Page 23 of Accidental Getaway

“So, was the surprise worth it?”

Niko and I are lounging on the boat deck hours later, our skin salty and sun-kissed as we make our way back to the marina.

Niko asked the captain to take it at a leisurely pace, so we could enjoy being sprayed by the wind while still being able to hear each other.

The sun is starting to set, but I don’t want the day to end.

I haven’t felt this relaxed or happy in years.

My muscles are exhausted, in a good way, from hours of swimming.

My skin feels warm. My heart feels at peace.

Niko’s hand rests gently on mine on the bench between us.

I can’t believe the day we’ve had. Everything feels perfect.

Like nothing else matters because I belong here.

I belong with him, and nothing outside of this moment even exists.

“You can surprise me whenever you want if they all turn out like today,” I say, allowing my voice to reflect my pure bliss.

Niko gives my hand a squeeze and I trace circles around his knuckle with my thumb.

His hand wraps around mine like a pair of well-worn gloves that fit just right, no stiffness, and no stretching required .

I catch a smile on his face as he takes the opportunity to entwine his fingers with mine, as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. I rest my head on his shoulder, not wanting the moment to end.

“Are you always this excited about life?” Niko asks.

“What do you mean?”

“Since the day you got here, you’ve been excited and game for anything. It’s been refreshing, actually. You make me want to be more adventurous and chase new opportunities.”

If he only knew how completely out of my element I have felt this entire trip. “I guess I just wanted to make the most out of being here. I’ve had an incredible time so far.”

“Hopefully it stays that way,” he says, pulling me close.

After our kiss in the water, Niko and I ate lunch from a gourmet charcuterie board while the boat rocked in the gentle tide of the caverns.

He stole kisses in between offering me bites of fruit, cheese, and pastries.

I stared at him when he wasn’t paying attention, trying to memorize every detail of his face I had forced myself to ignore until now.

The way his hair has a slight curl at the back of his neck.

The white crescent scar on his tan left forearm.

The dimple that only shows up on his right cheek when he smiles.

We talked about Greece and Colorado and all the places we each dream of visiting someday.

And I didn’t think once about my past, marketing, or the future.

I allowed myself to just dream. We swam a bit more after we ate, but the competitive edge that had fueled our splash competitions and races melted into wanting nothing more than being together, floating in the water, or sitting on the back of the boat, our feet dangling in the water as we talked.

For once, I forgot to pretend I was anyone else.

I forgot to try and fit in. And Niko wanted me anyway.

As I rest in his arms, I am so ridiculously smitten. As much as I told Piper I couldn’t fall for him, I have. Hard and fast. A small part of me knows this is won’t end well, but I tell that part to be quiet.

I don’t want to think about what comes next. Going home. Saying goodbye. That’s what I’m supposed to do. It’s just a vacation fling. I know that I don’t want to say goodbye yet.

I want to know his favorite color and the way he takes his eggs.

I want to go to a movie together and listen to him laugh while we share a tub of popcorn.

I want to hike with him and feel his arms around me as we take in a summit view.

I want to drink iced coffee in a cozy lakeside café and sit in silence while we both read good books.

I want to pretend like all those things are possible, that this isn’t just casual fun. I want to live in this time and space forever—the time and space where Niko kisses me and there isn’t anything else in the world that matters.

Niko places a gentle kiss on my forehead. “We’re almost back.”

I look up and see that he’s right. The marina is coming into view, and Niko gently peels himself out from under me and rises to gather our things.

The moment is over.

Once in the car, I don’t know whether to resume our professional interaction or the newfound intimacy we’ve stumbled into.

I sit firmly on my side of the car, hands folded in my lap.

Sophia turns the radio to a station playing soft music.

When she starts driving, Niko puts up the armrest and moves to the middle seat of the bench, pulling me into him.

I relax immediately. It isn’t over. He’s not going to pretend like it didn’t happen and go back to work. He’s not hiding me.

“Are you available for dinner tomorrow night?”

“Absolutely,” I say, maybe a little too enthusiastically. I don’t even know what day of the week it is tomorrow. I try to rein in my eagerness. “I mean, I don’t have any other plans, obviously. I would love to join you for dinner. ”

“Perfect,” he says. “I would take you tonight, but I have some late-night meetings I can’t cancel.”

“Oh.” I pause. I hadn’t really thought about why he wasn’t inviting me out tonight. But the way he says it feels off, somehow. Like he’s not giving me the full story. “Of course, it’s no big deal.”

I try not to spiral, wondering what late-night meetings he might have. This is casual. This is fun. He shouldn’t—can’t—rearrange his schedule for me. There’s still something about it that jars me back into reality.

“Awesome. I know this great little place I want you to try—” A ring, on full volume, interrupts Niko from the pocket of his shorts. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize my ringer was on.”

He pulls out his phone and silences it without even looking at the screen.

The whole thing serves as a reminder that the two of us exist outside of this afternoon, and I have no idea what that means for us.

Will we steal moments in empty hallways and share knowing looks across the crowded lobby?

Will we decide the work comes first? I’m not even sure what I want to happen.

I also know I can’t screw up this deal. I would never be able to get my life back on track if I lose the Omorfiá.

I need to say something. I need to be sure I didn’t ruin everything. I take a deep breath, trying to ignore how the car smells of ocean and sunscreen, intoxicating my senses and lulling me back into the naive bliss of the afternoon. I pull away slightly.

“So about earlier … all of this …” I start and stop, not knowing what to say or even what I want. I need to draw some sort of boundary. But where?

“I had a really amazing time.” Niko steps in to fill my silence. “I want to keep spending time with you, but only if you’re comfortable with it. I don’t want to jeopardize?—”

Niko’s phone rings again. This time, he looks at the caller and a grimace passes over his face, turning his beautiful features to stone.

“It must be important,” I note, not wanting to keep him from work. I don’t want to be that girl. “Go ahead and answer it. I don’t mind.”

He looks at me apologetically, his eyes full of something akin to embarrassment. I don’t know who is calling, but it’s clear he doesn’t want to deal with it. Or at least he doesn’t want to deal with it in front of me.

“Hello?” Niko answers the phone and turns to look out his window. I do the same, trying to give him some privacy. What had he been about to say? What doesn’t he want to jeopardize? What means more to him: our marketing partnership or this thing between us?

What means more to me?

The deal, of course. How could I even ask myself that? The deal is the whole reason I’m here. It’s what is going to fix my life, not a fling with someone I can never be with long-term. So if it comes down to it, I will choose work. I must. It’s the only path forward for me.

I take out my phone to distract myself from Niko’s conversation and from the thoughts swirling in my head. I have a missed call and a message from Piper.

Piper: Hey! Hope you not answering my call means you are having a blast! We ran into Mrs. Harper and had the longest chat ever. She asked about you. We told her you were KILLING it!

I can’t believe they are still in Pineview Springs. I thought they would have rolled out by now and moved on to some new, exciting spot. I wonder what’s keeping them in town.

Jenni: Awww, yay! Glad you got to see her. Today was incredible. I went swimming in an island cave with Niko. It was out of this world. I have so much to tell you.

Niko is speaking in hushed tones, but he seems upset.

“—Okay, fine. I will take the meeting. No, he doesn’t need to come here … Because I already know what I want.” His voice has a sharp edge to it. This is starting to get really uncomfortable. I should have never told him to answer the phone.

“Yes, okay … Fine. Bring him, but you’re dealing with him. I’ll talk to you later.”

Niko sets the phone on the center console in front of us, as if he wants it as far away as possible.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out, not knowing what else to say. “For whatever that was.”

“I’m the one who should be apologizing,” he protests. “I would have never answered the phone if I knew my dad just wanted to talk business. Though, I don’t know why I expected anything else.”

His dad? No wonder he was so uncomfortable. “Is something wrong? You seemed upset.”

“No, it’s fine. He was just being himself—arranging meetings on my behalf because he doesn’t think I can do my job.”

I grab his hand, knowing how much his dad’s opinion matters to him. “I’m so sorry. And about us? We don’t need to discuss anything now. We’ll just play it by ear, okay?”

I don’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on Niko when he’s in this state of mind.

“It’s okay,” Niko says, shaking his shoulders as if to clear the remnants of the conversation with his dad away.

We are pulling into the hotel when Niko turns to me.

“I would love to keep spending time together if you are comfortable, but I don’t want to jeopardize our working relationship or make you feel taken advantage of.

I think you’re incredible, and I love working with you.

I also really like spending time with you outside of work. Do you think we can do both?”

Niko’s gaze holds steady, hopeful. He’s putting the ball in my court. I know what I should do. I should tell him that work comes first, and we can’t keep seeing each other. Except, I can’t make myself say the words. I don’t want to disappoint him. I don’t want to give this up.

And while part of me is terrified I’ll mess it up somehow, the part that can’t bear the thought of not being with Niko is winning out. We can do both. He just said as much.

“We can. Definitely. I would really like that.”

His resulting smile consumes me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so full of light.

We climb out of the car and head toward the automatic doors of the hotel. Before we trip the sensors and the doors open, Niko grabs hold of my elbow. “Wait, come here.”

He pulls me to the side of the building. Once we’re behind a pillar, Niko leans in for a kiss. Our lips touch, lightly, and he runs his hands up my arms until they are in the hair draped at the back of my neck. I feel weak in the knees. After a few seconds, he pulls away.

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Oh, um, sure,” I say. I guess he doesn’t want anyone to know about us. It makes sense, but it stings to call it a secret . “Yeah, I won’t tell anyone about us.”

“Wait, what?” Niko asks, tilting his head in confusion. “That’s not the secret. But is that what you want?”

“No? I don’t know. Maybe.” I feel like I’m playing with fire, talking any more about us . He’ll realize at any moment that I’m not what he actually wants. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll figure it out. But if that’s not the secret, what is? ”

“Well …”

“Oh, my gosh. Yes, I can keep a secret!” I give him a playful shove on the arm, noticing once again how defined and strong he is. I need to check out this hotel gym.

“Okay, I was hoping you would hide a few ducks on your way in. Maybe in the women’s restroom in the lobby? I think Alexander is getting suspicious, so I need to throw him off the scent.” There’s a twinkle in his eye.

It takes me a moment to realize what he’s saying.

“Wait—you? You’re the mysterious duck dropper?” I’m trying to make sense of this new information. Why would Niko hide ducks around his own hotel?

“Guilty as charged,” Niko says, his cheeks turning a barely visible shade of pink. “It’s Alexander’s birthday in a few days, and I’m throwing him a surprise party at the pool. It’s going to be amazing. You should come.”

I must be staring at him in confusion, because he continues. “The hidden ducks have all been part of a ploy to get him to the pool on Saturday. I want him so worked up over the possibility of more heists that he doesn’t suspect it’s a party, let alone a party for him.”

That’s adorable and so thoughtful. Niko surprises me more and more every day.

I’ve never known a man to arrange something like that for a friend.

Malcolm didn’t have any friends unless they were useful to him in some way.

But even Jeremy, who is a good guy, wouldn’t plan a surprise party.

He would just buy a twelve-pack of beer and hook up the Xbox.

“Yes! Of course I’ll help,” I say. “Who wouldn’t want to be part of a birthday duck heist?”

Niko chuckles and picks me up and spins me. “You’re the best.”

My heart floods with joy. Niko is one of the good ones.

Though I know I won’t be able to keep him, I can at least enjoy him for a few more days before my heart inevitably shatters when I have to leave.

I reach up and kiss Niko, trying to smother the fear and impending pain of the future with the joy of the present.