ELEVATOR:
As soon as the doors closed, I turned to her. “Luna,” I breathed. I didn’t know what to do, but I was being drawn to her, the tether from earlier pulling at me even harder. I placed my hands on either side of her hips, grabbing the cold railing with everything I had, desperate to be close to her. 

Then I leaned into her slightly. “He’s just an idiot who’s upset he lost the best thing he’s ever had. Nothing in the world could make me want to ‘return’ you. If you were mine, I’d do anything to keep you.”

Her eyes became even glossier as they drifted up to meet mine. “You don’t even know what it is.” She looked away. “I didn’t think I needed to tell you since this is all . . .” 

“This is all what?” I asked her more pointedly. Her lips parted, but she said nothing. I could see the ghost of the word ‘fake’ on them. I gripped the railing tighter. “I never wanted any of this to be pretend. Not one second of it has been for me. Has it been for you?” 

She shook her head methodically, as if knowing what she was unleashing, and my lips curved upward at her response. Especially when her body gravitated toward mine like she couldn’t stand to be apart. 

I started to remove my glasses, knowing this was the first time my feelings and intentions would be on full display for her. The first time, nothing would be covered up under the guise of Louis’ plan. 

“Luna, why did you write One More Hour? Was what you said on stage true?” I asked with urgency. 

But her face said it all. I didn’t need the words her lips mouthed so sensually . . .“Yes . . . It was you I wanted. I’ve always wanted you. I still do.”

As I went to pull off my glasses, she stopped me, shaking her head emphatically. I felt like a dork, with the goofiest grin on display. 

“What? You want me to keep them on? I was trying to look less like a nerd.” I laughed nervously as I leaned even closer to her, my hands clutching the railing beside her. 

“Yes, they have to stay on. It’s required.” But she was only halfway teasing, and I loved it. “Do you know how many fantasies I’ve had about this?” 

“No, why don’t you tell me?” I began coyly. 

“Enough to have a bet with myself about how fast I can fog them up.” She smirked.

“Oh, I’m seeing the appeal now. Maybe this nerd thing can have some perks,” I mumbled. But all my cockiness left me as I became overwhelmed by her. Especially as she reached up for the collar of my dress shirt and tugged me toward her. The smell of the plumeria flower in her hair and the scent of Luna overcoming any hesitation. I wanted to bottle her scent along with this moment. 

Our faces were only inches apart, warmth radiating between us. And I was ready to close any of the distance between us. Need taking over in a way I’d never known, when she breathed out, “Why didn’t you ever kiss me?” 

“I couldn’t tell if you wanted me to.” A pain twisted at her cheeks with my words.

There was a hard tug on my shirt collar. A very clear sign of her want. And with that, all space and time vanished. It was just her lips on mine as I leaned into every part of her. Every part I knew intimately and loved . . . all of her. Allowing myself to taste her for the very first time.

I pulled back suddenly, and her eyes looked simultaneously confused and incredibly disappointed. 

“Wait,” I interjected, and her face fell. I pushed off of the handrails and moved toward the elevator pad. Quickly, I pulled the emergency button, halting the elevator. 

“Reef, you can’t do that.” Her eyes flashed with mixed amusement and sheer concern. 

With a confidence I didn’t know I possessed, I strode back over to her. “Oh, but I think I already did.” I readjusted my glasses to look at her, the ones that were already fogged up. “Now, where were we?” 

She laughed as my hands slid around the back of her thighs to pick her up, gently propping her against the elevator railing. Her legs seamlessly wrapped around me like they were always meant to be there. 

“Oh yeah, here.” The words tumbled out of me.

Luna only laughed harder and then raked her hands upward through my hair, pulling me in with more force this time. I met her heady passion with a strong desire of my own this time. But I was becoming increasingly aware that I had kind of cornered her. And what started out feeling sexy now felt like it could cause anxiety. And that’s the last thing I ever wanted. I spun us around, effectively swapping our positions, hoping to give her more space and control. I was absolutely fine with her cornering me. 

Luna looked at me and her legs squeezed even tighter around me as her fingers dug deeper. Sending shockwaves through my scalp and back. I guess I’d made the right call. Especially when her lips melted over mine and then started roaming, making use of my neck in ways no one had ever properly done before. I had gotten everything wrong in my novels. No kiss I wrote could ever compare to this. I was going to need to make a few revisions.

“Miss!” the intercom burst forth from the elevator speaker. We looked at each other with wide eyes. “Miss, please disentangle yourself and step away from the gentleman.” I started laughing and Luna gave me a look that said it wasn’t funny. “We’re going to be overriding the elevator panel and resuming normal functions as soon as . . . you . . . huh hmm . . . Remove yourself.”

But Luna just stayed glued to me, like a scared monkey. Her face was a mixture of shock and embarrassment. “Ma’am,” the booming voice rang out, “Please don’t make me call security.” 

“Yeah, stop mauling me, Luna. Geez.” Now she was laughing, too, as I helped her stand beside me. She seemed as off balance as I felt. Her knees even buckled at the point of contact with the floor. With a sly smile, I pointed to the other corner of the elevator. “You better go over there, just to be safe.” 

She just shoved me lightly, like when we were kids, and the elevator started moving. The booming voice thanked us for our ‘cooperation,’ no matter how unenthusiastically we had complied with the request. And then Luna’s long, petite fingers found their way in between mine. A peaceful reverberation echoing throughout my body when she did. She was like that first cool breeze coming off the ocean at the end of the hottest day. She was my happy place. Everything that made our island special, she encompassed it all so well. The heartbeats of this place were the people. The heartbeats were her. 

My eyes dared to glance over at her, and the intimacy of this moment changed me. I would never look at love the same way. She had just cracked something wide open inside of me. Right at the place that had been scarred so many years ago, and then forever placed herself inside it.

 

Tutu and Louis
“Yes, sir. Locke told me a little about your story. It’s really sweet. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic, I guess. Not exactly something you hear about a guy being—” 

Louis spoke up and, as he did, I felt someone lean against me. I didn’t realize during Louis’ interrogation that Luna had drifted toward me. Her body heat enveloping me as her arm intertwined with mine. All complete with her head resting delicately on my shoulder. Her movements echoed Tutu’s, and it unfurled this warmth inside of me. Especially when Luna’s eyes tenderly drifted up to meet me. There was a fondness in them–maybe even proudness-that overwhelmed me. 

Louis’ velveteen voice cut through my thoughts. “Being a hopeless romantic isn’t a bad thing, especially for a man, Reef. Creative and sensitive men don’t have to finish last. I sure didn’t.” He gazed over at Tutu. “But in answer to your question of how one stays in love for so long, I’d say it all depends on the person you’re with. Taking a chance on reconnecting with Lani was the best thing I ever did. Heck, taking a chance the first time was also the greatest thing I ever did, because it meant I got a second chance later.”

My eyes opened, thinking about what Louis had just said. I had to agree. . . I wouldn’t trade my first experience with love for anything. No matter how it ended.  

Louis studied me, lost deep in thought. “The timing wasn’t right at first, but if I had held onto that and had not tried again, I would have missed out on the best thing that ever happened to me. And I’m thankful every day. I think being grateful for the person you’re with deepens your love in unbreakable ways. Maybe that’s the key–being thankful for your person and who they are. For what makes them special and how they make you feel special in return.” 

I saw moisture glisten in Tutu’s eyes. “Louis–” She tilted her head up and kissed him softly. The love I was witnessing made this bravery bubble to the surface. Because, as Louis was implying, the worst option was not trying at all. His words, ‘things are different this time’, were finally making more sense. Or becoming more believable.

Tutu slowly pulled back to look at Louis, remarking, “I think that’s the best advice I’ve ever heard. I’m so grateful for you too. Every day.” The couple across from us seemed completely carried away by each other. So much so that I wondered if dinner was going to be forgotten altogether. But I didn’t care, I just wanted Luna close. And I got my wish as she continued to snuggle closer into me, the heat inside me only continuing to grow. Until it felt like an uncontrollable forest fire, one I didn’t know how to put out. 

 

MERMAID COVE
A little sigh escaped me, and he raised an eyebrow, his glasses moving with it. “Good thing we have those fake relation rules in place.”

“Oh, yeah?” I barely choked out.

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about your lips for so long, I don’t think I could ever ‘pretend’ to kiss them. Tasting you could never be fake.” 

I swallowed, a heat swallowing my body. His boldness took me by surprise. The cave must really be affecting him, too. What was down here? Mermaid endorphins? Maybe this was exactly what we needed. No distractions. To get out of our heads and into a world of our own. Just the two of us. 

I tried to steady my voice. “Well, maybe we should practice in case it’s needed. For real. Just so it doesn’t take you by surprise. I wouldn’t want you to be totally unprepared. Louis would give you such a lecture.” The sultry tone that I reserved just for him was finding its sea legs, coming back to me so easily. Just like my love for him.

“Yeah, I think I could use some practice. I don’t usually get to kiss gorgeous musicians who once stole my heart.”

Stole. That’s exactly what I did. And ran off without a word, leaving him bare. I swallowed against sandpaper and a fleck of worry crept into the corners of his eyes, tinging our bubble. I shook the thoughts away, trying to return to this oasis. 

I brought my hand to his jaw, running my thumb along the stubble. Trying to get used to all his changes that were driving every atom of me mad. I needed him to know how badly I wanted this. Wanted him. That he wasn’t alone in this need and desire. I wasn’t going to leave him alone again. Not if he wanted me. Not if he chose me.

My lips began drifting toward his, already feeling their warmth. Endorphins had my imagination running wild when Louis’ voice came crashing through like a rogue cymbal in the middle of a prelude.

His voice broke the spell. “Luna, honey, the tide is coming in! You don’t want to be down there for that. Plus, we should get you back to the resort so you can get ready for tonight’s event.” 

His words hung between us like thick smog as I looked at Reef. Our eyes were still hungrily fixed upon each other.

“Coming!” I called back. A shared sadness filled the small space between Reef and me. I didn’t want to leave this world. Because this world didn’t feel like ‘pretend’ at all to me.

 

Elevator 1:
“Come on, Casanova.” I heard Luna sing out.

“I think you have me confused with his helpless brother who didn’t make any of the history books,” I called as I hurried up to her. My hand extended to find a spot on her back, but then I thought better of it. Bare skin wouldn’t help this primal side of me. We were off duty and I’d gone back into the friend zone. Except ‘safe’ didn’t feel like what I wanted anymore. Luna’s song lyrics amidst Venice’s words were daring me to be bolder. But only ‘daring’. That was the problem. I didn’t know how to be bold with her anymore.

As we rode the elevator, my eyes gazed upward, trying to help keep my mind on platonic things. Or at least think of malnourished dogs at the pound to help kill my Luna buzz. 

“It’s not that bad, Reef.” Luna’s playful tone greeted me.

“You look like my teenage dreams and my grown-up fantasies all rolled into one. So yeah, it is that bad.” I looked over at her to see how much damage I’d done. Those light almond cheeks had gone pink. So I’d say a lot. It was no use. I couldn’t hide my feelings anymore. Not that my attraction to Luna had ever been much of a secret, but now it seemed really out of control. 

To my surprise, I felt a warm hand slip into mine. That feeling of comfort I’d so desperately craved came over me. “Yeah, and you look like all of mine.” 

“Right.” I guffawed. “I’m sure a lanky bartender really does it when ripped guys are fighting over you.” 

Slowly, she turned with this determined glint and she started coming closer to me. The look in her eyes made the hairs on my arm stand on end. “There’s no competition.” Her sultry voice floated over to me and my body inched closer to hers in response. Magnetized. Just as Locke had said. 

The gap between us continued to wane as my pulse thrummed in my ears. The tension building between us felt thick and palpable. Like the only way to breathe was to expel it. I tugged on my collar as if to loosen it. 

Ding. Suddenly, the elevator doors began parting and Louis’ voice came crashing into our cocoon

 

Lavender for anxiety:
“You brought lavender with you?” Her eyes seemed to swell as she stood before me in the entryway. 

“Yes, an embarrassing amount and variety, too. So can you at least sit down on the balcony and take a little time to rest to make me feel better?” I teased. 

She smiled, those large hazels looking up from under her thick lashes. “I can’t believe you packed lavender for me.” 

“Well, that’s what a good bodyguard does. He makes up for his lack of muscles with herbal flowers. Making him such a bigger threat.” Laughter flowed out of her as she gave me a hug. She stayed with her head on my chest for a long time, tightening her hold around my waist. “Luna, this is not sitting. You’re disobeying bodyguard orders, so I may have to employ more types of exotic flowers. It could get ugly . . .” 

She looked up at me with a grin large enough to bridge the islands. One I hadn’t seen since she wore the flower crown when we were kids. 

Her teasing tone sang out, “I’m going, I’m going. I wouldn’t want that to happen.” 

Once she made her way, I used the suite coffee maker station to brew some tea. Then I took two cups for us to enjoy out on the balcony. After a couple of sips, I could see her shoulders relax and I felt my body do the same. That Luna shield was dropping. And I hoped she would see it was okay to still feel her emotions and be herself—all of herself—with me.