Page 46 of Broken
“What?” I smile, but he turns away from me to eye the crowd again. “If you’re that uncomfortable, we can go back so you can change.”
“No, I don’t want to change.”
My phone rings in my pocket, so I pull it out and answer it.
“Hello?”
“Good evening, Mr. Vaughn,” a cheerful female voice says. “This is Kelsey from Black Diamond Resort.”
“Oh, hi.” I stand and walk away from the crowd so I can hear her better. “Is there a problem?”
“No problem at all. I was calling to let you know there’s another villa that has become available, and we can have your luggage moved over first thing tomorrow.”
A buzzing fills my head. I don’t want to leave him. I can’t.
My heart rate jacks up in my chest, pounding in my ears at the idea of him not being with me every second of the time I have with him here. I don’t even know how I’m going to get on that fucking boat to leave the island without him. Just thinking about it makes me itchy, makes the panic start clawing at the back of my throat.
“That’s okay. We’ve worked it out, and I’ll stay where I’m at. Thank you.” The words rush out so fast I’m not sure she even understood them.
There’s a long pause before she says, “Are—are you sure?”
“I am, thank you.” I hang up the phone and turn around to find that damn bartender sitting on the bench facing Eli, dragging the back of his fingertips down Eli’s arm. Abso-fucking-lutely not.
Eli has a blush on his cheeks and a cocky smile. He’s flirting with this asshole! What the fuck?
Stalking over to them, I grab the guy’s arm and shove him off the bench.
“You’re in my spot,” I snap at him, dropping down onto the wood.
“I’ll see you around, legs.” The man winks at Eli, and I jolt to my feet. Eli grabs my hand and pulls on me.
“Asher, stop it. You’re making a scene,” he says sharply under his breath so only I can hear him.
I spin on him, my chest tight as I fight with myself for control. I fucking hate that I can’t touch him, can’t claim him right here in front of everyone.
He looks up at me with sadness in his eyes that hurts on a bone-deep level. Sadness I can’t fix. Not here and not now.
“Don’t worry about Holden.” Eli’s voice is soft, probably so no one will overhear. “But honestly, it’s probably better if everyone sees us with other people. It’s suspicious that you’re staying in the same villa as me while I’m dressed like this. We’re always together unless you’re in the gym. You aren’t acting straight. People will talk unless we give them a reason not to.”
Eli stands and folds his arms around his stomach. It’s an old, self-soothing motion that I haven’t seen in a long time.
“If people want to talk because I’m spending time with a man I grew up with, that’s on them. That’s not suspicious.” I lift my bottle to my lips and take a long pull to give myself something to do.
“I’m a very out gay man, and no one has seen you with a chick since you got here. You’re possessive and have touched me in public in ways that say it’s suspicious. At the bar on the pier? You were wrapped around me while I was wearing a skirt.” Reaching for his glass, he swirls the thin straw around. “You need to find a . . . woman to be seen with.”
“No.” The word is out before I’ve even thought it through. Is he playing it smart? Yes. Do I like it? Not at fucking all.
He sighs heavily, not looking at me. “You have to think logically. When we leave here and go back to the real world, you don’t want rumors of this to follow you.”
“Excuse me,” a feminine voice says behind me. Spinning around, I’m met with a sexy redhead in a white bikini and sheer blue cover-up that actually covers nothing. Even if I wasn’t here with Eli, I wouldn’t be interested.
“Yes?” I force my shoulders to relax and force a smile to my face.
“Do you play football?” Her expression turns sultry. Seduction is her game, but I’m not interested. Movement behind me catches my attention. Turning my head, I watch Eli walk away from me toward that damn bartender again. Fine. If this is how he wants to play it, I guess we will.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Elliot