I frowned, taking a sip of water to buy time. I’d never given this much conscious thought.
“I don’t know. I think it’s just easier. Making that vow, trusting someone, making them happy for their entire life... that’s a lot of expectations.”
And when expectations weren’t met, everything went downhill. My parents had loved each other. I knew that for a fact, because until I was ten, I’d never heard them fight. They were always affectionate with each other.
Yet when Dad’s business went downhill, their relationship suffered. I remember the fighting, until they couldn’t even stand being in the same room.
“Hunter, that’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself. Our happiness shouldn’t depend on someone else. Besides, I’ve known you for a long time. You’re a great friend. A great person. Give yourself more credit.”
“Usually you give me shit for giving myself too much credit,” I teased.
“I’m adaptable.”
“I can see that.”
“And if you feed me food that is this delicious, I tend to be nicer. Much, much nicer.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
We ordered only one dessert, but it was large enough for three people. While we ate, I mulled over her words. They made sense, but it had always been in my nature to make the people I cared about happy.
I was certain that if the person next to me was unhappy, I’d feel not only guilty, but responsible for it.
After we left the restaurant, we strolled through the complex web of narrow paths in the greenery separating the main building from the beach and the restaurant area.
“I love the resort,” Josie remarked, stopping to take a picture of an exotic plant. I wondered if she was slowing us down on purpose and if the prospect of sharing a bed had become daunting since we’d last spoken about it.
When we finally entered the suite, she said, “This day was great.”
“Thirteen more to go.”
“Can’t wait.”
Josie took off her shoes, walking barefoot to the bedroom. I followed her. She stood in front of the mirror, fumbling with the clasp of her necklace.
“Let me do that,” I said.
“Thanks. It was so much easier to put it on.”
I unclasped it in no time but couldn’t help myself and let my fingers linger on her soft skin.
“Today has been more fun than I expected. Yesterday too.” I didn’t know why I’d started talking, but now that I had, I wanted to continue. “I kissed you far more than was strictly necessary.”
“Hunter....”
“It’s true.”
Finally, I looked up, meeting her gaze in the mirror. I let my thumb glide from her shoulder down to her arm, felt her shudder. I flipped her around, bringing her flush against me.
“I don’t know how to do this,” I admitted. “Be married to you and not want more than friendship.”
Her eyes nearly bulged out of her head. I went on.
“I tried, but you can see I’m not very good at it.”
She chuckled. “No, you’re not. But I’m not doing much better.”
I ran my hand down her exposed back until I reached the fabric, and then even lower, cupping her ass with both hands.