By what felt like the skin of my teeth, I managed to make a clean getaway.
Jordy paid his tab, met me outside, and I ensured we didn’t dillydally around.
I was officially a woman on an avoidance mission.
[sighs]
Although, it’s still kind of up for questioning what exactly I was avoiding.
In my head, I’d told myself it was Ollie.
But in hindsight, I kind of wonder if I was more avoiding myself than anything else…
Even though night was upon us, the streets of Bali bustled with tourists and locals. And my platform heels tapped against the cobblestone pavement as Jordy and I headed back toward the hotel.
My body vibrated with a million different emotions, and my brain was solely focused on what happened back there on the dance floor with Ollie.
Had I made that dance out to be more than it was?
Had Ollie felt it too, or had I just imagined it all?
I had no idea what he’d felt or hadn’t felt.
When a visual of his tongue sneaking out past his teeth filled my head, my cheeks heated at the thought of it.
I’d been so entranced by him. So damn mesmerized by the way it had felt to be pressed so close to his big, strong body that I had to fight myself from doing something reckless.
I’d wanted to kiss him. Badly.
And I hated that he had the power to spur that kind of instinctive reaction from me.
I knew I was probably shit company, but Jordy didn’t say much as we walked.
And I sure as hell was too lost inside my own damn head to formulate any sort of small-talk type of conversation.
At one point, as we navigated through a busy crowd watching a street performer do tricks with a little brown monkey wearing a tiny yellow hat, Jordy reached out and took my hand in his.
But I hadn’t really registered that fact until we reached the lobby of the hotel and he had to let go of my hand so we could slide through the circular doors.
[sighs]
Yeah, I was a mess, you guys. A total fucking mess.
“Thank you for making sure I made it back okay,” I said as we stepped onto the elevator. I tapped my index finger on the number five button for my floor.
“Of course.” Jordy nodded and then added, “But we haven’t made it all the way back just yet.”
I tilted my head to the side in confusion.
“I’m a full-service kind of guy, Lucky,” he said by way of an explanation, which I didn’t quite understand until he stepped off on the fifth floor with me.
“Are you walking me all the way to my room?”
“I said I’d make sure you made it back to the hotel safely, and I meant it.”
“Pretty sure I could’ve managed the short walk from the elevator,” I said, but he just grinned in response.
When I arrived at room 533, I stopped in front of it and reached inside the pocket of my jean shorts to pull out my room key. I waved it in the air a little and said, “Mission accomplished.”
“Did you have fun tonight?”
Probably a little too much fun, but I wasn’t going to pull him into my head full of crazy.
“Uh-huh,” I answered. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Good.” He nodded and glanced down at his shoes, and I had the odd feeling that something was on his mind. Something he wanted to say, but for some reason, wasn’t saying.
“You okay?” I asked and reached out with my free hand to touch his shoulder gently.
Instantly, he looked up to meet my eyes, and the way his blue gaze sparkled and danced with uncertainty, I only felt more confused.
“Can I try something?” he asked quietly, and I searched his gaze a little harder in the hope that it would give me some insight.
“Try something?”
“Something that’s been on my mind lately.”
What was he talking about?
“O-okay,” I responded, still unsure of where this conversation was headed.
[sighs]
Full disclosure: I should’ve known what he was asking.
The look in his eyes. The way his tongue snuck out to wet his lips.
All the signs were there.
But I wasn’t on my A game that night.
A brain full of Ollie didn’t exactly provide a clear head…
Jordy stepped closer, and when he reached up and cupped my cheek with his hand, my breath caught in my throat from the surprise of it. “I just need to know,” he whispered, and before I knew it, Jordy’s lips were pressed to mine.
He started out hesitant, slow, more soft than anything else, and I was too shocked to understand if I was a full participant in the kiss or if it felt like he was basically kissing a mannequin.
His mouth was skilled and his kiss felt nice, but the instant he slipped his tongue past my lips and just barely touched mine, something didn’t feel right.
It felt unnatural. Like kissing my cousin or something.
Thankfully, he didn’t push it any further after that.
He pulled away, ending the kiss, and we both stared at each other in utter confusion.
“Uh…that was…” Jordy paused and broke our eye contact for a second as he ran a hand through his hair.
“A little weird,” I offered, and his eyes met mine again.
He searched my eyes for a brief moment until a small, hesitant smile lifted the corner of his lips. “Yeah, I guess it was a little weird, huh?”
I laughed at that, equal parts relieved and amused. “Well, I didn’t really expect you to kiss me, but if I’m being honest, I kind of felt like I was kissing my brother. Even though I don’t even have a brother.”
He chuckled softly, and he ran his hand through his hair again. “Yeah. Thank fuck I wasn’t the only one who felt like that was…off.”
A short silence filled the space between us, but eventually, I broke it when a question popped into my mind.
“So…you’ve been thinking about kissing me?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “You’re beautiful and smart, and I don’t know, I just wanted to know what it would feel like…” He paused and swallowed hard. “I guess a friendship is really the only hope we have, huh?”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “But I’d like that very much.”
“Me too.” He nodded and glanced down at his shoes for a brief moment before meeting my eyes again. “How about we keep this kiss between us? I mean, it might not be good for my reputation if it gets out that kissing me felt like you were kissing your imaginary brother…”
I snorted. “God forbid, your ladies’ man reputation takes a hit for this.”
He chuckled and reached out to wrap his arms around my back and pull me into a tight bear hug. “Will you be my friend, unlucky Lucky?” he whispered into my ear. “I promise I won’t try to kiss you again.”
I leaned back and looked up into his big blue eyes. “Only if you promise to help me with my surfer slang.”
“Deal.”
I hugged him tightly again and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “Good night, Jordy.”
“Good night.”
The instant I was safely inside my room, I leaned against the door and let out a huge breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Between nearly losing my mind on the dance floor with Ollie, and Jordy giving me the weirdest kiss of my life outside my hotel room, I honestly had no idea what to make of it all.
[laughs softly]
Seriously, it was a total mindfuck of a night, folks.
One that I was more than ready to put to bed.
But just as I threw my purse onto the small table beside the TV, my phone pinged inside with a notification. I pulled it out and checked my messages.
An unknown number with a simple question. Did you make it back to the hotel okay?
Deep down, I knew who it was. I’m not sure why I knew who it was, but I did.
Still, though, I responded back with Who is this?
The answering response came a moment later. Ollie
When I asked him how he’d even managed to get my number, he responded with,
I have my ways. But you still didn’t answer my question.
After I told him I had, in fact, made it back to the hotel safely, I added his contact information to my phone. You know, just in case I’d need to get in contact with him for something…
[sighs]
At least, that’s why I’d told myself I’d done it.
Surely, it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that I was insanely attracted to him and couldn’t seem to shake him from my thoughts, right?
If you’re thinking I’m full of shit right now, you are one hundred percent correct.
But our conversation wasn’t through, and my phone pinged with a new message.
You left kind of abruptly. You okay?
Was I okay? Um, no. He had pretty much fucked with my head, and I’d had to leave the bar before I stuck my tongue down his throat and dry-humped his thigh.
But obviously, that response would not work.
So, I settled for something a little less ridiculous.
I’m fine. I was just tired and wanted to make sure I get some sleep before the long flight tomorrow.
The last message he sent?
Sleep well, little fire. I’ll see you in the morning.
Sleep well, little fire.
And for the first time since he’d started using that nickname, I actually found my traitorous mouth smiling at the sight of it.
[sighs]
I’d like to tell you I woke up the next day with a clear head and ironclad willpower that prevented any further up close and personal interactions with Ollie.
But then, I’d be lying to you.
And more than that, I’ve barely even scratched the surface.
There’s more. A whole hell of a lot more…