THE CALL
The morning was perfect. The kind of perfect that made it impossible to think about anything beyond the sun warming my skin, the waves lapping at the shore, and the woman sitting across from me, looking like a damn dream in the soft morning light.
Vivien stretched her legs out, toes digging into the sand, her white beach dress slipping off one sun–kissed shoulder. She reached for a piece of mango from my plate, popping it into her mouth with a satisfied hum.
“This is heaven,” she sighed, tilting her head back.
I grinned, sipping my coffee. “I could get used to this.”
“Right? I don’t know why we don’t live on a beach year–round.”
I smirked. “Because I have a job that involves stadiums, and you have a classroom that requires walls and children.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Details. Pretty sure I could find a few children here to teach beneath a palm tree.”
I laughed, shaking my head, and was just about to suggest we skip snorkeling and head back to the bungalow when Vivien leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm, eyes flicking over me with an amused glint.
“You know,” she mused, “I still can’t believe I got myself a football player.”
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THE CALL
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I snorted. “Yeah?”
She nodded, grinning. “Pretty sure there’s an entire line of models somewhere wishing I was dead right now.”
I rolled my eyes but laughed. “Doubt it.”
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Vivien arched a brow. “Oh, come on, Josh. You’re hot, famous, rich, well…endowed,” She ticked each one off on her fingers before smirking and wining at me. “A walking fantasy.”
I gave her a look. “A fantasy? Babe, nobody wants the football player with a daughter and a wife in a coma and trauma that an expensive psychologist is still sorting through. I still think you are crazy for trying to give this a shot. I’m a walking red flag.”
Her playful expression softened slightly, and she leaned across the table, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to my lips before pulling back just enough to murmur, “Lucky for me, I love children… and I understand more than you know about the love of your life leaving. I understand that you can only take things as slow as you need to, and there is no pressure, really. This is more than I ever expected. ”
A familiar heaviness settled in my chest, and I instinctively reached for her, cupping the back of her neck, my thumb tracing small circles against her skin.
“Vivien…”
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She shook her head. “Even if-”
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“No.” My voice came out rough, firmer than I intended. “We said no talking about that.”
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THE CALL
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Her lips parted slightly, something unreadable flickering in her expression, but then she nodded, offering a small smile.
“I’ll make the hard choices when I’m back,” I murmured. “In the last three years, this is the only little piece of happiness I’ve had in a long time…”
Vivien’s fingers brushed over mine, squeezing lightly.
“Then let’s not waste it,” she whispered.
“This is heaven,” she sighed, tilting her head back.
I grinned, sipping my coffee. “I could get used to this.”
Laughed, shaking my head, and was just about to suggest we skip snorkeling and head back to the bungalow when I noticed someone approaching.
The hotel manager.
I straightened slightly, my body instinctively tensing
“Mr. Saunders,” the man said, offering a polite nod. “Apologies for the interruption, but there is a message waiting for you at reception.”
A message.
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That strange, uneasy feeling crept up my spine, but before I could dwell on it, Vivien let out a soft groan.
“Josh,” she whined, reaching across the table to grab my hand, lacing our fingers together. “It’s such a beautiful day. Do we really need to deal with whatever it is right now? I’m sure Jess has everything under control. You promised.”
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THE CALL
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I gave her a small smile, rubbing my thumb over the back of her hand. “It’ll just take a second.”
She pouted slightly. “But snorkeling…”
I chuckled, leaning in to kiss the tip of her nose. “We’ll still snorkel, I promise.”
Vivien sighed dramatically, releasing my hand with a playful. huff. “Fine. But if it’s something dumb, you owe me.”
I grinned. “Deal.”
Still, as I stood, following the manager toward reception, that unease in my gut only deepened!
I had no idea why.
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