Chapter Thirty-Two

One entire week has passed since I got drunk on the beach at my thirtieth birthday party for two, and I’ve not drank a drop of liquor since, even though the tiki hut remains.

Heart Key. More than one week in: Wonderful—well, apart from an unexpected demon red visitor showing up unplanned and unannounced the moment I stepped out of the shower on the morning of my vomit fest. And thanks to bitchy Aunt Flow’s incredibly poor timing, Arlie got to witness the exact moment she burst through the flood gates. Fuck my life. Why is it that a woman’s period knows how to screw everything up?

Seven days is a long time in paradise, yet it feels like minutes because the time has flown. Making out with Arlie has been a massive feature of the past week. Sleeping in the same bed each night has offered me comfort. The long strolls hand in hand, ocean swims, completing our tasks, preparing meals together, reading books, and watching movies since we don’t have access to live television viewing due to the show we’re on has felt normal as though we’ve always done these things together.

Yesterday, I went for a jog, an actual run with Arlie, and I didn’t die. I also hit the gym, which I don’t dislike as much as I did before I arrived at Heart Key. Fresh air, exercise, eating well, and cuddling up to Arlie Blight have made me feel like a new woman.

As of two days ago, sex is back on the table. I’m holding out because we were told one of our prizes is a family member arriving, and today is the day. Since I only listed Chris as family on the forms, it means he’s surely now on his way. Chris is coming. I’m beyond excited.

“Are you ready? I see a boat,” Arlie calls out from the lounge room.

“Yes, I’m ready! Okay, so I’ve chopped the salad, and the fruit platter is in the fridge. You handled the meat stuff, yeah?” I’m nervous, excited, thrilled—I’m a ball of emotion.

Arlie places his hands on my shoulders and leaves a kiss behind my ear. “Babe, relax. We’ve got it sorted.”

“I want to make an impression on your sister.”

“She’ll love you, just like I—”

I fling my body around and stare into his eyes. “What were you going to say?” My tone is low, soft.

Arlie moves his hands to my waist. His eyes shift, and I can tell he’s thinking. I don’t hurry or pressure him, or even move. I keep gazing into his eyes.

“I love you.” There’s pure honesty in his declaration.

“You do?” My heart thumps hard in my chest, and I worry it’ll stop beating because I can’t believe this is happening. Pure shock.

“I do. This past week. The entire time we’ve spent together has been the best I’ve experienced in a very long time.”

“Me too.”

“I love waking up beside you, and every day feels like an adventure you can’t even pre-plan. And, Melinda, you’re beautiful. Like, really beautiful.”

I press off my heels until I’m on my tiptoes and curl my arms behind Arlie’s head. “I love you, too. Like, a lot. Like, it hurts to think about, but in the best way possible.”

Arlie’s lips find mine, and as his tongue presses into my mouth, I realise I’ve just been told I’m loved. Another first for me. Another memory to keep stored no matter what the future holds.

Running my fingers through his thick, dark hair, I press my breasts firmly into his chest. Arlie walks backwards with his mouth still owning mine. I move with him.

We tumble onto the couch, and when his hands run the length of my upper thighs, they don’t stop like they’ve previously done. Instead, Arlie continues to raise them under the material of my blue and white polka-dotted dress. His fingers curl around a portion of my arse, and he squeezes. I moan in response.

I rake my hands frantically through Arlie’s hair, and his chest presses forward. He twists and yanks me with him into a seated position. I tuck my legs on either side of his lap. Instantly, I roll my hips in a circular motion before shooting my hands to the bottom of his T-shirt, fiercely lifting it over his head.

Chris and Arlie’s sister are about to arrive, but this man just said he loved me, and I want nothing more than to seal the physical deal right here and now.

“Yes,” Arlie groans when I push all my weight against the beast risen inside his shorts. His hands cup my breasts, and his fingers tweak my nipples through the material of my dress.

“Upstairs,” I moan.

“We can’t,” Arlie utters breathlessly. “The boat is probably docking.”

I stop moving. I let my forehead press against his. “Tonight.”

“Definitely tonight.”

“I need to change my panties.” I giggle.

“I need to have a cold shower.” Arlie’s smile is the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

We walk through the front door hand in hand. It feels like we’ve always been together like this—like not a single day prior have we been apart.

I’ve no idea if Hazel and Chris will arrive on the same yacht, or if they’ll come on separate ones. All I know is a yacht has pulled into shore, and we’re now walking towards it.

Conrad enters my vision first. He smiles in my direction. I smile back.

Come on, Chris. Hurry up, you’re killing me right now.

Long blond hair, tanned skin peeking out from the areas a soft white dress doesn’t cover. She’s tall, long-limbed, slender … Arlie’s sister is stunning. Like model stunning. I shouldn’t be surprised, considering her brother looks the way he does, but I am.

Arlie’s grip loosens until his hand falls away. He takes long strides towards his now smiling sister, who has big white teeth and even bigger lips.

“Hey, boo.” Arlie strides towards Hazel, who rushes into the space between his extended arms. “I missed you. How’s Aggy?”

“She’s missing you like crazy,” Hazel says.

“She’ll be alright. Not too much longer to go now.”

“You could always come home today.” Hazel’s tone is pleading when she steps out of her brother’s embrace.

Arlie half-heartedly laughs. “I think I’ll stay a little while longer.”

“We’ll see.” There’s malice to her words, yet she’s smiling innocently.

“Hazel, I’d like you to meet Melinda.”

“Sure.” Her soft green eyes focus on me.

I put my hand in the air and wave like I’m Queen of fucking England. Why the hell do I wave in such a way? I’m so nervous.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Hazel holds out her hand. I take it in an awkward shake that lasts merely a second before she jerks back and dusts her palms together. What? I don’t have germs.

“Chris must be coming on another boat,” I mutter, more to myself then Arlie or his sister.

“No, he’s on there, but he has to wait until they say he can come off.” The disgruntled way Hazel tells me this has me wondering what happened on the yacht.

“Oh, you’ve met Chris?”

“I have.” Hazel’s eyebrows lift high on her forehead, and her eyes roll beneath them. What the hell is with her expressions? Does Hazel not like Chris? Who wouldn’t like Chris? He’s a ball of laughs.

Clap, clap, clap!

“Hello.” Chris’s high-pitched tone is music to my ears. I flash my eyes to the boat. “I have arrived. Paradise, I’m here.” Chris holds out his arms like he’s Jesus on the cross, and his all-white outfit only causes me to laugh. Two small black duffle bags hang from each of his wrists as he makes his way to the beach.

“Chris,” I squeal, running towards him.

“Baby doll, you are a vision,” he screeches, folding his arms around my back and squeezing me so tightly my breathing is limited. “I missed you so much.”

I’m so happy I could burst. “I know. Me too.”

“Let me look at you.” Chris shifts me until I’m an arm’s length away. “You’re not so pasty white. You look sun-kissed and, happily, healthy. You’ve survived.”

“Aww.”

“You’re as gorgeous as always.”

“You look amazing, too. Been working out?” I wink.

He wiggles his eyebrows up and down. “You could say that. With a new friend.”

“Oh, who’s this new friend?”

“M&M.”

I twist my lips. “M&M?”

He leans in close. “Matthew Muller,” he whispers for my ears only.

“Get out of here.” I smack my hand against his chest. “When? How?”

Chris leans forward, placing his cheek against mine. “I’ll fill you in later, babes, okay?”

I’m in shock. I can’t believe it. Chris actually found him, just as he said he would. “How’s Fletcher?” I ask when Chris folds his fingers around my hand, and we stroll up the beach.

“Your cat has to go.” Chris’s lips pucker, unimpressed, when I glance at him.

“Why?”

“You wait until I tell you what the little spoilt punk did.”

“Oh God. What did he do?” I groan.

Chris purses his lips farther and bobs his head. “He’s a little rat, who caught a disgusting rat and brought it into bed with us.”

“Ewww.”

“Right? Needless to say, your apartment has been fumigated. Fletcher is in my bad books, and I’m still highly disgusted with him.”

“Noted. But, like, he’s okay?”

“If you think his mental state is right after such a thing, then I suppose he’s okay.”

“Chris.” I release his hand when we get closer to Arlie and Hazel. “It’s so good to see you.”

“This is the longest we’ve been apart since we’ve met, doll face. It’s killing me.”

“Me too.”

“No, seriously. You should come back home with me today.”

“I can’t. Not yet. I’m still …”

“Hi, Chris,” Arlie says in welcoming.

“Mr Arlie Delight. I was surprised to learn you were the guy here with my bestie, let me tell you.”

Arlie smiles like the cat who got the cream.

“You know each other?” Hazel’s tone lifts in surprise. Her eyes widen.

“We do indeed.” Chris keeps his eyes on Arlie, not shifting his attention to Hazel at all. “So tell me, Mr Handsome, has she been hiding under tables? Oh, and how many times has she tried to run so far?” Chris grins.

“She’s been good.”

“Well, that’s a lie,” Chris calls him out.

My jaw drops.

Hazel rolls her eyes.

Arlie? Well, Arlie laughs.

“Do you want a tour of the place?” Arlie says when he’s composed himself.

“Do I want a tour? Of course.” Chris takes a step forward, then throws one of the bags from his wrist at Hazel’s feet. He wraps his arm in mine. “Let’s go.”

“Chris!” I scoff.

“What? It’s hers. I ain’t no bellhop, dear.”

I mush my lips together and shake my head.

“Onwards and upwards.” Chris pulls me along with him. I puff as we take the many stairs from the beach and continue to the house.

Leaving the bags by the front door, the four of us walk down the winding paths, past the gardens, and towards the shops.

Chris gasps, coos, and even smacks Arlie on the arse while on our travels. This is going … well, it’s going.

“It’s beautiful.” Hazel sighs. “You’re so lucky.”

“I am.” Arlie smiles, looking right at me.

My heart flutters.

When we turn back in the direction we came, Arlie’s fingers brush against mine. He takes my hand in his before I tug it away. I have a very strong feeling Hazel doesn’t quite know what to think of me yet, so I want to take things slow around her. I search Arlie’s eyes, and I hope to God he can read my mind, but it doesn’t appear he can because his sudden scowl makes me feel horrible.

I offer Arlie a smitten smile. His scowl remains.

“So what have you two people of the opposite sex been doing for the past ten days? Spill the beans,” Chris says.

“We’ve done a lot,” I state. “I’ve surfed, rode a jet ski, and I went canoeing.”

“Get out of here.” Chris’s mouth is so wide I can see his tonsils.

“It’s the truth. We went on a hike and completed a lot of tasks the show has set for us as well. There have been dinners, and even a board game night where we played for real money. We kind of didn’t do so good. I’ve read some books—”

“Boring.” Chris inspects his nails. “Cough up the juicy details, Moo.”

“Chris!” I snap in a girly tone.

“What?”

“Shhh.” I press my fingers against my lips.

“We’ve kissed. Skinny-dipped, made out, a lot, and talked for hours on end.” Arlie smiles wickedly at me. “Oh, and we’ve fallen in love, so I’d say that’s pretty juicy stuff, wouldn’t you?”

I’m instantly blushing, and I realise why Arlie looked at me as wickedly as he did. He’s staking his claim and taking control. I’m okay with it because what he said wasn’t a lie—none of it.

Arlie reaches for my hand, and this time, I don’t let go.

“Now, there’s the juicy … hang on, did you say fall in love?” Chris’s eyebrows dip to the point where they appear as though they’re two caterpillars crawling towards each other. “It’s been ten days. You can’t fall in love in ten days.”

“I guess you can, Chris.” Arlie puffs out his chest.

“I agree. Ten days isn’t enough time,” Hazel chimes in.

Neither of us defends ourselves. We continue walking the entire track back in silence with two clearly confused people by our sides.

Perhaps we dropped this bombshell a little too soon. After all, this declaration only came about a few minutes before Chris and Hazel arrived.

Can you really fall in love in ten days?