Page 27 of The Sweetheart Dance
By the time my alarm goes off the next morning, I’m pretty sure I only got about three minutes of sleep. Nothing I did could draw me under enough. I tried reading several books, listening to podcasts, reviewing medical journals and trials… Nothing.
I throw the blankets off of me and make my way into the bathroom to take a hot bath. Maybe the bath will make my muscles relax enough for me to get some sleep. At this point, I don’t think anything would work.
“Should I just tell him how I feel?” I ask myself out loud. My fingers dance under the faucet to see if the water is hot enough for me. When I feel like it is, I strip out of my pajamas and climb in.
There is a slight knock on my door drawing me out of my melancholy thoughts. “Yes?” I call out.
“Raina, it’s me,” Luke’s seductive voice calls out to me.
Not only did I hear his voice in my mind yesterday, but now he’s interrupting my bath. This is not good.
I have already forgotten about this heartache I thought I would be nursing. Luke has made me feel so much better in ways I never thought would happen. There is something about him that has me wanting to spend more and more time with him.
Could something work out between us? Could we actually have a relationship with each other?
“Yes?” I call out again.
“I’m just letting you know that breakfast is on the table and I’m going out with Karl for the afternoon. I will be back to pick you up for the dance at six.”
A whole afternoon with me and my thoughts? I don’t know how great this is going to be. I doubt this is going to help me get over my thoughts of self-doubt.
Is it wrong that I want this time to think but then I don’t want it? I don’t want to spend time away from Luke at all.
“Okay. I will see you later,” I murmur and bury my head into the water.
I get out of the bath when the water starts to turn cold and my skin gets those weird bumps. Part of my wishes Luke were still here so I could snuggle up to him.
After grabbing my phone off the counter, I see that I have about three hours to get ready. This leaves me with three hours of overthinking and trying to get my mind to stop doubting everything.
Just when I’m about to put lotion on, I hear my phone chime letting me know I have a text message. I quickly check it.
LUKE: Someone from the resort is going to come do your hair and makeup for you. Get your nails done, too. I will see you later, beautiful.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Luke
“So, I’m dying to know what your plan is,” Karl chants as soon as we leave the cabin.
Part of me didn’t want to leave with Karl and wanted to stay with Raina. Our time together is coming to a close and as of tomorrow, who knows if our paths will cross again.
Could fate actually bring us together a third time?
Truthfully, I don’t want to test that idea. I don’t want to leave what Raina and I could possibly have up to fate.
I shrug him off attempting to not let him know what I’m really thinking. But then again, he could see through my façade. He knows actually what I’m thinking.
“I called the salon at the resort and am having a stylist come to get Raina ready,” I blurt.
I came up with this idea late at night. I might not be able to be her Prince Charming, but I can make her feel as special as she is.
He chuckles. “Damn, you’re pulling out all the stops. Aren’t you?”
I hum my agreeance. “I’m trying here.”
Before we get to the gym, Karl stops me by placing his hand on my shoulder. “Look, bro. You’re one of my brothers and I know how hard it is to find love. What you and Raina have, that is special. Don’t let your mind get in the way of it.”
He's right. I’m letting my own doubts stop me from making this special. Stopping me from allowing this relationship to become something more than a fling.
