Page 81 of Fake Dating Adrian Hunter
They exchange a few words before Adrian has his arm around me again and kisses my forehead. Without tearing his eyes from me, Adrian manages to simultaneously greet and dismiss Jake and Darius by only using their names. They get the hint and leave us, taking Zac with them.
“How was golf?” I ask Adrian.
“Boring without you, which got me thinking. Tomorrow will be hectic with the wedding. You’ll be so busy with your maid of honor responsibilities. Then I’m flying back to London first thing the next morning. You and I don’t have much time left together.”
I hadn’t thought of it like that, but he’s right. Time is running out, and it hurts to think about.
“So, listen,” he continues, “I was wondering if I could get you alone tonight, after the rehearsal dinner? I know it’s tradition for the maid of honor to be with the bride the night before the wedding, but Phoebe told me her and Tory want to spend time together.”
“Sure. No one will interrupt us in our bungalow—”
“I mean away from this resort. I don’t want interruptions from anyone. Will you come to the mainland with me? The owner of the golf course mentioned there’s a festival tonight at Airlie Beach.”
“Oh…” My excitement drops. “I can’t. It’s not a good idea for me to leave the resort. You know I’m meant to be lying low. The public aren’t supposed to know where I am.”
Adrian’s fingers intertwine with mine and he pulls me closer, his lips brushing against mine in a teasing manner. He uses his one tool that is my complete undoing—his deep whisper, like he’s talking to me between the bedsheets—and I think he must be aware of its effect on me. “Come on. There’ll be so many people at the festival that you’ll blend in. I don’t even plan for us to be among the crowd. The golf course owner told me fireworks go off at midnight and the best view is from the water. What do you say to another round of stand up paddle boarding?”
That last part pulls me out of the hypnotic moment, and I shove him gently in the chest, laughing. “Are you joking? That will be a disaster. And I’m not going swimming at nighttime. Remember how dangerous that was last time? Don’t forget jellyfish.”
“We won’t be getting in the water. We’ll be floating on top of it. Come on, Vee, one night where the two of us aren’t on parade for everyone. No acting. No more games.” He whispers in my ear, “We’re just us.”
The way he emphasizes those last words sends shivers all over my body. Tory’s advice repeats itself in my mind.Tell him you love him. I’m certain he’ll say it straight back.I’m beginning to agree more and more with her. Maybe tonight at this festival will be the perfect opportunity.
“All right, I’ll come,” I say. “But we go straight to paddle boarding. No one can recognize me. And I’ll have to let my security know. They’ll need to follow us.” Adrian gives me a look like he isn’t happy about having the added company. “They’ll follow at a distance. You won’t even notice them.”
“Fine, I don’t care. As long as I get you to myself.”
I smile at those words, my cheeks growing warmer. “One more thing. I’ll only agree to this plan if you promise to jump in and save me if I fall off my paddle board.”
“Vee,” he scoffs, “we’ll share a board. Problem solved. I’ll keep it sturdy.”
“Okay. First, we have to survive this rehearsal dinner. Then we have to find a way to get off this island.”
“Problem already solved. I slipped a few fifties to a guy with a speedboat.
“So, you just assumed I would say yes to the festival?”
“Well, yeah.I like you so much, Adrian.” He speaks in a high-pitched impersonation of my voice, quoting the text message I sent him earlier in the day.
I push Adrian again, about to tease him back, but he covers my mouth with a kiss, and I feel him smiling against me when he says, “Trust me, I like you so much more.”
* * *
I’m not sure I hear a single word anyone says during the rehearsal dinner. Throughout the whole event, I keep stealing glances at Adrian, seated away from me and the bridal party. We can’t stop smiling at each other, nor can we stop texting each other under the table with cute things likeI miss youorI want to kiss you.
It’s nine-thirty when the speeches conclude. Adrian whisks me from the crowd, and we sneak out of the rehearsal dinner like two teenagers climbing out of their bedroom windows to be together. Just like he promised, a speedboat waits for us on an unlit jetty with a driver aboard and my two bodyguards, both of them dressed in casual attire to prevent attracting attention.
What would ordinarily be me performing an awkward leap over the water from jetty to speedboat, turns into pure romance. Adrian scoops me into his arms and jumps aboard, then does that cute thing you see in the movies where the guy holds the girl for a few seconds longer than necessary and they share a moment of prolonged eye contact. The way he looks at me, it’s with a tenderness and like I’m his entire world. It might be the happiest I’ve ever seen him, and it tugs on all of my heartstrings to see him like this withme.
Once we’re all set on board, the boat silently creeps out of the bayside before speeding toward the mainland. Adrian draws me to the front of the boat for privacy, wrapping his arms around me as we stand at the railing, watching the distant festival lights approach. Neither of us speak a word as we travel toward our destination with the wind whipping through our hair and the scent of salty ocean water filling our lungs. Maybe, like me, Adrian isn’t sure what to say and is enjoying this closeness that we’ve finally found our way back to. We were like this as children too, able to be in each other’s company without feeling the need to fill every moment with conversation.
I hug myself when the wind picks up, shivering in the chilly breeze.
“You cold?” Adrian asks. Before I can answer, he opens his jacket and tucks me inside with him.
No acting. No games. We’re just us.
I lean into Adrian, dizzy with his scent and never wanting this night to end. My phone chimes, but I don’t dare reach for it and end my current bliss of being in this warm Adrian cocoon.
