THE BUZZ IN Laavanya's head grew as she sat on the empty island beach table in the kitchen. She pressed her head against the cold marble table and groaned with headache. She doesn't remember much about last night. She remembers going to the beach and drawing her sorrows in whiskey and she remembers Ryker.

"Did you take the aspirin I left for you?" A voice mumbled from behind. Laavanya lifted her head to find Julie circling past her to stand on the other end of the table. Julie rested her elbows on it and leaned towards her best friend. "You look like shit."

"How did you figure I was drunk?" She asked right when Jane, the assistant head chief dropped a plate of omelette and bacon in front of her. "Thank you, Jane. How is Kevin and little baby Penelope?"

"Everyone is great, Ms. Shaw. Penny learnt her ABCs last month. Can I get you a homemade smoothie for the hangover?" She smiled.

"That would be great, thanks." Laavanya turned back to Julie when Jane left to make her a smoothie. "Mhmm?"

"I saw Ryker carrying you back into your room."

"He did, what?"

"Yeah." She picked the bacon from her plate and chewed on it. "What is going on between the two of you? You were whispering at the port and looked after you while you were drunk. Do I need to know something?" She narrowed her eyes at Laavanya.

"Nothing is. I don't even remember much about last night. All I know is he wouldn't let me get wasted." Laavanya picked up the fork and pulled her plate closer. She tried to remember more of last night. The memory came in flashes but it wasn't much. She has pictures of her and Ryker sitting silently at the beach but she has no clue what they talked about. All she remembers is she wanted him to go away but he didn't. He sat with her. "Has Ryker always been the way he is?" She questioned after a long pause.

"What do you mean?" Julie looked up from her phone screen.

"Distant."

"Well..." Julie sighed and sat on the long table. She switched her phone off and kept it aside. "He was never like that. Ryker was my favourite cousin. He cracked jokes, he taught me to swim, he would play with us but then I don't know what happened but he just...stopped coming. Uncle Mike said he is busy preparing for college and stuff. And a couple summers later when he showed up, he was different. He had started avoiding people and was always at the beach. I tried to check up on him but he constantly pushed me away so I gave up."

"What could have changed him?"

"A girl probably broke his heart. That's always the story, isn't it?"

Laavanya didn't answer that. "Maybe I should thank him for bringing me back here and..." I am going to stay. "...staying with me."

"You can't. He had to fly back to the city. And knowing him, I am sure he wouldn't return." Julie shrugged her shoulders. "Anyway, Samantha and I are going shopping for a beach party that Steve is throwing. No married people allowed. Not even Nathan and his newly wedded wife Pia. Are you coming?"

"Of course I am coming. But Samantha is engaged. How is she allowed?"

"I am engaged, Laav." Samantha came from the back to sit beside Laavnaya. "Not married. Haven't sacrificed my complete freedom yet."

"Sam..." She went for a hug. "I am sorry I couldn't meet you last night. I got occupied."

"Yes, occupied with Ryker of all," Julie commented.

"Say, what?" Samantha chuckled, unconvinced. She looked between her and Julie. "What did you do?"

"Oh, God. Nothing! We are not teenagers. I feel like I am back in high school."

"Alright, whatever. We are leaving in an hour. Will you be fine by then?" Samantha asked.

When Laavanya nodded, Julie and Samantha began chatting about the kind of outfits they plan on buying. Laavanya slowly munched down her breakfast and sipped the smoothie Jane made for her. Before making her way back into her room for a much needed shower, she shot up a text.

***

Laavanya: Thanks for bringing me back into my room last night.

As the notification popped up on his screen, a smile spread across his face. He picked up his phone to answer when his assistant Harley knocked on the transparent glass door. She peeped her head in.

"Mr. Morris, you should leave from your meeting with Mr. Edison. I've already forwarded the restaurant's address to your driver," she said and went back to sit at her desk. Ryker checked his watch and frowned. Tucking his phone in his pocket, he gathered the scattered papers and put them aside before making his way downstairs.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard on the whole drive to the restaurant. What should he say? He has never been good at texting. Should he just call and say it was a no big deal? He didn't know what to do.

He knew she wouldn't remember anything but he did. He remembers all of it. He remembers how soft her skin felt when he carried her back, how she had mumbled a thank you as she climbed into the bed while giving his jacket back and lastly, how she had smiled at him. She had never smiled at him before. And goddamn, he loved the curve of her lips on her face. Even if it was only for a fleeting moment. How much he wished she had smiled at him all the time. A smile from her felt like a victory.

"We're here," the driver called out. Ryker snapped back to reality and nodded at him. He got out of the car and stood in front of the restaurant. He tugged his suit and walked inside. The waitress showed him the seat where Mr. Edison had already made himself comfortable. As soon as Gregory caught Ryker's eyes, he stood up and shook each other's hand.

"Ah, Mr. Morris," he said as they sat down. "Thank you for meeting with me."

"What was the reason for this urgent meeting? I had to leave a family trip for this. I promise you I have left some important people back there—this better be interesting."

Mr. Edison smiled and began, "Well...I can keep this short. Your name never fails to come across when they're talking about the greatest graphic designers in the city. Piper and Lawson need someone like you. Our publishing house has one of the largest millennial and Gen-Z traction—and we wish to serve the best. Which is why we wish to hire you."

"A job offer by the very own Editor-in-chief?" Ryker leaned back on the seat. "What is going on, Mr. Edison? I heard you were on a hiring freeze after the problematic book about racism was published by your company."

Mr. Edison's smile dropped instantly. He stiffened. "That was a mistake and yes, we were on a hiring freeze. But it is lifted for you."

"What's in it for your company?"

"Excuse me?"

"You can drop the flattery act. You want me, I get it. I might consider but I wish to know why you need me so much."

Edison didn't reply for a moment or two. He cleared his throat after a long internal debate that Ryker could read clearly on his face. "We are on the verge of signing a contract with the author Sabrina Pinto but she wants you to illustrate her book. She is a fan of yours. And since our last head of graphic designs resigned a week ago, it was perfect timing and opportunity." Mr. Edison passed him a file that had details of the job position. Ryker skimmed through the document and looked up at him.

"I'm interested in considering but I have a condition."

"Yes?"

***

He left the meeting with a smile on his face. The text was still unanswered on his phone but he decided he didn't need to reply. He was catching a flight back.

He was coming back to Bayfort. For her.

imagine your love interest travelling for hours just so they could meet you again. can't relate.

are you enjoying the book? I hope so!