Page 20 of The Rival in South Africa
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As we cleanedup for dinner, Alex asked me if I had enjoyed the village visit.
“I did. You seemed to make friends pretty easily with the kiddos.”
“So did you,” he pointed out from the bathroom. “I’ve never been to a place like that.”
“What do you mean?” I asked while I cleaned and checked my camera gear.
“We didn’t travel much when I was a kid, with Mum always working. If we did, it was just around the continent, not really exploring cultures beyond our own. With the exception of going back to Malaysia to visit some of Mum’s family.”
“What is that like?”
“Ah, we don’t do anything touristy there. I guess it’s culture by proxy; we get to see what life is like for Mum’s family, the everyday quiet type of life. What about you? Have you been to villages like that before?”
I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me. “No, most of my trips have been in the Mediterranean.”
“Didn’t you go to the Maldives last year?”
Alex had a good memory of Ion’s Instagram, which seemed so weird since he pretty much hated Ion. Why keep following Ion when he didn’t even like him? What was he looking for?
And then I thought of every time Alex told me Ion wasn’t right for me. Every time he called him Party Boy. Every time he said we had nothing in common.
And that last time, when he asked me if I really thought Ion was the one.
What had Alex seen? What had he known about me?
I mentally shook myself, returning to Alex’s question. “Yes, but it was an all-inclusive resort, and it’s very segregated there. Most of the staff was Maldivian, but they all spoke English and had hospitality training. It’s big business over there. I regret not going to a village.”
“Well, it looked like you got plenty of sun and swim while you were there.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. Ion’s feed had pictures of me, too: in a bikini off the deck of the overwater bungalow, kisses at sunset, cocktails by the pool.
Alex came out of the bathroom, drying his hands. “What about Russia?”
I shook my head again. “Never been, not since we moved, anyway.”
Alex sat on the bed to affix his watch back on his wrist. “What is that about? Was your dad in the Russian mob or something?”
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” I zipped up my bag and started toeing on my flats.
Alex looked me up and down. “Mmm.” He rubbed his chin while his eyes dropped down low again. “Very Bond Girl of you.”
I aimed a finger gun at him. “Come on, I’m ready for a drink.”
Alex shook his head. “I’m going to stay behind for a bit and shave.” He ran his fingers over his cheek. “I’m getting a bit itchy.”
Alex had grown a little bit of scruff around the edges of his jawline. It occurred to me that traveling with Alex was affording me an odd privilege. I had never seen Alex anything less than cleanly shaven. “Oh, all right.”
“I’ll meet you at the bar.” Alex mock-saluted before returning to the bathroom.
I ducked out of the tent. In my mind, I could see Alex leaning over a steamy sink, the mirror slightly fogged up, and his face lathered with shaving cream.
Shirtless, of course.
I made it ten paces up the path before stopping. My brain was having a really filthy fantasy, and I was too busy trying to fill the gaps to even bother walking. Would he be wearing a towel or his shorts? What would his shaving cream smell like? What kind of razor did he use?
I bit my lip.
