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“Cole, you don’t have to—”
“It’s just a bracelet, Annie,” he says, his tone casual, but there’s something in his eyes that makes my stomach flip.
I sigh but let the woman tie it onto my wrist.
“Looks good on you,” Cole says, his voice quieter now.
I swallow, glancing up at him, and for a moment, I forget about the crowd around us.
Then Robbie tugs on my hand, breaking the moment. “Come on! I wanna see what’s next!”
I laugh, letting him pull me forward.
We spend the next hour wandering through the town, stopping to browse stalls filled with handcrafted goods, sampling fresh mango slices from a street vendor, and watching a few fishermen haul in their latest catch at the docks.
Robbie is in heaven, completely enthralled by everything.
At one point, he spots a man painting on a large canvas set up in the middle of the street. The artist moves with quick, confident strokes, blending vibrant blues and greens to create a breathtaking seascape.
I feel Cole watching me as I admire the painting, my fingers twitching slightly.
“Thinking about getting back into it?” he asks, his voice low enough that only I can hear.
I bite my lip, hesitating. “Maybe.”
He doesn’t push, but I can feel the weight of his attention. He’s watching me—really watching—like he’s waiting for me to let him in.
Before I can say anything else, Robbie tugs on my arm again.
“Can we get ice cream?” he asks, tilting his head up at Cole.
Cole smirks. “You just had half a coconut.”
“Yeah, but that’s not ice cream.”
I chuckle. “He’s got a point.”
Cole sighs, pretending to be exasperated, but I can see the amusement in his eyes. “Fine. But if you get ice cream, no complaining later that your stomach hurts.”
“I won’t!” Robbie promises.
We find a small shop with a display case full of bright, tropical flavors—mango, coconut, passion fruit, and a few others I don’t even recognize. Robbie picks mango, and I go for coconut.
Cole, of course, says he’s not getting anything but ends up stealing bites from both of ours.
We sit on a bench, watching the town move around us as we eat. Robbie chatters between spoonfuls, and I find myself stealing glances at Cole, the easy way he leans back, the way he listens to Robbie with a small smile playing on his lips.
“Hey,” I say at a break in their chatter. “I’ve got to hunt down a restroom.”
Cole glances at me, his brow furrowing slightly. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, laughing lightly. “Just a little too much coconut water and ice cream.”
I stand, brushing off my dress, and glance around, scanning for signs. There’s a small café down the street with an open doorway, the warm scent of coffee and baked goods drifting into the air.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell them.
Cole nods and turns his attention back to Robbie, who is focused on his ice cream, and waves me off.