My Childhood Crush

Chapter 1

It was hot. So very hot.

When I spontaneously bought the one-way ticket to Italy, I did not think how hot it will be to stay in the very south of Italy in the middle of summer.

I had graduated the university just a week ago and there was nothing tying me to Latvia anymore. I wanted to get out, get away from the people I had spent 4 years with, and start a new life.

Italy seemed like the perfect opportunity. I had rented a small apartment in Bari, went inside to put my luggage in the bedroom, changed into a newly bought bright yellow bikini and ran to the nearest beach.

I have always loved the warmth, but only if there is water nearby. That was the first thing I checked before renting my rooms.

I did not think of stopping until my bikini bottoms had touched the water. I jumped in the water to cool myself, diving deeper and further away from the coast. When I finally had to breathe, I surfaced, stopped all movement and checked the beach I had run through without a stop. There were some 30 people just lounging, sunbathing, some reading or playing volleyball.

I laughed quietly. I had never felt happier, at least not in the last four years. The sun was out, the sky clear and there was nothing I had to do, no deadlines, no clients I had to service. Just sunbathe, swim and enjoy my freedom.

Without thinking, my eyes turned to the volleyball players. The guys seemed to be my age, maybe a bit older, but no more than 27. The four of them seemed to be in good shape, but my eyes somehow stayed to the one who was serving the ball at the moment. Just seeing him reach for the ball and tracking his muscled body made me shiver in anticipation.

"Calm down, you won't even talk to him! There is no need to get excited," I rolled my eyes, then laughed again when I understood that I had said that out loud, though in Latvian. The freedom of talking in my own language, knowing that no one understood what I was saying, made a big grin appear on my face.

But, while I continued to watch that athletic, tall man play, a sense of dread ran through me. Because I did know him. I knew that he had light brown eyes, a straight nose and the most beautiful, arrogant smile I had ever seen. The tattoos on his arms had thrown me off, but I knew without a doubt that I was looking at Harry.

My childhood friend and my biggest enemy. Because it was he whom I had given my heart to multiple times. And it was he who had rejected me every. Single. Time.

"New beginnings, indeed," I said and cursed multiple times.