Allison smiled at his directness. — “I’m divorced. And you? No ring—is that a vacation choice or a lifestyle?” David’s expression softened, a hint of an old wound showing. — “Lifestyle. I was in a long-term thing that ended poorly. She moved on with my best friend. It’s been a long road back from that. So, I’m very careful these days.” Allison nodded; she understood that kind of caution better than anyone.
They reached the gate of the inn. — “Which floor?” — “Third. But really, I can take it from here…” — “Nonsense. This thing weighs as much as a bowling ball. Let me get it to your door.”
He carried it up the stairs, and Allison found herself admiring the way he moved—confident but not arrogant. At her door, she hesitated, then said, — “Well, since you did the heavy lifting, it’s only fair you get a slice. I have a knife inside.” — “I’d love that,” David replied.
They sat at the small table on her balcony, eating the cold, sweet fruit and laughing about the “watermelon incident.” It felt like they had known each other for years, not an hour. When they finished, David stood up to wash his hands. When he came back, Allison was standing by the railing, looking out at the sunset.
He stepped up behind her. — “Thanks for the melon, Allison. You’re… really something,” he said softly. The air between them felt charged. He reached out, tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and leaned in. The kiss was gentle, tasting of summer and salt.
Allison let herself go. “Why not?” she thought. “I’m a free woman. Let this be a beautiful memory.” She kissed him back. — “Stay a while,” she whispered.
The rest of the week was a blur. They were inseparable—dinners at local seafood shacks, long walks on the pier, and late-night swims under the stars. They talked about everything, peeling back layers they usually kept hidden. Allison felt like a girl again, light and hopeful.
But the pragmatic voice in her head kept whispering: “It’s a vacation romance. It’s the beach air. Real life is waiting.” At the airport, they said their goodbyes. David asked for her number and promised to call, but Allison didn’t let herself believe it.
Comments are closed.