Chapter Seven
1269 Words
After dinner, Josh walked Lucy back to her quarters, the night quiet except for distant sound of waves and laughter fading behind them. The resort light cast soft shadows along the path, and for once Lucy felt calm, lighter than she had in days.
“I had a really good time tonight,” she said as they slowly approached her door.
Josh smiled. “Me too. I’m glad you said yes.”
She turned to face him, hand resting on the door handle. “Thank you…for earlier. And for dinner. I didn’t realize how much I needed a night like that.”
“I’m happy I could give you that,” he replied gently.
They stood there for a moment, neither quite ready to say good night. The air between them felt charged, quiet, and intentional.
Josh leaned in, slowly, giving her time to pull away.
She didn’t.
Their lips met in soft, tentative kisses, brief but unmistakable. When they pulled back, Lucy felt her breath catch, her heart pounding in a way that felt both new and terrifying.
“Good night, Lucy,” Josh said quietly.
“Good night, Josh,” she replied.
She slipped inside her room, closing the door behind her, leaning back against it as her thoughts raced. She touched her lips absentmindedly, a smile creeping onto her face before she could stop.
Lila looked up from the bed immediately.
“Hmm,” she said slowly, eyes narrowing. “What happened?”
Lucy blinked. “What do you mean?”
“That smile,” Lila replied, sitting up. “You’re glowing. What’s going on?”
Lucy laughed, dropping her bag and kicking off her shoes. “Nothing”.
Lila scoffed. “Please. You don't walk in here looking like that for nothing.”
Lucy sighed, giving in. “Okay. Dinner was…nice.”
Lila grinned. “Nice how?”
“Well,” Lucy continued, sitting on the edge of the bed, “ you were right about the red dress. It definitely made an impression.
“I knew it,” Lila said proudly. “I told you.”
“And,” Lucy added, hesitating slightly, “ I noticed Marcus was… uncomfortable.”
Lila's smile faded just a bit. “Uncomfortable how?”
“I don’t know. Quiet. Watching. Like he wasn’t fully there.”
Lila hummed. “Interesting.”
Lucy took a breath. “And then…Josh walked me back.”
Lila’s eyes widened. “And?”
Lucy bit her lip. “We kissed.”
For a second, there was silence.
“Oh my God !” Lila screamed, jumping up. “Are you serious? This is it! This is what I’ve been waiting for! I like Josh for you, you know.”
Lucy laughed, trying to shush her. “Calm down, calm down!”
Lila grabbed her hands. “Lucy. His brother. His brother .”
“I know,” Lucy said, still smiling but quieter now. “I know.”
Later that night, Josh made his way back toward the main hotel, hands in his pockets, thoughts racing. He hadn’t planned on kissing her. It had…just happened. And now, the weight of it was settling in.
“Josh.”
He turned to see Marcus standing near the entrance.
“Hey,” Josh said.
“Come sit with me ,” Marcus offered. “We haven’t really had a chance to talk since we got here.”
Josh hesitated, then nodded. “Sure.”
They settled into the cigar lounge, the air heavy with smoke and low music. Marcus lit a cigar, leaned back, exhaling slowly.
“So,” Marcus began, casual but measured, “is there something going on between you and Lucy?”
Josh didn’t answer immediately.
Finally, he said, “Why?”
Marcus shrugged. “Just curious.”
Josh studied his brother. “Even if there was…would that bother you? You’re here to get married.”
Marcus lifted his hands slightly. “Of course. Of course. I just wanted to know.” He paused, then added, almost offhandedly, “you’re not typically her type. So I'm just wondering.”
Josh raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The silence that followed was thick, heavy with everything neither of them wanted to say outright.
Finally, Josh spoke. “If I wasn’t her type before,” he said calmly, “what if I am now? People’s tastes change.”
Marcus hummed in his low throat, neither agreeing or disagreeing. He brought the cigar to his lips, inhaled slowly, deliberately, like he was grounding himself then exhaled a long stream of air into the dim air.
Marcus shifted in his chair. “ Wouldn’t it be… weird?” he asked.
Josh glanced at him. “Weird how?”
“I mean,” Marcus continued, choosing his words carefully, “you dating my ex. My older brother dating someone I was with for years. It just…feels off. Uncomfortable.”
Josh replied “uncomfortable for who?”
“For me,” Marcus admitted. “And honestly, for everyone. If anything were to happen between you two, I think it’s only fair that I know beforehand. As my brother.”
Josh let out a short, humorless laugh. “Let you know beforehand?”
Marcus shrugged. “Yeah. I mean…”
Josh cut in, his tone calm but firm. “I don’t see how it’s weird. And I definitely don’t think I need permission from my younger brother to date anyone.”
Marcus stiffened slightly
“I’m not saying permission,” Marcus said quickly. “I’m just saying it’s…respectful.”
Josh shook his head. “Respect goes both ways. You left her. You moved on. You’re getting married.” He met Marcus’s eyes. “You don’t get to suddenly call ownership now.”
Marcus reached for his cigar, inhaling deeply, like he needed the smoke to steady himself. He exhaled slowly, gaze fixed ahead.
“Well,” he said after a moment, “anyway…it’s fine. You two do look good together:” He paused, eyes flicking briefly toward Josh. “But she’s here to work. Don’t you think that could be a…distraction.
Josh leaned back in his chair. “I don’t think so. Yes, she’s here to perform, but she’s also human. Shouldn’t she get to enjoy Fiji too?
Marcus nodded slowly. “Yeah. No problem. That’s fine.” He waved a hand lightly, as if brushing the topic aside . “I just wanted a brotherly conversation, that’s all.”
Josh stood. “ Fair enough.”
Then, with a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he added, “Good talk, bro.”
He walked away, leaving Marcus alone in the lounge.
Marcus watched him go, jaw tight, cigar forgotten between his fingers. The smoke curled upward, blurring his vision for a moment, but not enough to hide the truth settling uncomfortably in his chest.
Later that night, Marcus lay awake longer than he should have.
He stared at his phone for a while before finally typing.
Marcus: You looked beautiful tonight.
The message sent before he could second guess it.
A few moments passed.
Then his phone buzzed.
Lucy: Thank you.
He hesitated, then typed again.
Marcus: Would you want to see me tomorrow afternoon? There’s something I’d like to show you.”
Another pause.
Lucy: Sure. That’s fine. But I really need to sleep, I’m exhausted.”
Marcus: Of course. Good night, Lucy.
Lucy: Good night.
Marcus set his phone down, staring at the ceiling, the glow of the screen fading but the weight of everything still very much present.
Tomorrow would change something.
He could feel it.
- Writer
