My Childhood Crush

Chapter 2

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

I did not want to see him. The last time Harry had said no to me still felt fresh in my memory, and I had felt so humiliated because I was so sure his feelings had changed. That had made me think it was a good idea to ask him if he wanted to grab a coffee sometime.

He said no if you hadn't figured it out yet.

And I had retreated, cut off any communication and stayed away from him and all his social media profiles for months now. I did not want to know what was happening in his life. I had to get over him, but every time I saw him or spoke to him, I was a goner. There was just something about him that made me so attracted to him. If only he would feel that way about me too.

Calm down. There is no way he saw you and you just have to sneak past him. You don't have to talk to him. There are plenty of other people on this beach and he is in the middle of a game. Just go back to your apartment and start unpacking. I reasoned with myself, then inhaled and slowly exhaled. I started to swim back to the shore, diving one more time before going back to the stuffy, hot apartment, but when I resurfaced I noticed that the guys had ended their match and were packing their stuff.

I felt the relief shot through my body, though there was a small part of me that was sad to see him go. I stopped swimming, staying a safe distance away, but I still wanted to spend the last seconds admiring him from the afar. Then I noticed that there were only three of them. And Harry was nowhere to be seen.

Frantically I started to scan the crowd, but there was no sign of him.

At that moment someone pushed me under water. Being a very good swimmer, I didn't panic and simply swam away from the person standing behind me. Please don't be him, please don't be him, please don't be him.. I begged, knowing the answer already.

Just as I opened my eyes I saw that cocky smile that had made me fell in love with him over and over again. His eyes sparkled with mischief and he licked his lips.

"Well, well, well... Isn't that my sweet little Kate," he said and pushed his wet hair away from his eyes. I tried so hard to stay angry at him and not give in to the happiness that had started to bubble somewhere in my stomach. He had seen me and wanted to talk to me.

"You mean you weren't sure it was me when you pushed me under water?" I asked and rolled my eyes, simultaneously trying to remember if I had used waterproof mascara. I hoped I didn't look like a panda.

"I can't say I was 100% sure. I'm glad that it is you, though. I would hate to have to flirt my way out of that situation," he smiled so brightly, I had to splash him.

"Good luck with that," I looked him up and down and tried not to look impressed, but apparently I had failed since he laughed out loud.

"Ahh, I've missed you, Kate!" he said and brushed some seaweed out of the way before it touched my arm.

"You know, the phone works both ways. So does any other app that you have on it." I fake-smiled and started to swim to the shore. I had to get out. Now.

He ignored it completely and had no problem keeping up with me. Damn our swimming lessons. "How long are you here? You are staying in Bari, are you not?"

I nodded once, then got to my feet and practically ran out of the water. I didn't like that he was behind me and could see my ass, but there was no way I wanted to continue this conversation.

"Kate !" he growled. That was so out of his character, that I actually stopped and looked at him. My gaze traveled down his powerful chest to his abdomen before I realized what I was doing. and then I noticed that his eyes had never wandered away from mine.

Take a look at me. Just let your gaze travel to my chest, to my legs... Please, don't just stand there and look in my eyes. Don't look at me like a friend would. I begged.

He stepped closer to me and reached out. "I haven't met any other person from Latvia. And I just need to hear my language. Can we meet later today and do something? " he asked, his eyes practically begging me. And still not leaving my eyes.

"You have my number." I signed. I had to get out, and so I did.

Without looking back, I left the beach and I was so damned proud of that.