Strangers To Lovers

Chapter Twenty-Two

I was frantically searching for the bathroom, my stomach churning with nerves. Donna stood beside me, gently massaging my shoulders, her fingers moving in calming circles. "Breathe, Ella," she whispered soothingly. But no amount of comfort could keep me from feeling the overwhelming nausea rising in my chest. Luke was standing nearby, his gaze unwavering, though his expression was disheartened. His concern wasn’t something I expected, and yet, there he was, watching me with a mix of worry and frustration.

“I’m going to throw up,” I muttered under my breath, clutching my stomach. I felt the cold sweat on my forehead, my body reacting to both the stress and the proximity of the flight we were about to board. The airport felt stifling, and my insides twisted in a frightening way.

“If you need to hurl, please don’t do it on my shoes,” Donna teased lightly, trying to break the tension. Her eyes gleamed mischievously, and despite how horrible I felt, I cast her a suspicious look.

Through the large glass window at the airport, I caught a glimpse of a Boeing nose, signaling the impending flight. The sight didn’t help. Flying always brought out the worst in me.

"You two look cute together," Donna said with a grin, her tone light but suggestive.

“Donna,” I groaned. “Not now.”

“Why not? You two have chemistry. Even when you’re nauseous.”

Luke shot her a look but said nothing, his focus returning to me. His silent concern only made my chest tighten more.

As we moved toward the boarding gate, I couldn’t help but think about the rollercoaster my life had been recently. My feelings for Luke were a tangled mess. I hated how he could affect me so easily, how one glance from him could send my emotions spiraling in all directions.

“Luke and I aren’t a thing,” I muttered to Donna. "And happy couples don’t argue all the time."

Donna rolled her eyes. "Please. You two argue because there’s tension, and that’s not always a bad thing."

I was about to respond when the nausea hit again, and I immediately began looking for a trash bin or restroom, anything that would provide me with an escape.

Donna was still talking, though her voice seemed distant. “When you’re in love with someone, you fight. It’s normal. You and Luke just need to figure out what you really want from each other.”

At the mention of the word "love," my heart gave an uncomfortable jolt. Love? Was that what I was feeling? No. It couldn’t be. This thing between Luke and me was complicated, full of tension and unspoken emotions. But love? I wasn’t ready for that word.

By the time we boarded the plane, I had managed to pull myself together, though barely. My hands were still clammy, and I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled deep in my stomach. The first-class cabin was quiet, almost eerily so. Luke had booked us seats, making sure I was as comfortable as possible, and Donna sat across the aisle, shooting me supportive looks as I buckled myself in.

"Are you feeling any better?" Luke asked, his voice low as he sat beside me. His hand rested casually on the armrest between us, and I could feel the warmth radiating from him, making it harder to focus on anything else.

I nodded weakly, my throat too tight to speak. The engine roared to life, and as the plane began to taxi down the runway, I instinctively grabbed for Luke’s hand, holding on as if my life depended on it. He didn’t pull away. Instead, his thumb began to trace gentle circles on my palm, a subtle gesture that sent shivers down my spine. The touch was soothing, intimate in a way I hadn’t expected.

The flight was long, and despite my nerves, I eventually managed to doze off. Luke’s hand never left mine, and the comfort of his presence lulled me into a fitful sleep. By the time we landed in Hawaii, I was a mess of exhaustion and jet lag. My body felt heavy, and the stress of the flight had left me drained. But stepping off the plane into the warm Hawaiian air gave me a brief moment of relief.

The salty breeze and the sound of palm trees rustling in the wind were a stark contrast to the stuffy airport and cold metal of the plane. For the first time in hours, I could breathe deeply without the threat of nausea looming over me.

As we approached the van waiting to take us to the resort, Luke tossed his luggage into the back and turned to me, his eyes soft in the fading light. “You okay?” he asked, his voice low and filled with genuine concern.

“I will be,” I muttered, grateful for the warm air and the fact that my feet were finally back on solid ground.

We climbed into the van, and I stared out the window, watching the landscape change from bustling streets to quiet, serene beaches. The resort was nestled in the heart of the island, surrounded by lush greenery and sparkling blue waters. It was beautiful, almost too perfect.

Luke leaned back in his seat, his hand brushing against mine as we drove. The casual contact sent a jolt of awareness through me, and I found myself wishing he would take my hand again, even though I knew it was a bad idea.

“I thought this was supposed to be a vacation,” I said, breaking the silence between us.

Luke glanced at me, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It is. But I still have work to do.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Work?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. Hotel business. I have some meetings lined up, but I’ll make time for us. I promise.”

“Right,” I muttered, my mood souring at the thought of him being busy with work while we were supposed to be on vacation. Typical Luke.

The resort was as breathtaking as the pictures had promised. The moment we stepped out of the van, Donna gasped, her eyes wide with excitement. “This is amazing!”

I had to agree. The resort was luxurious, with open-air lounges, infinity pools, and private bungalows that overlooked the ocean. It felt like something out of a dream, a far cry from the life I’d been living back home.

Luke checked us in, and soon we were led to our suite—an oceanfront bungalow with a private terrace and a stunning view of the beach. Donna practically squealed when she saw the infinity pool.

“This is heaven,” she declared, spinning in a circle as she took in the surroundings.

I had to admit, it was pretty close to paradise.

Luke stood by the door, watching me with that same disarming gaze. “What do you think?” he asked.

I smiled despite myself. “It’s beautiful.”

His eyes softened, and for a moment, I thought he might say something more, something that would shatter the careful distance we’d been maintaining. But instead, he simply nodded and turned toward the door.

“I’ve got a meeting later,” he said. “But after that, I’m all yours.”

The promise in his words made my heart flutter in a way that I wasn’t ready to confront. But as I stood there, watching him walk away, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was ready to stop pretending that this was just a contract.