"I love you," I murmured, reaching out a lazy arm and resting it on his chest. "I love you too," he replied, wrapping his hand around mine before he brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to it.With a sigh, I closed my eyes, feeling wholly content.Outside, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore continued on, muffled now that the balcony door was closed.Tyler and I lay side by side on the bed, still trying to catch our breath and waiting for our heart rates to normalize to a more reasonable BPM.With great effort, I managed to roll onto my side and shuffle my way closer to him, craving his touch... The feel of his skin against mine. Those waves of warmth and comfort that he seemed to exude.He moved to accommodate me, shifting his arm to a more comfortable position beneath my head as he cradled me like I was the most important thing in his world.We said nothing and the room was silent aside from the sounds of the sea. Words felt unnecessary.His fingers raked through m
The morning sun streamed through the sliding glass door, its golden rays illuminating the room with warmth. I roused slowly, my body reluctantly waking from the deep, restful sleep I hadn't expected to get.I reached out blindly, searching for Tyler's warm body, but my hand met only cold sheets."Tyler?" I mumbled groggily, opening one sleepy eye to scan the room for him.He poked his head out from the bathroom, a toothbrush hanging from his mouth. "Morning, beautiful," he said around the toothbrush. "Did you sleep okay?"I yawned and stretched my limbs, feeling a satisfying click in my back. "Eventually," I replied, offering him a sleepy smile.He looked at me sympathetically, probably suspecting what had kept me awake.As he disappeared back into the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth, I curled up on the bed, pulling the covers back over myself as I faced the glass door that overlooked the sea.The view truly was breathtaking. The water seemed to stretch on forever, meeting the
I hesitated, knowing this was the moment I'd been waiting for. My organic opportunity to open up and tell him a little more about my home life. I hadn't expected it to present itself so quickly and was a little annoyed as a result."No," I began slowly. "I would have loved to have gone, but I was never included. When I was younger, they would send me to these shitty camps while they were away. As I got older, I started insisting they just let me stay home because the camps were so terrible. Of course, in my later years, that's when Jenna and I would get up to the most mischief," I recalled with a nostalgic smile.Tyler's eyes opened as he regarded me with a frown. "So, what? Did your parents just dump you and your sister at these camps and then head off on their own little amazing holiday?" he asked, clearly unimpressed at the thought."No," I replied, trying to sound casual. "My sister went with them. It was only me who stayed behind," I explained.He looked confused."We didn't get
(Ryder’s POV)The silence in the house was deafening. Tyler and Katelyn had left on their trip, and all I could think about was how badly I needed to see her, to try and make things right again. The emptiness gnawed at me, a constant reminder of the mess I had created.Earlier that morning, I had gone to the therapist my mom had recommended. I hated the idea of seeing a therapist, but I couldn't think of any other way to show Katelyn that I was serious about changing.Surprisingly, even though it was just the first session, I felt like there was some progress. The therapist, Dr. Henderson, had a way of making me feel understood, and I started to see why people might recommend therapy. It was a step in the right direction, a step toward becoming the person Katelyn deserved.I sat behind my desk with my headphones on, just blankly staring at the screen while my mind ran the same laps over and over as I asked myself why I'd been so determined to hurt her. Suddenly Ash walked into the stu
(Katelyn’s POV)The days with Tyler had flown by, filled with sunshine and laughter. We’d spent most of our time lounging on the beach, wading in the waves, and at night, we would watch the stars from our balcony. We indulged in a romantic and relaxing couples massage on one day, and then on another, we took a trip to the nearby farmers market with the hotel's sous chef where we explored the vibrant stalls and even got a chance to taste some of the fresh, local produce.Now, on our last night at the hotel, I finally had the chance to soak in the bathtub I’d been eyeing out since we'd arrived. I ran the water adding a generous amount of bubble bath, and lit myself a candle that smelled like cinnamon buns.I was so ready for the warm relaxing embrace of the water and couldn't think of a better way to round off our trip.The golden glow from the candle flickered against the tiled walls, while the scent of warm cinnamon buns wafted through the air. The room felt like my own private spa an
The next morning, Tyler and I ate a quick breakfast in the restaurant before packing our bags. The peaceful days we’d spent together already felt like a distant memory as the weight of reality loomed over us.We checked out early, as we'd planned the night before, in hopes that we'd get an opportunity to discuss our little issue with Alpha David before the commencement of the Lunar Eclipse Celebration that evening.The drive back went far quicker than the drive there, and before I knew it, we were already back at Tyler's house.I should have been feeling positive and well-rested after our trip, but instead, I felt miserable and uncertain.Tyler reached over and squeezed my hand as we sat in his car in the driveway, apparently both procrastinating, not wanting to head inside just yet. "We'll handle this, okay?" he assured me.I nodded and tried to force a smile, but I couldn't muster the strength to even fake it.Tyler carried our bags as we headed inside, both looking despondent as we
The three of us left Alpha David's office and headed back downstairs. Tyler held my hand, offering his silent support, while Ryder trailed behind a little. His looming presence was a constant reminder of the unresolved tension between us.As we reached the bottom of the stairs, Ryder finally spoke up, his voice hesitant. "Kate, can we talk?"I shook my head. "I don't know what there is left to say, Ryder," I replied, not slowing down as I headed toward my room."Please," he persisted, "I just want to explain things to you. You don't have to say anything, just listen."Tyler stopped and stepped between us, acting as a barrier. "She said no, Ryder. Just leave it." His voice was firm, but not unkind, which I was grateful for.I didn't want another fight on my hands. At least the remnants of bruising were gone from both of their faces now, otherwise, that may have raised some eyebrows at the Celebration."Five minutes, Kate. That's all I'm asking for," Ryder begged, desperation creeping i
Afternoon wore on to evening, and I eventually decided it was time to shower and get ready for the Lunar Eclipse Celebration. The anticipation of the event had my nerves frayed, and the feeling of my heart racing in my chest had become normal to me by that point.With a groan, I reluctantly pulled myself off of Tyler's bed and headed back to my room. I took a long, hot shower, hoping to wash away some of the anxiety that had built up inside me, but when I got out, I felt exactly the same as I had when I got in.My dress was hanging on my bathroom door, waiting for me to slip it on. I eyed it out with a smile.I'd bought it from a small boutique store in Colorado where they sold clothes made by student designers. The second I saw it, I fell in love with it. The fabric was soft, flimsy and feminine and the skirt had a flattering flare to it. The straps were thin and dainty and crossed over at the back where you would then tie them together in a bow.I'd had it for at least a year but ha