chapter 38: A Beach day Crush

49 6 0
                                    

                     J A A N V I

I lazily stretched out on my float, feeling the cool water beneath it and the gentle afternoon sun kissing my skin. The water was perfect, warm and inviting, as I lay back, letting it gently rock me. The sun glistened off the surface, creating ripples of light that danced across the sea. My skin felt cool from the water, yet the sun kept me warm as it beat down softly from above. I closed my eyes for a moment, just enjoying the sensation of floating, weightless and free, listening to the soft chatter of the girls around me.

We had all floated out a little further, where the sea looped into a small nook, the tall Palmyra trees stretching out and covering the cove with patches of shade. It felt like a secret haven, tucked away from the rest of the world. The breeze was soft, carrying the scent of the ocean, while the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting playful patterns on the surface of the water.

I let my fingers trail lazily in the cool water, enjoying the gentle sway of the float beneath me. It was the kind of perfect afternoon that made you want to just stop and take it all in, with nothing to worry about except which direction the current would pull you next.

The girls were spread out on their own floats, their laughter occasionally drifting over, mixing with the sound of the ocean. We talked about everything and nothing—jokes about the upcoming party, the latest trends, even teasing each other about the guys on the design team.

Every now and then, one of them would tell a funny story, and we’d all burst out laughing. It was carefree, simple, like we were just a group of friends enjoying a beach day, nothing more.

It was perfect—just the right amount of warmth without being overwhelming.

“Mmm, this is the kind of weekend I would want to have every day,” Sarah, one of the girls, sighed contentedly, her head resting back against her float, eyes closed as she soaked in the sun.

“Right?” I agreed, letting the warm rays melt into my skin. “I could get used to this.”

Sarah hummed, “Rihan is really great. I should thank him for giving us this amazing weekend,” she sighed dreamily, and I sensed a hint of wonder and adoration in her tone. Mmm, seems like someone’s got a crush.

“You really like Rihan, don’t you?” I nudged her float playfully with my foot, causing her to wobble slightly.

Sarah blushed. “No... yes... I mean, he’s handsome and he’s got this effortless charm,” she smiled coyly, biting her lip as if the thought of Rihan made her nervous and excited all at once. “But I don’t know if he’d ever notice me like that,” she said, glancing back toward the beach where the guys had set up a tent and were holding drinks.

I, too, stole a glance toward the beach, trying to catch a glimpse of the other 6-foot gorgeous, intoxicating man clad in white linen and beach shorts.

I don’t know why, but my eyes kept wandering back to Arya on their own, like a magnet drawing me in. I desperately wanted him to notice me, to feel that same pull, but he seemed lost in his own world. He didn’t even glance in my direction the entire morning after he left me with the team.

Arya was standing with Rihan in one of the tents, laughing about something. The way the sunlight hit his face made him look even more irresistible, and for a moment, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. God, he’s just so damn gorgeous, it’s illegal.

One of the girls, I think her name is Ruhi, clicked her tongue as she replied to Sarah’s comment, “Oh honey, the man has a reputation. He ditches women faster than you can pick up your Gucci purse. That’s some serious playboy material you want to be cautious of.”

Doomed From The Start: A Marriage AgreementWhere stories live. Discover now