Grace's dream was a career in the fashion industry. But while she's finally pursuing that dream, her personal life remains a nightmare. Will she be able to escape an abusive relationship? And will she be able to find happiness and maybe true love?
For our second week of holidays, we move to a different little island, which means staying at a different gorgeous villa.
"So we got the massive ocean and a pool. So extra".
"But do you know the good thing about the pool?", I hear Rúben asking while he gets closer to me to hug me.
"No salt that messes up my hair?"
"It's private".
"Your dirty mind already at work?"
"It's always overworking when I'm with you".
And he's not lying.
"Ready keep your promise?" "Yes", I say laughing.
Switching my brain off from work is almost impossible for me. I used to use that as a coping mechanism to deal with everything that was going on in my life. No matter how hard things got at work, it was still better than what was at home. But now things are fine. More than fine, actually. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if this is really my life.
"Let's get changed and go to the beach then", says Rúben. I promised I would only work on the way to the island, while he napped. And now he'll get all my attention.
**
"What was your first impression of me?"
"What?"
Rúben and I are walking on the beach when he asks me that question.
"When we met at the interview. What did you think of me?"
"Well", I say, trying to remember. "I was pretty nervous because of the interview so that distracted me but I guess I just found you really nice".
"Just that?", he says, raising an eyebrow.
"And stupidly handsome", I laugh. "What about your impression of me?"
"I thought you were gorgeous and there was something about you that just... I don't know. It made me think about you a lot after that day".
"Is that why you kept looking at my Instagram stories?"
He pretends to push me towards the sea before laughing.
"Yeah, well. It was the only way I could see you", he shrugs.
"I didn't just think you were nice and handsome, Rúben. I was actually shocked by your attitude towards me. I mean, you know now what I've dealt with so you being so nice was...strange. I didn't know what to make of it. And then at the party, it was the same and...I was scared, I guess".
"That was when I noticed I had to be careful not to scare you away more".
"Sorry I was so much work", I say, looking down. I hate that he had to tiptoe around my feelings.
"Don't be. It's not your fault", he says, squeezing my hand. "And it was worth it".
I stop walking, forcing him to stop walking too, so I can kiss him and show him how worth it I think it was.
"I was also expecting you would say something about your reaction to seeing me without a shirt on. You were too cute hiding your red face from me".
"Yeah well, I've seen you without a shirt on a few times ever since and it's lost its impact...".
"Oh yeah?"
I nod, biting my lip.
"Well", he continues, whispering in my ear, "seeing you without a shirt on will never lose its impact on me".
"I don't have one on right now", I say, pointing at my bikini top.
"And it's driving me crazy", he says, lifting me in his arms and taking us to our villa.
**
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