Page 66 of Reckless Hearts

I watch Marcus slide into his fun Saskia’s best friend persona like he’s putting on a suit. No wonder he took to acting like a duck takes to water.

Which makes me wonder… How much of his life has Marcus spent acting?

16

Marcus

Saskia’s wedding day dawns a perfect day in paradise. It doesn’t surprise me. I don’t think even the weather would risk not giving Saskia the perfect beach wedding she wants.

I’m awake at six a.m., so I slip into my running gear and head to the beach. The soft pink light of dawn casts everything in a dreamlike glow.

The air is heavy with moisture, promising another sweltering day ahead, but for now, the temperature is almost pleasant.

The beach stretches out before me, endless and pristine.

As I run, my mind is on Seb, which is not surprising because my mind has been full of him since I arrived.

I can’t help comparing the Seb I talked to last night to the one I left behind. He’s still quirky with an offbeat sense of humor, but he seems more comfortable in his own skin now. And he’s still so…authentic. Which encouraged me to have one of the most authentic conversations I’ve had in a long time.

I’m suddenly struck by a sharp pang of regret for all the moments I’ve missed.

Movement catches my eye. About two hundred feet farther up the beach, a child emerges out of a villa. She’s only about six, and she’s followed by an older boy who looks about nine or ten.

They run toward the water and my breath hitches.

Grab her, I want to yell at her brother.Grab her and don’t let go.

But I don’t become the crazy man shouting at children. Instead, I come to a complete stop, shaking, as I watch them dance in the shallows of the lagoon before a voice from the villa calls them back.

I sit and press my palms into the sand, focusing on the rough texture against my skin, anchoring myself in reality.

Deep breaths.

Feeling slightly dizzy, I retrieve my phone from my pocket and thumb through to the Instagram app. I’ve got over a million followers. My last story, where I was dressed only in board shorts while showing off the resort’s infinity pool, has had over forty thousand likes.

This is me. I am real. People all over the world like me, adore me.

I have meaning. I am worthwhile.

My breathing settles as I scroll through social media, checking my other accounts, the familiar routine of checking likes, comments, and notifications.

Gradually, the tightness in my chest eases and my muscles begin to relax.

I take one last deep breath and climb back to my feet. I set out running with jerky strides that eventually smooth into my usual running style.

As I retrace my steps along the shoreline, the sun now fully risen, I catch a glimpse of a solitary figure emerging from the hazy distance. The silhouette grows clearer with each stride, a runner moving steadily in my direction.

Recognition hits me like a physical blow when I clock the messy curls and the slight hunch of his shoulders as he runs.

Seb.

Of all the people in this resort, of course it would be him.

The universe really does have a twisted sense of humor.

As we approach each other we both slow to a stop.

Seb’s hair is damp with sweat, curls clinging to his forehead. His cheeks are flushed, bringing out the spattering of freckles across his nose. He’s wearing a faded T-shirt with some obscure scientific pun I don’t understand and running shorts that reveal legs more toned than I remember.