Page 81 of Away With You
I sense him moving to stand behind me, the warmth from his body seeping into my back as he leans into me, his arms banded around my waist. “Of course I remember. In my mind, getting you one of these is the most important part of the trip.”
Tears fill my eyes, and I blink to hold them at bay.This man is killing me.
“So, what do you think? Will any of these be suitable?”
My answering chuckle is wet with tears. “I think I’ll find something just right.”
“Something your mum would love,” he states.
I swallow hard and nod, as tears escape my eyes and run down my cheek. It’s lucky he’s behind me and can’t see the emotional mess he’s making me. He doesn’t deserve that after planning this wonderful surprise.
Sniffing back more tears, I pull in a shuddering breath and wipe my face before turning to smile up at him. “What do you think? Will you help me choose?”
His blue eyes trace my face, a worried frown furrowing his brow. “Are you okay? Is this okay?”
I nod and press a grateful kiss on his lips. “This is just perfect.”
His smile is tentative, like he’s not sure he believes me, so I turn back and take stock of what’s in front of me. They’re all so beautiful, it’s an impossible choice.
“How about this one?” he says as I flounder with indecision, reaching over and plucking a snow globe from right in the middle. In it is a small bungalow surrounded by crystal blue water. Behind the bungalow, in the distance, are mountains covered in what look like cocoa groves. And along the bottom are the words:Welcome to St. Lucia. Where Dreams Come True.
Whelp, that’s perfect.
“How’d you spot that one in the middle of all the rest?” I ask as the lady manning the stall carefully wraps the globe. “That globe is our week here captured perfectly.”
He turns me in his arms and stares down at me. “I’m an F1 driver. Perfect eyesight and great attention to detail.”
His intense gaze suggests he’s paying attention to me in great detail. I don’t hate it.
“Here you go.”
Wrenching my eyes from his, I cradle my snow globe—or in this case, my sand globe—against my chest and let Nathan lead me away. With this one important purchase out of the way, we take our time strolling through the market, stopping at every other stall to have a look. Having travelled no further than the European continent, I’m dazzled by the colour and the fragrance and how different it all looks and feels. Almost as dazzled as I am with the man strolling beside me. The man whose actions aren’t screaming ‘I’m still hung up on my ex,’ that’s for sure.
Maybe I misheard him? Maybe his drunken ramblings were just that? Drunken.
“Time for dinner?” Nathan asks with a chuckle, butting into my thoughts and pointing to my belly, which just let out a rather boisterous rumble.
I pay for a pair of dangling earrings in shades of purple and blue that will look amazing on Jade and nod. The food trucks are calling.
“What do you feel like?” he asks as we leave the market, carrying my purchases like the dutiful boyfriend.Wait, fake boyfriend? Oh, this is something we need to clear up.
“What do you feel like?” I parrot back. Something I’ve noticed since reuniting with Nathan is, he’s always giving. He’s always looking out for everyone around him, to the point he’s actually turning up to painfully watch his older brother marry his ex-girlfriend. And he does it with me all the time. Like choosing a restaurant close to where I work. And taking me to the chocolate factory. Bringing me here to buy a snow globe. The man never seems to think about himself.
His thick brows scrunch up. “Um, I’m not sure.”
I take his hand in mine and squeeze it. “Why don’t we pick something together?”
He glances at our joined hands and up at me. “Sounds like a plan.”
We walk around the dozen or so food trucks, selling everything from local delicacies to fresh seafood and more Western-inspired food. After much debate, we settle on the truck with the longest line, our logic dictating it must serve the best food.
“Oh my gosh, we made the best decision,” I moan through my first mouthful. We’d ordered one of everything, so too much food, and I’m delighted to try it all. The dish I’m trying first is called Accra, salt-fried fish fritters with an array of spices that are exploding on my tongue. “Hmm, so good.”
Nathan is digging into his food with equal gusto and is making a similar groan of pleasure. Groans that are not making my stomach clench. No, not at all.
“Here, try this.” He pushes his plate of pepperpot towards me, and I dig in. He’s right; it’s delicious.
“I’m so happy right now,” I sigh when all our plates are empty and I’ve only just stopped myself from licking them clean. “I’m going to get Jade to make these dishes for me when I get home.”
