7: Attractive
1317 Words
~• Maya•~
I took a walk to the beach the next morning. Liam had not come downstairs yet, so, well, it was impossible to shower while he was in the room. The thought of sharing space with him still felt awkward, and I didn’t feel like dealing with that yet.
I figured sitting around wouldn’t help much, so I decided to go to the beach and, if I was lucky, get some sun.
The excited chatter of both men and women filled the air. It was mostly Italian, though, so yeah, I couldn’t understand much.
I stopped when I was a couple of feet away from the water, spreading out my mat on the ground. I sat on it, drawing my knees to my chest as a sigh escaped me.
.
It was still pretty early, but the sun was already peeking out, and I was a little surprised to see all these people at the beach at this time.
I stayed in that posture for God knows how long, just staring at the endless line of water and wondering what to do next.
Jenny had said they were getting married, and Mum had called for me. I was tempted not to honor her invitation whenever I returned to the US.
Because I knew what she was going to say.
“Things happen, darling. And what if it wasn’t meant for you? What if it just wasn’t yours in the first place? You know whatever belongs to you will always find its way to you.”
It was bullshit. She said it to make me feel better while at the same time giving Jenny her way. She just couldn’t call her eldest daughter to order.
A spoilt mummy’s girl.
Someone sat next to me, and I could feel them staring at me.
I glanced sideways. My eyes met brown ones, just like mine but lighter.
A girl smiled at me, tucking a strand of her short blonde hair behind her ear.
“Hi,” she muttered, and I gave a small smile before looking away.
“Hi.” I hated to admit it, but I sounded a little cold—too dry, and it made me feel like I was being rude to a total stranger who was trying to be nice.
She cleared her throat.
“I saw you from back there and I figured you’d probably need company,” she said.
I snorted before I was able to stop myself.
“No, I don’t,” I said with a half-laugh and stared at her. She was pretty. I discreetly checked her out. She was petite. Had small boobs—something I’ve always wished for.
How does it feel to be heaven’s favorite?
She gave me another wide smile before looking around.
“Well, everyone here is in pairs. We’re the only ‘independent’ ones here,” she said.
I shrugged.
“Some of us don’t like company,” I said quietly, staring down at my fingers. Staying around people meant trying to be perfect.
“Yeah,” she sighed and leaned back on her elbows, her face turning toward the sun.
We were both silent. Mostly because we had nothing to say to each other. I mean, we just met.
“You’re pretty, by the way,” she said. I paused, staring at nothing.
“You’ve got this long, really fine hair. I’m jealous,” she added, and I glanced at her.
I huffed in disbelief. “Girl, you’re blonde,” I pointed out, unable to wrap my head around the fact that someone liked my hair.
She gave me a dry look, and I chuckled, looking away.
“Well, thank you,” I muttered and swallowed nothing, just as someone sat down next to me—on my left this time.
“Here you are,” a masculine voice said. Painfully familiar.
My mood soured almost immediately, and the quiet moment I was starting to enjoy was shattered.
I didn’t respond.
Because he wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t worth anything that came from me anymore.
“Hey. Can we move to the other side? The air around here is suddenly unpleasant,” I said, turning to the girl beside me. I didn’t know why I turned to her for help. But well, it is what it is.
“Yeah, sure,” she nodded, her eyes darting from me to Tom before she stood up, grabbing her mat.
I made to stand up too, but he grabbed my hand.
“Maya—”
“Do not f*****g touch me!” I snapped, snatching my arm out of his hold, annoyed and irritated.
I stood up, grabbed my mat, and glared at him.
“Stay the hell away from me,” I bit out.
He stood too, his brows drawing together. I once found it cute. That look used to bring me to my knees and made me give him whatever he asked.
It hurts that he was trying to use it now. Like always. But this time?
“Hey, man. Back off,” the blonde girl cut in, stepping between me and Tom.
He stared down at her and frowned.
“This has nothing to do with you, okay?” he said.
She ran her fingers through her hair. That’s when I noticed the long-sleeved tattoos on one of her arms.
It was cool. Cool.
“She doesn’t want you here,” she said with a shrug, then glanced at me.
“What’s your name?” she asked, her eyes searching my face.
“Maya.”
She nodded and smirked. “I’m Shay,” she said, then turned back to Tom.
“Well, Maya here is my friend, and you really should leave.”
It made me feel a little tightening in my chest.
Thinking about it now, it’s been a long time since I had someone call me a friend—that’s if I ever had one at all.
Tom huffed, and his eyes darted to me. Where was Jenny? And why was he even here?
I refused to believe it was a coincidence that he was at the beach at the same time I was.
His eyes dropped to my body, and he scrunched his nose slightly.
“Are you… Are you wearing a bikini?” he asked, his voice lined with something I knew too well—judgment.
I frowned.
“Maya, darling…” he trailed off, and I could see the disapproval in his eyes.
Of course. Bikinis weren’t meant for me. They showed how big my breasts were, how fat my ass looked. His eyes were always measuring me against someone else’s standard.
How did I ever tolerate him for eight years?
I definitely couldn’t stand him now.
“Oh, f**k off,” I muttered. Bold of him to think he could just reappear and body shame me.
It might hit me later, but for now? I hated how he always thought he knew what was best for me. Like hell, no one did.
“Hey pookie,” Liam’s voice came through just as he draped his arm over my shoulder.
I tensed almost immediately, then glanced at him.
His eyes were fixed on Tom, unreadable.
I couldn’t help but notice he was shirtless—again. His arms were muscular and he had on a pair of shorts that showed how long and strong his legs were, which was oddly attractive.
I blinked and looked away.
Oh well, for the first time, he had the right timing.
Shay retreated to my side.
“I don’t know who this guy is,” she whispered, “but he’s hot.”
I scrunched my nose up.
Someone else finds Liam hot and that—that doesn’t sit right with me.
It just proves the fact that I also find him attractive like everyone else, which sucks.
And a little disappointing.
- Writer
