“—this land for a hundred years,” droned the tour guide. “We’re the largest supplier of orange juice on the East Coast.”
This Desai patch of land was impressive. Hundreds of acres of orange trees backed onto a cliff dropping straight down to the ocean. Smack in the middle of the fruit was the processing center. An air-conditioned haven with a waiting area and decent snacks that they ripped us away from too soon.
Our group of thirty-six trailed the guide, Rosalie, and Mr. Hendrix down a row of endless orange trees. His speech buzzed in my ear, some of it getting through and some not. What had my attention was Belle freakin’ Adler.
She was a sea goddess in her coral string bathing suit and shining hair flying every which way in the wind. But her change of outfit into a tight floral dress with see-through mesh on the sides was just evil. It made it clear to the world, me, and the guy twitching in my pants that she wasn’t wearing underwear.
She’s doing it again.
Sucking me into her vortex and bashing me against every rock on the way down. The night before she screamed at me, accusing me of breaking us up and lying about cheating on me. Then she’s telling me to jerk off for her and the next thing I know she’s under me, licking me off her lips. After, she says it won’t happen again and slams the door in my face.
If the goal was to punish me for the wrongs she imagined—it worked.
I was ready to burst through that door and apologize for the breakup, covering up Area 51, and the Lincoln assassination if it meant more than just a taste.
Instead I hopped on my balcony, took a freezing shower, and tried to think of anything but her. I held out as long as the football game. There she was, lying there all alone, and I had to be close to her. Smell her lavender bodywash. Count the beads of sweat running down her neck. But of course, once I slipped into the trap, I did the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my nineteen years of life and proposed we sleep together no strings attached.
I eyed Belle ahead talking to Preston. Delilah had shoved herself between them, clinging to Preston’s arm fit to cut off circulation. I closed the distance.
“Shouldn’t you be with Carter?” Delilah asked. “Spend some time with the man that wants to marry you.”
“Carter can fling himself off that cliff. I’m not getting married. Do I have to write it in the sky?”
“What are you doing tonight?” Preston asked.
“Don’t know,” Belle replied. “Hanging out. Watching a movie. Maybe go for a swim.”
“Want some company?”
I shook my head. Is this guy seriously asking out another girl over Delilah’s head? Someone who has everything riding on that marriage can’t be this ballsy.
“Yeah, Belle.” Delilah kissed his cheek. “Me, Preston, you, and Carter should have a movie night.”
“Everyone.” Rosalie cut off whatever Belle had been about to say. “Gather around, please.”
We formed a semicircle around her and her assistant. Mr. Hendrix held a stack of papers in his hands.
“I hope you enjoyed your tour of the grove,” she began. “It’s important to me that we get you out of the villa and exploring this beautiful island. It’s too lovely a backdrop to waste.”
I wandered over to Belle. Now that’s a lovely backdrop.
“I confess I have another reason for bringing you out here. Today is the first of the one-on-one activities,” she said. “Throughout our time here, every one of you will have an opportunity to talk and see how you click. The activity will be different each time to keep it fun and fresh. Today begins our first, the video scavenger hunt.” She waved her hands. “Pair up, take your scavenger list, and then find a private spot to complete your tasks.”
Delilah hauled Preston off quick—no doubt coming to the conclusion he’d choose Belle.
“Rosalie,” I called. “Belle and I are a pair.”
She whipped around, surprised to find me right behind her.
“Wonderful,” Rosalie said. “Here’s your list.”
I took it and brought it back to her with a triumphant grin I didn’t bother to hide. “Let’s head back to the processing center. Catch that AC.”
Belle boiled me in her green pools. “What’s your aim, Nathan? I’m telling you right now, if you bring up sex or things that didn’t happen, they’ll put ‘finding your pieces’ on the scavenger list.”
“Your threats are very creative,” I said. “Did I ever tell you that? You can flip just about anything into a weapon.”
“Thank you.” She plucked the list from my fingers. “What do we have to do?”
I made a massive mistake that day but Belle did too. I wasn’t talking about our balcony rendezvous. I meant taking that paper and letting me partner with her when walking off and hooking up with someone else was still her choice. On some level—way down deep—she wanted to spend time with me.
Knowing that would fuck me up worse than ever.
“Record your partner sharing their goals for the future,” she read. “Record them singing their favorite song. Record them acting out their favorite activity.”
“Easy. We’ll be done and back on the bus sipping iced tea in half an hour.”
Belle looked around and met with trees, trees, trees. “I saw a bench under the coconut trees. The ones on the other side of the center. Let’s go there before someone gets there first.”
I swept out an arm. “Lead the way.” I expected an eye roll and I got it.
We left the group behind, falling quiet as we made for our spot. I peeked at her out of the corner of my eye. Once or twice I caught her doing the same.
“Belle, can I ask you something? It’s important.”
She blew out a breath. “Nathan, please, I can’t talk about last night. I know that we probably should, but I’m not ready to go there.”
“I know, I know,” I said. “I swear it’s not about that, but it is important, and I need to hear it from you. Please.”
Belle paused, concern filling her eyes. “Okay. What is it?”
“Are you... wearing underwear?”
“Wha—? Nathan!” She swung and missed. I had already taken off running. “You’re such a jerk!”
She chased me, laughing to set the world on fire and make the heavens cry. Belle’s laugh reduced the strongest man to putty at her feet.
“Answer the question!”
She hopped on one foot, ripped off her shoe, and lobbed it at my back. I twisted fast and caught it.
“A hostage. Now you have to meet my demands!”
Belle ran at me and jumped. Instinctively I opened my arms and we went down, landing with a thud that whooshed the air out of me. Giggling, Belle took advantage of my daze to retrieve her shoe. “I won’t answer because you already know.”
Forget Carter, I should be dropping down and proposing to this woman.
“Let’s go, dummy. That iced tea and air-conditioning is calling our names.” She climbed off and stretched out a hand to help me up.
Together we rounded the building and made for the bench. No one had claimed it for their own. We were free to set up under the shade.
“We’ll trade off,” Belle said. “Keep it fair.”