Page 19 of Chasing Ink
Paradise Lost
Skye
We spend the last few days discovering the island.We swim in the ocean and walk through the markets.We enjoy our time together and not just the time spent behind closed doors but in public as well.It’s a novel feeling to walk down the street hand in hand and not have to worry about who will see us.
It has been the best week of my life, but all good things must come to an end.We stand with Laine and Hailey at the airport waiting to board our flight back home and for the first time in four long, perfect days, Alistair isn’t touching me.
We agreed that my brother should be the first person to learn about our relationship.We are trying to mitigate any damage but we both know he is going to lose his shit when he finds out.
“How was the rest of your trip?”Hailey asks with a smile I can’t quite decipher.
“Great!We saw the waterfall and went to some local markets.”
She grins.“At least you got to see the island.Certain people,” she elbows Laine in the ribs, “kept me locked in the room all week.”
Alistair chuckles and I blush.
“The only bikini you packed was...”Laine stops talking and we all stare at him, waiting to hear what he is going to say.“Whatever.”He scoffs.“I wasn’t about to let you walk around like that.”
“You know she used to walk around half naked for a living?”I ask, earning a glare from him.“There are men all over the world with pictures and posters of her in their garages.”
Hailey snickers as Laine’s face goes an angry shade of red.I’m just having a little fun at his expense, but it looks like the top of his head is going to pop off.
“Breathe, babe,” Hailey says, pecking him on the cheek.“You know I only take off my clothes for you now.”
“Damn straight,” he mutters, pulling her in and kissing her deeply.
A woman speaks over the intercom calling our flight and we all grab our bags and make our way to the gate.Alistair walks beside me with a smile as he shakes his head.
“What?”
“Nothing,” he says with a smile.“Just thinking about that piece of scrap material you call a bikini.”
I laugh loudly.“You know you love it.”I wink at him, and he makes a muffled sound in the back of his throat.
“As long as you don’t wear it around anyone but me.”
I smack his shoulder with a grin.“You’re all cavemen.”
****
Hours later we areback in Franklinton and Laine drops us off at Alistair’s house.I left my car there while we were out of town and need it to get back to my apartment.And I need to see all my babies before I go home anyway so it’s a win win.
The moment the side gate swings open all four pit bulls bound around the corner of the house with their big goofy grins and wagging tails.In the beginning I used to complain about the sting from being hit by one but now I’ve grown used to it.
Zeus knocks my legs out from under me and then the trouble really starts.All four of them pile onto me, pinning me to the ground and covering me in their slobber kisses.My stomach hurts from laughing so hard and soon enough Alistair picks me up off the ground and places me back on my feet.
“You do know that most people don’t think that’s fun.Or hygienic.”
“Like I care what most people think,” I reply with an eyeroll as I head into the house.“Besides, our dogs are healthier and more spoilt than most people’s children.And they had a teeth cleaning before we left.”
“Okay, okay,” he says holding his hands up in surrender.He knows I hate it when people judge how I am with dogs.Or the dogs themselves for that matter and I will give him an earful too.
For a long moment we stand staring at one another, not knowing how to proceed now that we’re back in the so-called ‘real world.’For the first time since I set this plan in motion, I wonder if I’ve made a mistake and that scares the ever-loving shit out of me.
Alistair steps closer and cups my face.“What are you thinking?”
“That this is very, very real.”
