Lincoln offers a small smile in return and leans forward to place another kiss on my tingling lips. “I’m only here for another month, Alexa. Then, I’m moving back to New York. We won’t be so far away from each other, then.”
I think I might have gasped at his words. “Wait, I thought you lived here?” He’s staying in a hotel room. That could have tipped me off that this wasn’t his permanent residency.
“It was a three-month temporary position with my company. I took it, and I’m glad as hell I did,” he says just before his lips are back on mine. His hands fall to my waist and I’m completely wrapped up an overload of sensations. “I’m looking for my next big adventure. Maybe Boston has something in store for me.” His words are whispered into my ear. I don’t know if he’s just saying this all in the heat of the moment, or if he means it, but I wouldn’t reject the idea of living closer to him and having a chance to learn more about him.
“I might like you even more right now,” I whisper. “I was scared to fall for you. It’s been two days and I feel like I’ve known you for months. The thought of this being a weekend fling excited me until it made me hurt. I want more of you.”
Our embrace becomes a much-needed hug, and I feel secure and warm within his hold. “I need more of you,” he replies. “I realized that sometimes we live for the moment, but once in a rare while, we become lucky, and that moment never ends.”
“Lovers Beach. We owe it to the rock we etched our names into,” I tell him.
“I had hoped all those people were telling the truth about the rock.”
I must be walking around with hearts in my eyes because I have fallen for a man I hardly know, and I’m not ashamed. I told Lincoln I needed to have a girls' dinner and a few drinks, but I would stop by his room after. I don’t have intentions or expectations, but whatever happens, it’s meant to be. I’m going with that.
“I love you both so much,” Grace holds up her wineglass for a toast. “I just wanted to tell you how much it means to me that I’ve been able to depend on you for friendship. You’re my sisters from different misters, and I will never put our relationship on a back burner. Thank you for giving me the best weekend ever. It’s days like today, I’ll never forget. I know we’ll all be married within the next few years, and babies will start to appear, but I hope we never fade from each other’s lives because I can’t imagine a day without talking to you both. “Thank you for being my girls, my bridesmaid and maid-of-honor. Thank you,” Grace says, wiping a tear from her eye.
I’m getting choked up too. I hadn’t stopped to think about what the three of us mean to each other, but we’ve had something special for what we’ve seen through our adult lives so far. Even when a weekend is supposed to be solely about one of us, the happiness has shone through for all.
We finished dinner, keeping the liquid intake at bay after last night. “I’m surprised Lincoln hasn’t been floating around the bar,” Macy says, waggling her eyebrows.
“He might be waiting in his room for me to stop by after we call it a night.” I’m embarrassed to say this out loud, but I’d have to tell them when I disappear again. I’ve already made them nervous twice this weekend.
“He invited you back to his room?” Grace asks.
“I might have invited myself first. So, as it turns out, he’s moving home to New York in a few weeks, and—”
“Oh my God. You’re going to be able to see him again!” Grace squeals.
“Maybe,” I say, feeling the uncontrollable smile stretch across my cheeks.
/> “Listen, we’re going to the bar for a little dancing and not so many drinks as last night. It would make this weekend the best of the best if you went to Lincoln’s room and brought him back down here after you’re done doing whatever it is you plan to do to him,” Grace says.
“I don’t want to leave you guys. I feel like I’ve done enough of that.”
“Go,” Grace says. “I’m demanding that you leave this table right now and yonder off to that sexy man’s room.”
“You heard the girl,” Macy says. “We should do what she wants. It’s her weekend.”
Despite the heat spreading through my cheeks, I stand from the table, place my napkin on my chair, and head off for the lobby.
My heart is beating at a marathon’s pace as I ride the elevator up to Lincoln’s floor, and my hand is shaking as I knock.
I hear a rustling inside, so I know he’s in there, but the door doesn’t open.
I knock again in case he didn’t hear the first time.
I wait a solid two minutes.
I get the hint.
Ouch.
I place the palm of my hand on the door and despondently walk away, feeling mortified and upset.
I’m at the end of the hall when I hear a door open from behind me, but I continue to the elevator.
Footsteps escalate behind me, they’re moving so fast I don’t have time to turn around before I’m tossed over a shoulder, being run back down the hall. “I was playing hard to get,” Lincoln says. “Did it work?”