6. Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

RILEY

A deep sense of melancholy settled over me as I traced absentminded circles on Colton's chest. It was our last night of vacation and tomorrow we both had flights out of the island's airport early in the morning. I was going back to Minnesota and Colton was going back to Kentucky. Sadness and maybe a little desperation hung in the air the last few days as I tried to soak in each moment before I had to leave this man behind.

Colton's heartbeat was steady under my ear as I laid with my head on his chest. We had just finished another round of sex. It was always steamy but this round felt different, softer and sweeter and I soaked it all in, trying to commit it to memory.

"Can we talk?"

Colton's voice was quiet as if he didn't want to break the moment. I propped myself up on my elbow so I could look up at his face. What did he want to talk about?

"Sure. What is it? "

"Do you think this could exist outside of here?" he asked hesitantly.

"What do you mean this?" I frowned. What was he talking about? Like our vacation fling?

"This, us. Would you be interested in seeing each other after we get home?"

I was silent as I processed his words. I hadn't really ever thought about it because it was just supposed to be a vacation fling. But being with Colton was so easy. So much easier than any of my past partners. But relationships didn't seem to work out for me. What if we tried and it didn't work? Did I want the heartache of saying goodbye now or after a few months?

"I haven't really thought about it. I don't have a lot of relationship experience," I hedged. At least not a lot of good relationship experience.

"Me either," he admitted. "But I know that I've never felt this type of connection before and I'm not ready to lose it. I think if we just keep talking to each other, between the two of us, we'll figure it out."

It was easy to talk to him. We had spent most of our nights together staying up late and talking. But was conversation and good sex enough?

"What about the distance? I live in Minnesota and you live in Kentucky."

"Well, there's phone calls and video calls and I think this vacation has proved that my company won't burn down with me gone. It's a fourteen hour drive or a shorter flight."

"I could make flights work," I said slowly. I could work from anywhere as long as I had an internet connection. I hadn't had a long distance relationship before but maybe that was what would make it work. He wouldn't have to deal with my brain on a full time basis and I would have a lesser chance of doing something to sabotage this.

"It only works if this is something you want though. If you want to leave it on the island, then I'll respect it but we've got a once in a lifetime connection and I'm not ready to let it go."

There were still lingering doubts in my mind but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to try it. There were no guarantees and I might find myself heartbroken in three months but I wasn't crazy enough to miss out on a chance to try. Maybe this vacation fling could turn into something more.

"I want to try," I said, meeting Colton's eyes and watching his handsome smile spread across his face. "I can't promise I'll be any good at it, but I want to try." I didn't know if I was really wired to have a relationship but I wanted to try.

"That's all I ask," Colton said as he pulled be down for a sweet kiss. I pulled him closer, letting his confidence and surety fill me as I prayed to whoever was listening that this would work out.