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Vladi has once again taken an extreme interest in his water glass.

He was the one who broke. He let down his stone wall for me .

I blink, my heart skipping a beat as I reach under the tablecloth, taking his hand in mine.

His face doesn’t look away from the water glass, but his stoic nature softens as his hand gives mine a little squeeze.

We still haven’t talked about what this is or what we are, if we are even anything at all, but the warmth filling me right now has to mean something… right?

After we finish eating, Liv and Kara practically drag me to the restroom, and I know where this is going.

The door isn’t even shut before the inquisition starts. “Maggie Elizabeth James. Spill. It.”

“I was literally dying all night waiting for details! Zack was exhausted last night, so he fell asleep in an instant. I was way too distracted with you two storming out of there like that and was up doom scrolling half the night trying to fall asleep!” Kara says.

I bite my lip as my fingers fiddle with the fabric of my sundress .

Where do I even begin ? “It was…everything. First, it was really hot and intense, but then it was sweet and gentle. And then…” I swallow hard, debating what to tell them, but they are my besties, and this is what we do.

Plus, I could use some advice. “Then he told me he cares about me.”

Olivia and Kara wear matching smiles as they practically dance to the applause of toilets flushing around us.

“He said he cares about you?” Olivia holds her hand over her mouth, “Oh my God, Vladi…that just melts my heart!”

Yeah. It melted mine too.

“But…” I drop my head back, leaning heavily against the sinks, “I still don’t know what exactly ‘care’ means to him.

Is this just a fuck buddy type thing? I mean, physically, we could not be more on the same page.

Zero issues. But we haven’t spent a lot of alone time together outside of this week.

Do I really know who he is? I mean…I care about him too.

I’m just not sure what his definition of the word is.

I want to be all in, but…fuck! Why is it so hard to take a risk when you know you might get hurt? ”

“Maggie, that man is crazy for you,” Kara reassures me. “I know he has issues, but if anyone can help our Russian, it’s you. I don’t think there’s ever been anyone he’s wanted to try with before. It may just take some time.”

A mix of nervous energy and a bit of courage rises up in me.

“She’s right, Mags. I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but you also give me a lot of advice I don’t want to hear, so you need to suck it up, buttercup.” Olivia winks. “It sounds like you’re breaking down some of his walls. This is just going to be more of a marathon than a sprint.”

I nudge her shoulder, fighting a smile. “Damn you. Why do you have to be all wise and shit?”

“I did learn from the best,” she says as she and Kara both wrap their arms around me.

A woman walks out of a stall, washing her hands as I stand in slight horror at her hearing this whole conversation. But as she grabs a paper towel, she catches my eye in the mirror and winks at me on her way out.

“Maybe this isn’t the best place for this conversation,” I say as we all laugh and head back to our table.

“You know what? I think you and Vladi need to have some non-bedroom fun today,” Kara says as we all return to the group to grab our things. She pauses, looking back and forth between me and Vladi. “I have an idea! Wait here.”

Kara walks over to Zack and whispers something in his ear.

His eyes go wide, his brows raise, and his jaw drops to the floor.

What the hell is she saying to him? And do I even want to know?

He pulls her into an embrace, the kind that implies her words were probably dirtier than the martinis she drinks.

She gives him a quick kiss, then comes back to us, pulling a piece of paper out of her bag and handing it to me.

“Here. Zack and I were going to go on this buggy tour of the island today, but I suggested…another activity…and he’d rather do that. We want you and Vladi to go instead. Go hang out, spend some alone time together outside your hotel room, and just…have fun. Let loose!”

My heart swells at the thought, but nervousness still swirls in my gut. Will he even want to do this? Be with me outside of our room? “Kara, you don’t have to do th–”

“Maggie, trust me. You guys will have much more fun than us. And Zack is more than happy with my other suggestion,” she says with a wink.

“I agree!” Olivia chimes in, “You two need to just hang out. Also, Kara, do I even want to know what you two are doing today?”

The wicked grin on Kara’s face is all I need to see. “Let’s just say if you hear screaming from our room, keep on walking.”

“KARA!” Liv whisper-screams as she smacks her lovingly on the arm.

“Oh, for God’s sake, Olivia. You’re a married woman. Trust me, in ten years you’ll be itching to get away with Hayes for a week and try out all your wildest fantasies.”

And where will I be in ten years? With Vladi? Still alone? Why is this so damn difficult?

“Magdalina, are you ready to go?” his husky voice pulls me out of my what-ifs.

I hold up the paper, waving it like a white flag between us.

“Zack and Kara gave us their reservation for an island buggy tour. You up for a little exploring today, Wolfie?” He looks at me with a slight wince, and I know he’d rather be somewhere air-conditioned to sixty-five degrees.

“Come on…it’ll be fun! We’re only here a few more days—let’s make the most of it. ”

He grabs the piece of paper out of my hand to look it over, then he does what I never imagined would happen in front of all of our friends. He grabs my hand. “Let’s go have some fun Magdalina.” We walk hand-in-hand out of the restaurant, my heart soaring like the damn seagulls overhead.

Okay, Melissa, just for today, you can take the lead.