Page 37 of Going Overboard

I’m woken up ever so gently by the sound of the ocean crashing against the shore, the golden sunlight beaming down over me, warming my bones, and Brody’s body underneath my head, supporting me – in more ways than one.

Last night was pure magic. It was a long time coming because, honestly, we both went crazy.

I don’t know if it was the sea air, being locked outside, or the sexual tension that has been building between us but it was like we couldn’t get enough of each other, I’ve never felt passion like that with anyone, I’ve never felt so wanted – needed, even.

I needed him too. Not just for warmth – although that did work a treat – but because he makes me feel like I matter.

Like I’m someone worth touching, kissing, spending time with.

And okay, sure, where is he going to go if we’re locked outside together, but he didn’t have to cuddle me all night, we’re not an actual couple, are we?

It’s nice lying here, my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It feels almost a shame to wake him up, I could lie here all day now that the sun is shining, but we’re here. We’re in Sicily. We’ve got a wedding to get ready for .

‘Good morning,’ I say to him, gently rubbing his stomach to wake him up.

Christ, his abs feel like marble.

‘Morning,’ he replies. He drapes one arm lazily over his eyes in an attempt to block out the morning light, while the other remains securely wrapped around me, holding me close. It’s almost like now that we’ve actually got together, we’re too scared to let go. Well, that’s how I feel anyway.

For once, his usual cocky smile is absent, replaced by something far more peaceful. Even his dimples look like they’re still snoozing.

We slept on the balcony under the stars.

Honestly, it was bloody freezing, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

It was magical – not just the sex, after that, lying there, talking, falling asleep in each other’s arms. I’ve never had an experience like that before and I still can’t quite believe it happened.

Blinking away the sunshine, I sit up slowly, taking a moment to stretch out my back, which isn’t happy about sleeping on a hard floor.

But to be honest, I don’t care, because last night was amazing and now we’re here, looking out at a postcard-perfect Palermo, with its beautiful buildings and rolling hills in the background.

The sun is shining, the sea is sparkling, I’m going to say the birds are singing too because, when you’re this happy, it’s like the world has a filter on it. I defy anyone to upset me today.

He arches his back with a relaxed groan, blinking slowly as he squints at me through one sleepy eye.

‘Are we still locked out?’ he asks, his voice deep and low, like he’s half asleep.

I glance over at the door and see that it’s not only unlocked but it’s open too, meaning someone had to have done it for us, meaning they saw us snuggled up asleep and didn’t go mad .

‘Erm, no, the door is open,’ I tell him. ‘And we’re here – we’re in Sicily.’

That simple statement seems to do the trick. He’s awake now, sitting up with a stretch that flexes his biceps in a way that makes me want to lay him straight back down.

‘Wow, it’s beautiful,’ he says.

‘I can’t wait to explore the place,’ I reply. ‘Maybe when the wedding is done, we…’

‘I would love to,’ he says, putting me out of my misery.

He turns to me, his hair a dreamy mess, tousled and sleep-rumpled, and a lazy smile spreading across his face.

‘It’s almost as beautiful as you,’ he tells me, his tone playful yet sincere.

I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that creeps onto my face. I can’t stop smiling, honestly. Something has shifted between us – changed for the better. We’re not pretending any more, not doing anything to impress anyone, or for anyone’s benefit but our own, not trying to put on an act.

And honestly? I’m not sure I ever was putting on an act, not really.

I kept telling myself that he was annoying and infuriating and I didn’t like him at all.

A walking tabloid headline, a certified top shagger, the bad boy of cricket.

I convinced myself I didn’t like him, I really did.

In hindsight, I think it was almost like a reflex, some common sense from somewhere, trying to bully me into not falling for the first bad boy to flex his muscles at me while I was on the rebound.

Now though, he doesn’t seem all that bad to me.

‘Did you open the door?’ he asks me.

I shake my head slowly.

‘Nope,’ I reply .

‘Todd? Nikki? Maybe?’ he says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. ‘We’re alive, so my money would be on Todd.’

I laugh.

‘That’s exactly what I thought,’ I tell him. ‘Well, if he’s done it, perhaps we have his blessing, even if we don’t have Nuclear Nikki’s.’

‘Yeah, maybe,’ he says with a smile. ‘Perhaps they’ve both calmed down now. We do all have a wedding to go to, and even Nikki wouldn’t make someone else’s wedding about herself… would she?’

He looks like he isn’t so sure.

‘I don’t know but if we could all have a fresh start, that would be great,’ I reply. ‘Or if we could all pretend to have a fresh start, until Kelsey and Neil are married and safely off on their honeymoon, that would do too.’

‘It has to be,’ he replies, and we exchange a look of intrigue and maybe just a touch of apprehension.

But for the first time in a while, it doesn’t feel like we’re bracing ourselves for a fight, a confrontation, or any kind of dramatic scene.

There’s an unspoken understanding lingering in the air around us, a sense of possibility.

Maybe this is the fresh start we both desperately needed – a clean slate. A strange kind of peace.

Brody stands up, extending his hand toward me, and without a second thought, I take it, intertwining my fingers with his.

‘Sicily seems like a great place for a fresh start,’ he says, inhaling the sea air, exhaling slowly as he looks down at me.

He takes my face in his hands and kisses me, only lightly, only for a few seconds, but it’s heaven.

‘Let’s get dressed, find the others, and get this wedding back on the road,’ I say, suddenly feeling like I could do anything, like nothing could possibly rattle me .

‘It’s nice to see you looking so happy,’ he tells me as he tucks my hair behind my ear.

‘It’s nice to be so happy,’ I reply.

And I am, for the first time in what seems like ages, truly happy. I’m not out to prove anything, to get back at anyone, I’m just happy.

And it feels amazing.