“That’s easy,” Nina said. “I’m going to go scuba diving!”
“Oh? I didn’t peg you for the adventurous type.”
“Not many people do. I’m kind of quiet and bookish most of the time, but that’s only because there wasn’t anything to do in the little town we grew up in. My mom and I moved to the big city in the middle of high school, and it was awful trying to make friends there. I guess I just retreated into my books even more. But I love doing stuff outdoors too…I just don’t get a lot of time to do it now that I’m pre-med.”
Nina didn’t know where the words were coming from. Usually she’d freeze up when she tried to talk with a guy as handsome as Hayden. But she felt comfortable with him, as though she could open herself up and he wouldn’t judge her at all for it. Never in her life had she felt like this. Always there was a sense of inadequacy, especially when she compared herself to her best friend Kate. Kate who had luscious red locks and legs that stretched for miles. In comparison, Nina was all too plain.
Not with Hayden though. The way he looked at her, like he could see straight through the shell she built around herself, was almost liberating. Nina had never felt so close to anyone so quickly. The other passengers, the airplane, her mother’s stupid wedding, none of it seemed to matter while she was talking with Hayden. He made all of it fall away, until it was just the two of them sharing something special and secret. Time seemed to fly by as they talked, and she was thrilled that he didn’t lift his hand from her arm, not once. It was as though they were anchored together as long as they touched.
Was this what it felt like, to fall in love?
Hayden
“We are preparing for the final descent. Please fasten your seatbelts now and place your trays in the upright position. Thank you.”
Hayden looked up as the light for the seatbelt illuminated. He couldn’t believe that they were going to land soon. It was surreal, how time didn’t seem to exist as he was talking and flirting with Nina. He snuck a look over towards her, and was gratified when he saw the same disappointment written on her face. He groaned inwardly as he watched her bite her own lip. What he wouldn’t give to be doing that himself. In fact, if he could have had his own way, he’d have bought out the entire flight. He wanted to run his hands all over her, feel the sweet softness of her body under his.
The thing was, unintentionally or not, he had created a problem. He hadn’t figured it out until halfway through, but somehow Nina didn’t have a clue that he was going to be her stepbrother. Whether it was because Sarah had never mentioned him, or she hadn’t bothered to look him up, it felt almost refreshing to have her get to know him as just Hayden, plain and simple. He hadn’t had that since he was very young. Back then he went to school with others who were just as well off as he was, and while there was a shadowy sense of just how important he was, it had never bothered him the way it did now.
He hadn’t meant to lie to her, but now he wasn’t sure how to get out of it. Hayden knew that she liked him. It was clear as day. And he did too, surprisingly enough. What had started out as a way to get Nina out of his system by seducing her had suddenly become a lot more complex. But how was he supposed to have known that all this time, she hadn’t known who he was?
Unfortunately, the decision was made for him. As they exited the airport, a driver held up a sign saying “Hayden and Nina”. It didn’t take a genius to figure out just how many Haydens and Ninas there could have been on the flight.
She stopped, stock still. Her mouth had dropped open, and her eyes were wide. Nina turned around to look at him, hurt and confusion written on her face.
“Nina,” he said quietly, “I can explain.”
“What do you mean?” Her voice quavered just a little at the end.
“I was going to explain, to say, but I just didn’t have a good time…”
Hayden started to reach out to her, to pull her closer, but she pulled her hand back towards herself. He knew why she was angry. It seemed like such a cruel trick, to flirt with her when he knew that she was going to be his stepsister. That it would be wrong to continue on the path they were headed to.
Hayden’s file on her had been thorough. She didn’t have a boyfriend, and she never did before either. She was too shy and guarded to let anyone in, and over time, it had hardened into a shell that didn’t let anyone in. Her anger smarted, but he knew that he had nobody else to blame but himself. He should have spoken up.
“There’s no need,” she said. “I’m fine.”
She wasn’t. He knew she wasn’t. But Nina turned toward the driver and shook his hand, all traces of her feelings wiped off. Her walls had gone down, and Hayden was locked out.
The ride back was similarly icy. Even the driver seemed to pick up on the silence and gave up trying to point out interesting facts about St. Lucia after the first few minutes. Hayden wanted to try to explain, but he could see that it would only make things worse. Nina wasn’t ready to listen to anything he had to say, replying only with monosyllables.
He shook his head, frustrated by his own stupidity. Who did he think she was, just another silly bimbo girl at the bar? Nina was way smarter than that, and he had miscalculated. A lot. The only thing he could do was wait until they were alone again, or risk embarrassing her further.
At least they were in a beautiful place. Maybe that would allay her anger a little bit. The resort that her mother had picked out was spectacular. Not only was the resort ground completely separated from all the other hotels in St. Lucia, they would have their own private ‘sanctuaries’ as the hotel called them, complete multiple bedrooms, kitchens, and a living room that opened out to a private infinity pool. Hayden had hoped that they would be able to get to know one another by sharing the suite together.
“What is this?” she asked, as the bellboy finished dropping off their bags and closed the door behind him.
“I hoped that we would be able to get to know one another a bit better this weekend. It is the first time we’ve seen each other in person.”
“And you thought that I’d want to start by sharing a room?”
He had to admit that it sounded like a pretty stupid idea. God, he just couldn’t think straight when it came to her!
“Well, I didn’t think that you’d want to sleep with me right away, no,” Hayden replied. He saw her look away, red suffusing her cheeks. She looked so sweet and perfect right then, he wanted to cross the room and sweep her into his arms. “Believe me, I know this looks bad. I hadn’t intended for what happened on the plane.”