.Because I think it would kill me if I never saw youagain.”

Oh god.“You’re making me want to stay again...” I rolled on top of him, straddling his hips.“Fuck reality.We’re going to blow every penny we have to stay here until we’rebroke.”

He laughed, sliding his hands up my hips and pulling me down against him.“This place is expensive.Maybe we can find a cheaper alternative to make it last longer.”Then he pulled me down, his arm along my spine and his hand between my shoulder blades as he held me to him.“I’ll be ready for you next year.Just know I’m not letting you go again.Be prepared for afight.”

It was taking all the fight I had to leave tomorrow.No amount of time would give me enough courage to fight him off a second time.If after he knew the truth he still wanted me, I would give us everything I had to see if we could recreate this magic off theisland.

“Have a safe flight,Annie.Take care of yourself.”He tilted my chin up for a kiss.“Fuck, thissucks.”

I bit my lip as I pulled back.We never did sleep last night.Instead we got lost inside each other over and over again, until I wasn’t sure it was possible to ever be two separate peopleagain.

And yet here I was standing in my room in a dress, my suitcase packed and a sweater flung over thehandle.

“Thank you foreverything.”

His features hardened.“You are most welcome.I hate that you needed this but I’m not onetotalk.”

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