Sunshine Kisses

‘I was hungry.’

Erik smirked around the rim of his juice glass. ‘I’ll bet.’

Abby felt a blush spread through her cheeks. It wasn’t helped when Erik leaned in close and said softly, ‘We need to talk.’

She responded with an empty smile, and threw herself into the conversation Erik’s parents were having about gardening. It lasted the extent of breakfast. As they meandered through the botanical gardens, she allowed her father to give her a play by play of his six most recent patients. Later, she would realise it was the longest conversation they’d had in years. When they stopped for lunch, she actually opted to sit with her mother out of desperation.

‘Why are you sitting here, darling?’

Abby shrugged. ‘We haven’t had a chance to chat much.’

‘Oh, it’ll be lovely to catch up. Sit, sit, but don’t shrug, dear. It’s not polite.’

Those were the last words her mother directed at her for the duration of the meal, but being ignored was preferable to acknowledging the pointed stare Erik was levelling at her and discovering what was behind it.

Finally, she agreed to tennis doubles (another sport with truly excellent clothes, she’d thought as she slipped into a pair of white skorts), partnering with her dad against her mother and Nora while Erik chatted to his dad on the side. She could feel his gaze on her throughout the game, and pointedly avoided looking in his direction. It meant missing a few easy hits and ultimately losing to her mother. It was worth the disappointment on her father’s face as they walked off the court.

But after dinner came the sting of betrayal.

‘What do you mean you don’t have plans?’ Abby asked, thunderstruck. ‘You fill every minute of this trip. Why don’t we all go for a drink at the bar? Or they’re doing a comedy show in the lounge?’

Erik narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Why are you so upset?’ It was the first time he’d addressed her directly since breakfast. ‘I thought you had a date.’

‘I cancelled,’ she replied curtly.

‘And why is that?’ he asked, stepping closer to her, seemingly oblivious to the curious stares from their parents.

‘Because I wanted to spend more time with my darling family.’ Her tone turned syrupy sweet. ‘Mum, we could go shopping. We haven’t even seen what the gift shop’s Christmas ornament for this year is.’

Each year, Belridge Hotel created a ‘bespoke’ ornament that would allow you to cherish your special memories of your stay with them for years to come. Their Christmas tree was laden with imitation crystal and too many sequins.

‘Really, darling, your father and I do have plans, but nothing you’re invited to. It is our anniversary after all.’

Abby was suddenly sad to be avoiding Erik’s gaze. They couldn’t share the look that meant they both wanted to vomit.

‘We can go to the gift shop tomorrow, and there’s nothing stopping you doing either of those other things with Erik. We’ll see you two in the morning.’

‘I could take in a show,’ Erik said.

‘You hate comedy.’ She spoke without looking at him.

‘Only when it’s not funny.’

In her periphery, she could see Erik take another step towards her, causing her to spin and follow her parents towards the lifts.

‘On second thought, an early night sounds like a great idea,’ Abby said brightly.

After their parents departed on their respective floors, Abby and Erik shared a mercifully full lift as they continued upwards. Erik stayed a few paces behind her while they walked to their rooms. She chanced a look backwards before diving through her door. He looked annoyingly casual, strolling with his hands in his pockets. He smirked slightly as they locked eyes, and that small, simple quirk of his lips lit her up as much as it shot fear through her.

It was the face of a man scheming, and it was still playing on her mind half an hour later when a knock at the door drew her attention away from her thesis research.

Erik stood in the hallway.

Immediately on the defensive, she crossed her arms. ‘Why didn’t you just use the door between our rooms?’

‘I didn’t think you’d answer if you knew it was me.’

Well.