20. Archer

Chapter 20

Archer

After lunch, we travel to Parque Rural del Nublo, a park named after Roque Nublo, one of the towering rocks that stand proudly against a brilliant blue sky. Its sister rocks, El Fraile and La Rana, are just as impressive. The sun glares so intensely I have to shade my eyes. I'm a little apart from the others, who are listening to the guide. Normally, I'd be fascinated by the history of a place like this, but now I'm happy to soak up the majesty of the volcanic monoliths.

Jacob detaches himself from the group and joins me. "Amazing, aren't they?" He stands close, but not too close.

"I'm feeling small and insignificant."

He chuckles. "Me too. The guide said Roque Nublo means ‘cloud rock'. You can hike to the base."

"Do we have time?"

"No."

This entire trip has been a tease. Other than for lunch, all our stops have been brief. We've been able to see wonderful things but not explore the many trails, instead spending most of our time on the coach, travelling between fantastic destinations.

"Something to add to my bucket list," I say.

"You want to come back?"

"Definitely." I risk glancing at him. "Do you?"

"Yes."

I smile. "Together, maybe?"

"I'd like that." He moves his hand towards mine but falls short of touching me.

I hate this. Feigning indifference to each other in the villa is one thing, but this trip was supposed to be our chance to be together. It wouldn't be so bad if Barry were enjoyable company, but he isn't. His constant sniping at Jacob is wearing me down. Seriously, how has Jacob got to thirty-five without losing his shit at his dad?

Will Jacob and I come back here together? I'd like to think so, but do we have a future? Before talking to Regan, I didn't fully understand why Jacob was so reticent about revealing our relationship. I respected his fears, but I didn't get them. But that's me. I have a rosy-eyed view of the world. I'm Mr Idealistic, and I've fallen for Mr Realist. Maybe that's exactly why I'm so drawn to Jacob. Why we click. We temper each other.

"Is something wrong?" Jacob asks.

I shake myself. "No. Just thinking."

"About?"

Barry stands at the front of the group, listening to our guide intently, well out of earshot and not looking in our direction. Even so, I don't risk holding Jacob's hand, stroking his cheek, or running my fingers through his chaotic hair. "Us."

His cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. "I'm sorry we won't get to watch the sunset together."

"We'll be together."

"Yeah, with Dad the gooseberry. It's not his fault." He rubs the back of his neck.

"Give me your phone."

"What? Why?"

"So I can take a photo of you. You can't come to a place like this and not get a photo of yourself."

"All right, but I want to take one of you too."

"Let me."

My heart leaps at the female voice. I spin around, almost colliding with the woman who's been on every trip with us, along with her family.

"You should have one photo of the two of you here. Your Dad's not looking." She smiles at Jacob.

We stand together, not too close, our postures radiating friends rather than lovers, as the woman takes a photo on Jacob's phone.

She hands it to him. "I took a few in case either of you were blinking." With a wink, she returns to her family.

"What was that about?" I ask.

"She thinks I'm in the closet."

"Huh?"

"She noticed the two of us being affectionate on the last two trips."

"And now we're not."

"Exactly. And the difference is that Dad's with us."

"Makes sense."

"Yeah."

I dare a small step closer. "I get it."

"What?"

"Why this thing between us needs to stay secret. I wanted you to know I understand."

Jacob points at Roque Nublo. "How long do you think these rocks have been here?"

"No clue. I haven't been listening to the guide. Thousands of years. Maybe tens of thousands of years."

"Small and insignificant," he says, repeating my words from earlier.

"Yeah."

The guide finishes her history lesson, and our group disperses to explore the immediate area. Barry picks his way across the rocky ground to us.

"Absolutely fascinating. Don't you think?" he asks.

"Very." Hopefully, he won't quiz me or Jacob on anything the guide said.

"Our next stop is the top of the volcano in time to watch the sunset. I'll have to take lots of pictures to show Molly."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate that."

"I'm going to have a little walk around. Do either of you want to join me?"

"I'm good."

"Same," Jacob says.

"It's good to see you getting along." Barry wanders away.

I rub the back of my neck. "He's said that a lot today."

"He likes you," Jacob says.

Could Barry accept Jacob and me being together? It's not worth voicing the thought. Any talk of going public has to come from Jacob.

"He's only seen me on my best behaviour." I grin and wink.

"I prefer it when you're not behaving."

My heart flutters. "When we get home, I'll be as naughty as you like."

"I just want to touch you," he whispers. "I want to hold you and talk to you." He sighs.

"Yeah, I know. Me too. Soon."

His dad is several metres away, taking photos of the giant rocks with his back to us.

Jacob steps closer to me. "I wanted you to know it's not the sex I'm missing most. It's being close to you."

My heart soars. I feel giddy and light-headed. A bubbly laugh escapes me. I'd fling my arms around him and hold him close if I could, but I can't. Not that it tempers my elation one bit.

Our final stop is Pico de las Nieves, the highest point on Gran Canaria. The coach takes us to a parking spot a short walk from the top, and we all file out. Dark green bushes and a few tall, thin trees cling to the dusty mountainside. We're so close to the clouds it's tempting to reach out and touch them.

"I'm glad we didn't have to walk up here. I bet you'd run up, wouldn't you?" Barry asks.

"Maybe not run. I'd walk or cycle if it wasn't too hot." It's definitely not something I'd attempt in the height of summer.

"Jacob was never into sports. He doesn't even like football."

Jacob tenses his jaw.

"I don't like football either. I went to classes as a toddler, but as soon as I had a say in it, I quit," I say.

"Oh. Well." Barry mops his brow and the back of his neck with a handkerchief.

"I think football is overrated. I don't get the appeal when it comes to watching or playing it."

Barry opens and closes his mouth but then gestures to the summit. "We should keep up with everyone else, or we'll miss the sunset." He strides away from us.

"You didn't have to do that," Jacob says quietly.

"Do what?" If only I could hold his hand.

"Stand up for me."

I shrug. "I didn't say anything that wasn't true."

We amble towards the group at a slower pace so we can stay far enough behind Barry to talk without being overheard.

"I've never seen anyone leave Dad speechless before."

I chuckle. "I'm used to handling Mum. Don't take this the wrong way, but how do you stay so calm when he's digging at you like that?"

"Years of practice?"

"I'd have lost my shit."

He arches a brow. "Really? You're always so laid back."

I risk nudging his shoulder with mine. "You've never seen me worked up because you've never got on my bad side."

"Umm, I'm pretty sure I pissed you off at Dad and Molly's wedding reception."

"Yeah, maybe. But then you kissed me, and that made everything better." I ensure I keep my voice to a whisper, just in case.

"It did?"

"Yeah. A kiss from you could fix anything."

Jacob smirks. "I'm going to have to remember you said that."

"Go ahead. I won't deny it."

"Even after we've had a huge argument?"

I scrunch my nose as if thinking about his question. "Yes." I gesture to the group, which has stopped, and mime zipping my lips shut.

We join everyone in sitting on the rocks. We're not the only tourists here, but we manage to find space to enjoy the view. And what a view it is. Jagged rocks, wispy clouds, steep drops, and far below us, lush forests.

"Isn't it amazing?" Barry asks. He's sitting a short distance from us, with his back half to us.

"Yes," Jacob and I reply in unison. We make eye contact. He blushes, and my cheeks heat. We laugh and look away.

The woman who took our photo gives us a knowing smile and a wink. Barry seems oblivious to what just happened. Thank fuck.

The sun sets, and the white light coalescing around the mountains opposite gradually fades to yellow and then to gold. At the same time, the brilliant blue hue of the sky turns almost white, and the mountains become blue and two-dimensional. Once the sun has vanished, the gold on the horizon transitions to red, while the sky darkens to indigo blue, with a pale, hazy band between. The landscape loses distinction, morphing into nothing more than a series of black silhouettes against the dramatic sky.

"Wow." I can't think of anything else to say.

Not that anyone else is talking. Everyone has been rendered speechless. Barry is aiming the lens of his camera at the stunning sunset. Is he taking photos or a video? Either way, he's missing out on something amazing. Everything looks different through a camera.

Maybe Jacob and I could return at a quieter time of year when there are fewer people to share the view with. Am I selfish, wanting the view and Jacob all to myself? Maybe. Or I could be a hopeless romantic.

I can imagine it clearly. We'd sit in this very spot, under the darkening sky, watching the sky as it turns dramatic shades of yellow, orange, and red. We'd hold each other. We'd want to kiss but wouldn't want to miss a second of the sunset either. So we'd wait until the final traces of colour had been washed away by endless midnight blue. It's a beautiful dream. Maybe one day, it will become a reality.

Or I could be deluding myself.

No. I won't think like that.

I push away the intrusive negative thoughts, along with my fantasy, and concentrate on the moment. On the chirp of crickets around us, the breeze kissing my skin, and the tapestry of colour painted on the sky. This must be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

As the first stars become visible, high above our heads, fingers brush against mine. I jerk my head down. Jacob's hand is resting over mine. I lift my gaze. He smiles, his eyes radiating warmth in the half light. It takes my breath away. My heart thrums. I turn my hand over. He laces his fingers through mine and squeezes. His gesture means everything to me. I shift my attention to the sky. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here, holding Jacob's hand, enjoying the last few moments of the sunset.

Together.