to look away, Julian spun and his eyes met hers. He seemed almost relieved to have caught her staring. And when he smiled almost gratefully, her heart clenched and caused a tiny fault in her breathing.
“Oh, no,” she breathed.
Because she knew why her heart had decided to play the victim rather than a champion. It was him. Plain and simple. Her body had ignited at the thought and nearness of him.
Attraction, you are an absolute asshole, you asshole.
“So, who was the girl you were talking to on the beach earlier today?” Dean asked, nursing his beer.
Julian scanned the area around the makeshift dance floor and bar. No Blondie. He had known the moment he walked away that he should have asked for where she was staying. But no. He had gone for the ‘you’re going to miss me when I’m gone’ approach. But it seemed to have turned out to be the ‘I’m walking away and I’ll lose you’ good-bye—a move only made by an idiot.
Staring at the bonfire, he pouted. “Just a girl.”
Dean let out a low laugh. “Suuure,” he dragged out.
“What?” Julian raised an eyebrow.
“Mate, I’ve seen you in clubs and on campus. Never seen you stumble like you did. You’re normally in and out with the phone numbers,” Dean explained.
“Whatever,” Julian murmured. Then he sighed, knowing his mistakes. “Have you spoken to Willa?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
From the corner of his eye¸ he saw Dean shake his head.
“She’s giving me the silent treatment after our fight. She hasn’t been herself since we got here.”
Turning his head, Julian stared at Dean and smiled at the concerned glint in his eye. “Maybe you should leave the beach party and go home to her?”
“She’ll probably tell me to go away.”
“Trust me. Go talk to her,” Julian instructed.
“I don’t think—”
“Don’t think. Do.”
Dean passed Julian his beer and nodded. “Okay. I’ll go see what’s wrong with her.”
Julian didn’t bother to see if Dean was walking back to the villa. He knew deep down that Dean loved Willa just as stupidly.
Fools are the ones in love. And love is for the fools.
Fools, fools, fools.
But wait.
I’m a fool.
Not a ‘love’ fool.
But one of those fools who wait.
“Excuse me. You haven’t seen my friend, have you?” her voice asked.
Julian froze, before a smile instantly crossed his lips. He quickly spun around to see Stephanie in a white summer dress that hit her knees. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at him.
You’re here, Stephanie.
“Your friend?” he asked, his smile not yet disappearing.
She nodded. “Yeah. He’s this annoying idiot. He wouldn’t be hanging out with you. You seem too serious by the way you’re glaring at that fire.”
Pursing his lips, he nodded to every word she said. When she stopped talking, he let his eyes roam her face, taking in the glint in her eyes, her cute nose, and her plump lips. He kept his stare on her mouth longer than necessary.
I’m going to kiss you, Blondie.
I don’t know when.
I don’t know how.
But I will.
His heart twitched at the thought. Friends kissed. He was sure one kiss would be harmless. Clenching his eyelids together, Julian ignored the desire in him to want to kiss her in that exact moment. It was all superficial. He enjoyed her exterior. The interior, her personality, was something he was going to take his time learning. She had already fascinated him with her book choice and her smart mouth. He wanted to know more.
“Julian.” She had said his name so perfectly, like each letter was voiced with delicate precision.
Once he opened his eyes, he pushed his desires away. The hesitant look in her eye screamed ‘friends.’ In the end, that was what they’d be. But he’d be damned if he missed out on the knowledge of what her lips were like on his.
Baby steps, Julian.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he confessed.
Stephanie shrugged. “You wanted me to for some reason. And well, my roommate booted me out of the room. I don’t know where the other girls are, so I thought what the hell.”
“This feels like a booty call. I’m offended,” he teased.
She shook her head. “That was lame.”
“Do-over?” he asked.
“Not on your life,” she sassed.
Shoulders sagging, Julian spun around and looked back at the fire. “You’re kinda mean, Blondie.”
Seconds passed as she stood next to him, also staring at the flames. “You should be used to it. We’re friends, remember?”
Julian didn’t have to face her to know that she had a grin on her face. The teasing