His Dancing Star

Chapter 4

Lina. Ed kicked at the covers irritably, freeing his legs. He'd fallen into bed after a long cold shower at his cabin, but he couldn't drop off. His mind was haunted with images of Galina, her graceful flight as she leapt off the cliff face, her slender fingers trembling from cold, the way she'd turned her face up to meet his as he walked her home.

He'd never wanted to kiss someone so badly before; it was like a physical pull, restrained only by the tethers of reason. Reason one: she'd already laughed in his face when he'd mentioned the idea of them as a hook-up. At the time, it had burned him badly, but now, it didn't sit right. After spending hours in her presence, he didn't see a trace of malice in her personality - only a sweet, unsure girl starting to unfurl gently at the edges.

So why the outright rejection? He needed more information. Which led him to his second reason: Galina was a victim. Of what, he wasn't quite sure, but the way she spoke about being ordered and forced through life caused a fire of injustice in his gut. In a weird way, if he'd kissed her, he would have been just another part of the problem, just another bully in her world taking away the value of her choices. He wanted her to kiss him. He'd hovered close enough for long enough for her to initiate if she'd wanted to, but he had a feeling he could have stood there for a million years and she wouldn't have made a move.

His third reason was rapidly fading from his platform of logic. I'm not doing one-night stands anymore. Or two night stands, or ten night stands, or however long her time on the island lasted.

Even in his head, that reason sounded empty, a whistle in the dark. If she'd made the first move and kissed him, he had no doubt that he would have fallen into her bed and given her whatever she wanted, for however long she wanted it.

No! Come on, man... He scrubbed at his face. It wasn't worth it. Not for a meaningless screw – definitely not for a girl he might actually have feelings for. At the end of the day, she'd fly away and he'd be left behind. Maybe if feelings between them developed, if they could both invest in something greater than a holiday romance...

The truth was it was easier when he could just make this choice her responsibility, because then at least he wouldn't be frustrated at himself for making the decision to hold out for something more than flings.

He bolted out of bed and pulled on sweats. He couldn't lay here and obsess for another minute. Striding out the door, he headed for the staff gym, the tropical air soft against his skin.

He'd been hoping the gym was empty at this time at night, but another man sat with his back to Ed at the leg press. Damn... Maybe he could go for a beach run instead...

"Hey, Ed? You sneaking off somewhere on my account?"

He turned back to see his friend Gareth rising from the leg press, an easy grin on his open face.

Ed relaxed. "Hey, man. I didn't know it was you."

"How many other guys do you know who lurk down here at midnight trying to burn off their long-distance relationship angst?" Gareth crossed to the chest press and lay back. "Spot me?"

"Sure." Ed moved forward, his arms bulging as he lifted the bar off the rack and waited for Gareth to take the weight. "I wouldn't have thought you had that much angst to burn after yesterday?" Ed had spent two days sailing the island's catamaran over to Grand Cayman Island and back so that Gareth could spend a night with his girlfriend Briana. Gareth had spent most of the journey home grinning in a loved-up haze that caused deep ripples of envy through Ed. He would never begrudge Gareth his happiness; he just wished he could find that kind of bliss too.

Gareth grunted as he pressed the bar up, then let it rock back into the cradle. "Not angst, I guess. Just anticipation. She'll be done with her tour in three months, and the lease on our health retreat is set to start about the same time. My sister is almost off to college, and as soon as I'm off this island for good, I'm going to ask Bri to marry me." He sat and face Ed, a smile of pure elation on his face. "I just can't wait for the rest of my life to begin."