Part 3

/Her POV/

At the icy needles of water, the sting chased away the tiredness of the journey. Closing my eyes, I stepped deeper into the spray, willing the nausea to circle the drain at my feet. It has been a long day.

I moaned as I leaned more into the shower while trying not to think of the attractive man from earlier. My body automatically pushed forward, palms flat against the cool tile and absorbed the chill of the water.

I lathered, quickly washing away the sticky sweat and shook my head. Within minutes I was heading out to the bedroom, where I pulled on a pair of tight gym shorts and a loose shirt.

Rushing to the gym on the top floor, I'd planned on warming up on a treadmill, then capping off the hour with a few of the machines but my plan took a turn. My muscles quivered with the perfect amount of fatigue and I knew I'd sleep hard when I crashed later.

"That was impressive!"

I wiped the sweat off my face with a towel and looked at the man who spoke to me. Lanky and sleekly muscular, he had keen amber eyes. His lashes were enviably thick and long, a charming smile curving on his lips. What was it with the beach house being flooded with attractive men? I huffed.

"Thank you." My mouth twisted ruefully. "I don't usually go this hard if you are wondering."

He grinned and held out his hand. "Damion."

"Aria." I shook his hand. "How do you know Franci?"

"Oh, she's my cousin. Uncle Armund and my father are brothers."

That made sense. He did have a hint of resemblance to Armund, maybe it's the hair. Upon feeling his eyes on me, I made a sound.

"Ah..." I trailed. "Uncle Armund is best friends with my father."

"Is it? You are from here, are you?"

"A few miles away, yes."

Before he could say something, his phone rang and he excused himself with the most regretful smile. I waved at him, staring at his stiff line of shoulders as he walked away.  For being brothers, Damion and Edward were so different.

***

My stomach kept growling as I hurriedly made my way to the kitchen. I was famished after working out instead of showering and sleeping the fatigue off.

"Aria!"

"My dear! Are you hurt?" I made a sound as my mother and Francis's mother surrounded me, panic clear in their eyes. My lips parted as I felt my mother's warm touch on my forehead. "Where have you been wandering off?"

From the corner of my eyes, I could see a few aunties getting alerted at the question. They pretended they did not hear but I could see them invested in the conversation. A few of the maids were busy chopping vegetables, taking instructions from said aunties.

"Huh?"

"I have been looking for you for quite some time now. Where is your phone?"

"In the room?" I replied cluelessly.

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"Telling you?"

My mother let out an exasperated sigh, tugging my arm and making me plop on the nearest barstool. She inspected my legs. Carla, Francesca's mother was looking at us with curiosity.

"Can you tell me what's going on instead of scaring me?"

"Edward told us you got hurt..."

I let out a bitter laugh at the mention of his name, rage filling my insides. Why would he approach my mother over something so trivial? That's the last thing I was expecting from him.

"Mom I'm fine. Do not listen to anything that brute says."

"Brute?!" She gasped as if I insulted her favourite actor, swatting at my arm. "After he saved you?"

"Is that what he's been telling everyone?" I cursed under my breath, mentally slapping myself for not yelling at him enough.

"Are you okay?"

I sighed. "Yes, Aunt Carla. I just bumped into him that's it."

"Okay. Did you at least eat something? Dinner will be ready shortly."

My stomach growled again in response, my face turning red at the multiple stares directed my way. I sheepishly avoided Carla's eyes, finding the carpeted kitchen a lot more interesting.

"I will cut up some fruit for you and send it to the living room, yes?"

"Yes!" I said a little more enthusiastically, "Thank you." I jumped down the stool and brushed the invisible dust off my shorts.

***

Instead of waiting in the living room like I originally planned, I pushed the balcony doors. My mouth parted at the sight in front of me. I felt like I was at some public beach instead of the private beach house. Why were there so many people staying here two weeks before the wedding? It made no sense that Armund wanted us despite having his extended family here.

"Aria! Here!" I heard a familiar high-pitched voice from a distance and my face broke out in a relieved sigh. It was Francesca standing near the volleyball net with all her cousins. I signalled to her to wait for me, hastily taking steps in her direction.

As I took another step, I felt my vision going dim, spots dancing in front and feet twisting. With a sharp thud, I landed on my butt.

A loud cry tore out of my lips, the scalding sand enveloping me and almost pulling me inside. The impact made me freeze in my spot, hands awkwardly falling at my sides.

"Merda! Are you fine cara?"

A shadow fell on me, completely blocking the light and making me squint at the familiar figure. Of course. It’s Edward who finds me at the most embarrassing moment of all people in the house. How did I manage to do that twice in one day?

He waved his hand in front of me.

“Move!” I made a face at him.

"You are so clumsy, cara" He sat on his haunches in front of me, his hair wet and slicked back. The guy looked equally charming in his white see-through shirt and a pair of shorts as he did in a suit.

“Why is that so amusing to you?”I snapped at him as he managed to gather a few of his cousins. From the corner of my eye, I saw Damion, his eyes wide as he saw me in the sand.

I jolted as I felt his cold touch against my ankle, wincing as he tried to stabilise my leg.

“Aria!” Francesca exhaled, helping to sit me up. “That looked painful. Are you okay?”

“Yes! I’m fine!”

Edward chuckled at my response while shaking his head, the action simply caused water droplets from his hair to fall to land on my ankle.

"You've got quite a mouth on you, sì?" I glared at his tone.

Damion hovered next to Francesca, a sympathetic look on his face. He gaped at the hold Edward had on my ankle before taking a step back.

I followed his line of vision, there was no redness, sand clinging to the skin but I could feel it throbbing.

Francesca stroked my arm. “You think you can stand up on your own?”

“I can try?”

The loud blaring of her phone made her jump in spot. Hastily Francesca took out the phone, her face paling as the screen glowed. She stood up in an instant, taking a few steps back.

“Franci?”

“Sorry!” She whispered. “Excuse me! I have to take this. I’ll see you in your room, Aria. Edward please.” My friend gave me an apologetic look and walked away holding her phone closer to her chest. What was going on?

“Mother—“

“Hey!” Edward interrupted me as his grip on my ankle immediately loosened. He turned to the kids surrounding us and signalled Damion to take them away.

“What the hell was that? Do you want to get rid of me so desperately that you are breaking my ankle?” I made a face at him as he managed to remove the straps of my flip-flop off my feet.

“I was making sure nothing was broken. You are fine, drama queen”

“Am not” I argued while sticking my tongue out.

“Very mature.”

“Now try standing up.” Pressing my palms on the ground I raised my hips but winced as I experienced a sharp shooting pain in my ankle. I plopped back and tilted my head at him.

“It hurts huh?”

“No shit Sherlock”

“Watch your mouth now. I am the one who’s helping you here.”

“I don’t need your help!” I petulantly crossed my arms, facing the other side. That was the time my stomach decided to growl again.

“I don’t think your stomach agrees with you.”

Even though I was not looking at his face I could see the smirk he must be carrying on his smug face. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. Anything to avoid this situation.

“Fine. Will you help me out?” I slowly turned to him, fingers curled and nails painfully digging into my palm enough to draw blood.

“What's the magic word cara?”

“Don’t push it.”

“Okay then have fun walking back inside.” He stood up straight, dusting his hand to get rid of the sand.

“No!” I squeaked.

As he smugly stared back at me, I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Edward, will you help me out? Please” I clenched my jaw, inhaling deeply. It seemed like I had no other choice but to play along. For now.

“See? That wasn’t so hard now, was it? Mmh I’ll give you 7 out of 10. There is room for improvement.”

"Don't push your luck," I mumbled while forwarding my hand towards him. Instead of taking my hand he shook his head and bent down.

Huh. What now? I thought to myself, my eyebrows pulled together in confusion. What was he doing? Before I could ask him anything, I was lifted off my feet, the world spinning around me. As his huge arms snaked around my waist, I had no choice but to flail and hold on to his neck. In one swift motion, he lifted me off the ground. A  shriek tore my lips.

“A little warning would have been a better, jerk.” I rested my head on his firm shoulder, my body going limp in his hold. Immediately I was surrounded by his spicy scent, the smell now familiar.

“Oh, what was it? I couldn’t quite catch it” He teased while flexing his arms and started walking in the direction of the house. I hid my face in his shoulder, ashamed to be carried inside.

“I should punch you.”

“Try it and I’ll drop you.”

“You're so annoying,” I whispered, snuggling closer to him. Why did he have to smell so good?

For a long minute, silence fell over us, only the sound of our mingled breathing filling the surroundings. He had a stoic face most of the time which made it extremely difficult to know what he was thinking. Was he struggling to lift me? Is he okay? I did not notice any discomfort in his stance, steadily walking into the hallway.

The hair on the back of my neck stood at the sudden silence between us. It was making me hyper-aware of the situation and the fact that anyone could see us like this. My mother will have a field day and might start a shrine dedicated to Edward for helping me.

Since I already knew that she was in the kitchen with the rest of them, I should stealthily sneak into my room. Or ask Edward to put me there instead of taking me somewhere else where we might be subjected to a hundred different questions.

“Uhh…” I cleared my throat, ready to put my request forward. “Do you know the way to…”

Before I could finish my sentence, I heard a throat clearing making Edward halt in his footsteps. Who was it? I blinked at the person in front of me. My eyes widened as I noticed an older woman, of small build with her hips cocked and brows knitted together.

Edward had similar features to her, especially the colour of their eyes.

My lips parted at the realisation.

“Ma?”

***