Let Me Love You | Toni Kroos

Chapter 10 - Life's a Beach

Toni's POV

My parents and Felix were waiting for us at the airport as we landed in Santorini – I was together with Gabriele, Amelie, and Mr. and Mrs. Meiser. Our families were going to take a short summer holiday together on the Greek island.

I talked to Felix occasionally over the phone, and my parents sometimes came over for short visits, but I really missed the times when we were all living together in Rostock. Thankfully, I had Gabi living just across the street, and I could talk to her anytime I wanted, at any time of the day, whether I was feeling lonely or not.

We made our way to the beach in Perissa after leaving our things at the resort. We were greeted by an amazing view, looking out into the Mediterranean Sea, with high, jagged volcanoes surrounding us. There were a few people on the beach, but not enough for it to be crowded.

Our parents found empty shelters and proceeded to sit under their shade, unpacking their drinks and putting on their sunglasses, preparing for a lazy afternoon. The four of us, though, headed towards the clear blue water.

"Water fight!" Amelie suddenly yelled, scooping up some water and splashing it at Gabi, who was still busy adjusting her bikini.

"Hey!" was all Gabi managed to choke as water went into her eyes and mouth. "That's not fair!"

Felix and I laughed and joined in, the three of us splashing water at Gabi as she tried her hardest to get back at us. "Stop it!" she screamed. "My top is falling off!"

I swam over to her and wound my arm around her bare waist, hidden from the others' view by the water. "I don't mind," I whispered into her ear.

"Toni!" she smacked me on the nose, and then turned around. "Help me tie it."

Amelie and Felix swam over to us as I secured the back of Gabi's top. "We've got an idea. Gabi, climb on my shoulders. Toni, Felix will get on yours."

Felix climbed up so that he was facing Gabi, and grabbed her hands. "The one who falls off first loses," he said, and then counted to three and started pushing on Gabi's hands.

Gabi tried her best to push back, but Felix was too strong for her, and after a few seconds she fell backwards and made a big splash as she landed. She was laughing as she resurfaced, and she swam over to Amelie with a cheeky smile on her face. She started whispering in Amelie's ear, and the same cheeky smile crept over Amelie's face.

"You guys switch," she told us. "Toni on top."

I watched as Gabi climbed up Amelie's shoulders again. "Aren't you guys gonna switch too?"

"No, winners switch," Gabi giggled. She was definitely up to something.

"Okay, ready," Amelie said as Gabi reached over and grabbed my hands. "One, two, three!"

I waited for Gabi to make the first move, but she didn't move a muscle. Instead she just sat there, staring straight into my eyes. "Closer," she suddenly said, and I thought she was talking to me, but then I saw Amelie take a step forward, towards Felix.

Gabi leaned forward so that her face was inches away from mine. Then, she extended her neck forwards and started kissing me, her hands leaving mine to grab my neck. Reflexively, I moved my hands to her waist, running them across her bare skin. The kiss got so much more intense in the next few moments that I forgot where we were and what we were supposed to be doing.

Suddenly, in one swift move, she moved her hands to my shoulders and pushed me backwards so that I fell into the water this time.

I resurfaced to see Amelie and Gabi high-fiving each other and Felix staring at me, laughing. "Bro, you were totally fooled!"