Page 23 of Seven Year Itch
With a growl of irritation, she gets up out of her seat. “I just came over to make sure you weren’t dead. You’re not. I’m going now.”
“It’ll take more than a vicious spike to take me down.”
A hint of a smirk ghosts her lips as she storms off, which has me sitting back in my seat with a smile. The devil ain’t so scary after all. But she does have secrets. Secrets that I am annoyingly intrigued by.
Chapter 9
Bed of Nails
Dakota
“Dinner was excellent, thank you,” I say to Carlos as I bring my plate out to the kitchen in the main house.
“Gracias, señorita.”
“Can I help with the dishes?”
“No,” he chuckles and shoos me away. “We are okay. Please, go to the beach with everyone so you don’t miss the sunset. Enjoy yourself!”
I set my plate down and slowly make my way out back toward the beach where everyone walked after dinner. Dinner was the best fresh crab I’ve ever tasted. I could get used to living like Max and Cozy. And thankfully I was seated on the end of the table by Cozy and Trista, so I didn’t have to worry about making more small talk with Calder. But I could feel his eyes on me most of the meal, and it was unnerving. He’s like a dog with a bone and doesn’t seem to want to let this sex club thing go, but I’ll be damned if I tell him the truth.
The warm salty air blows through my hair as I kick my wedges off and squish my toes in the sand. Glancing down toward the water, I see that everyone is coupled up. Max and Cozy are on a moonlit stroll, Wyatt and Trista are wading their feet into the water, and Luke and Addison are sitting in the sand talking quietly. It makes me lonely for the first time in what feels like ages.
Randal and I have been separated for over a year, and I haven’t felt the least bit interested in dating. He ruined a lot of things for me when it comes to my relationship with men. Things that I am desperately trying to unpack now so I can start living my life again.
Watching all these couples today makes me realize I’m ready to put myself out there again. I still believe in love and happily-ever-afters. I just made a huge mistake on my first shot at it.
Feeling exhausted from a long day of travel and not really wanting to be a third wheel, I decide to turn in early. I twirl on my heel to head up to the palapa that I can see from where I’m standing and startle when I spot Calder walking toward me.
He attempts to pass me in silence, but I hesitate in front of him because I have something I want to ask. “Hey, um... Calder?”
“Yes?” He frowns and turns back to look at me.
I swallow nervously. “Are you going up to the room soon?”
“Wasn’t planning on it,” he says, glancing up at the palapa. “I’m going down to the beach for a bit. Why?”
“No reason,” I reply in a rush and try to walk away but stop as anxiety bubbles through my veins.
“Just say whatever you need to say, Ace.”
“Ace?” I turn back to face him, tilting my head curiously.
He points to his nose.
“You know technically they use the termacefor serves that get a point, not spikes.”
He hits me with a flat look, and I shake my head. “Sorry, not the point. I just... I don’t want to walk by the birdcage alone in the dark.”
A lascivious smirk spreads across his face. “If you want to kiss and make up, all you need to do is ask.”
“There will be no kissing and no making up. I just... need to use your face as a human shield again,” I rush out, frustrated by this exchange. Inhaling sharply, I turn and wave him off. “Never mind. I’ll just go back to the house and ask Carlos.”
“I got you, Ace,” he groans dramatically as he turns to make our way up to the palapa.
“At least you’re not calling me Karen anymore,” I offer, glancing over at him.
“Much nicer than Killer Calder, don’t you think?” He pins me with a devilish look, and I feel my insides clench with the direct eye contact.
