Page 52 of Until He Confesses

I was sure he heard me approach, however, he didn’t turn to acknowledge my presence and I wondered why. That was until he finally glanced sideways at me, and I realized he was on the phone. He stared as he responded and then he returned his gaze to the sea. I watched him, admiring the fact that he looked quite casual. It was a very carefree version of him that I had experienced in the past but not since we had met again. He had on slacks as well as a dress shirt, but it was huge and untucked with a few buttons down his front unfastened. I couldn’t help but stare at the bronze of his skin in the sunlight and the sway of his hair in the gentle breeze.

All of this was set against the backdrop of the cliffs and mountains, and I itched so hard to take a picture. I managed to stop myself, more than aware that it would be obvious but eventually, I couldn’t hold out. I pulled my phone out and took a picture of the horizon with him in it as well but just before I was able to put the phone away, he turned to watch me, and my heart stopped.

I quickly recovered enough to take another picture before finally hiding my phone. He kept watching me, but I wasn’t brave enough to not look away.

24

LUCAS

Icouldn’t take my eyes off her.

At first, I had been able to but not when I’d caught her taking a picture of me. Maybe I was in the frame and maybe I wasn't but given how she couldn’t exactly look me in the eyes, it wasn’t too farfetched to deduce that it was that way because she was guilty. So, I stared outrightly and took my fill of her.

She once again had that half-up and half-down hairstyle that I absolutely loved. It made her look so youthful, coupled with the flow of her thick wavy, and long hair I could feel my heart ache.

I turned away so I could concentrate on my call and soon straightened. I was barefoot, which I was aptly reminded of when her gaze lowered to look at my feet. I was amused when her attention remained on them, which sent the very clear message that she would avoid staring me in the eyes for as long as possible and I knew exactly what the problem was.

“Those trains can be dangerous,” I said as I stopped before her. She finally looked at me and nodded.

“I should have been more careful though,” she said. “I’d heard about them.”

I watched as she looked out at the sea and then at the boat.

“This is um… huge,” she said. “Do you own it?”

I smiled and shook my head.

“No. A friend of mine here does. I wanted to stay in one of the villas here for the week, but he offered me this instead. I think I prefer it and it should be an experience. I’ve never spent a week on a boat before.”

“Me neither,” she said. “I’ve only ever been on one in the city when it was crowded with people.”

“You’re staying at an inn?” I asked and she smiled.

I didn’t understand why.

“A bed and breakfast, yes, and it’s quite great, the views are nice.”

I nodded and proceeded.

“I invited you over to have breakfast with me. Is this alright?”

This time around she stared straight at me.

“It’s hard to refuse when you’re more or less my benefactor here right now,” she said, and I smiled.

“How embarrassing,” she said. “But I’m consoling myself with the fact that I used to buy you lunch in high school.”

I frowned at her words because I was certain that this wasn’t exactly accurate.

“I remember this happening once or twice, but I remember that more than anything I was the one who got you the things you needed.”

She lifted her gaze in thought and then sighed.

“Either way I’m trying not to feel too ashamed by this. I will pay you back of course for every single expense.”

“Of course,” I said with a smile and shook my head as I returned to the railing.

It took her a few minutes to make up her mind, but she soon came over.