SEVENTY-FIVE

Normally, she’d expect Alexander to go to his study and shut down, however, he didn’t. She found herself staring up at the ceiling in the dark knowing he too was staring up ahead at the ceiling, she stayed that way for a while before she stirred to her side so she was facing him, she let her eyes flutter close in hopes of falling asleep soon.

She wasn’t sure how long she stayed that way, but her eyes snapped open when he suddenly spoke.

“Will you like to go to the beach tomorrow?” he asked her.

She cleared her throat quietly before responding;

“How did you know I wasn’t asleep?”

It was his turn to stir to his side, and though it was dark, she could see his eyes glowing ever so subtly from the faint stream of moonlight streaking into the room through the parted curtains.

“I think I know you well enough to tell when you’re asleep, Yalda.” He replied.

She didn’t want to think too much of what he had said, it wasn’t that deep. But she couldn’t help but fall harder for him every single time he said such things.

“How can you tell?” She asked him. Her question sounded stupid, she knew, but it was late and they were both awake; it was alright to not care about what sounded right or what didn’t.

It was dark but she knew he was staring at her, probably trying to make out her face in the darkness.

“You’d be snuggled against me if you were asleep.” He replied at last. “You do it all the time.”

She felt her cheeks heat up slowly, and she averted her gaze from his though it was dark. She didn’t think she did it all the time, and she didn’t think he noticed. Perhaps she slept better when she was snuggled against him, she slept better when his arms were wrapped around her, she slept better when he was also asleep beside her.

“So, the beach.” He reminded her.

She was glad he did, at least it had diverted the topic from her shameless habit of snuggling while she slept. She cleared her throat quietly so she didn’t sound as embarrassed as she was.

“Sure, I’d love to.” She replied. “Will there be other people there?’

“Yes, but we can use the private area if you want.” He told her,

“No, it’s fine.” She said immediately. She was glad other people were going to be there, her thoughts wouldn’t have the chance to bother her if there were a lot of people distracting her.

“Alright then.” He said.

They lapsed into silence for a moment before he spoke again.

“What are you thinking?” He asked her.

She shook her head. She hadn’t been thinking about anything important, her mind had simply been all over the place because he had told her she liked to snuggle against him while she slept.

“Nothing important.” She replied.

“Go to sleep then.” He said.

If she could, she would have fallen asleep a long time ago. It wasn’t like she enjoyed being awake because her mind and heart were troubled.

“I cant.” She replied.

Saying nothing, he draped an arm over her before pulling her against his chest. He planted a lingering kiss on her head as his hand began rubbing soothing circles on her back.

“Don’t overthink, don’t think at all. Just close your eyes and go to sleep. Alright?” He asked her.

She nodded once.

And she did what he said, she pushed everything out of her mind and focused on his hand rubbing circle on her back, she focused on his warmth, on his smell, on him. And as she began drifting off, she heard him say;

“Goodnight Yalda.”

…..

It was warm, the sun was bright but gentle, and the beach was alive and filled with several colorful umbrellas, Yalda’s being one of them; it casted a blue hue over her as she lounged lazily on her mat while Alexander went to exchange some pleasantries with some gentlemen. Her gaze moved from people who were in the water surfing, to those who were playing volley ball, they seemed to be having fun but she couldn’t stand the thought of getting sand into her toenails.
She had tried reading a magazine but there had been nothing new, it had been the same old topics; from business, to politics, entertainment and fashion, to a few cooking and lifestyle. She had eventually gotten tired of it and set it aside.

“You seem like you could really do with some company.”

Her gaze snapped to the person who had spoken; a lady lounging just beside her, she seemed just as bored as she was. She nodded immediately.

“First time here?” She asked her.

It was that obvious huh?

She nodded.

The lady tsked.

“I’d tell you it gets better but that’d be a lie; my boyfriend loves this place and he makes us come here as soon as he gets a chance.” She told her. “I’m Nina, by the way.”

Yalda smiled. There was something about her that she liked. It was probably her attitude or the warm look in her hazel eyes.

“Yalda.” She in turn introduced herself. “Nice meeting you.”

Nina smiled.

“Where’s your man? You’re obviously not here on your own.” She asked her.

Yalda’s gaze travelled around quickly and it wasn’t long before she sighted Alexander standing with a group of guys his age, he seemed rather invested in what was being discussed, but most importantly, he seemed relaxed.

“That one.” She said before taking a sip of her mojito.

Nina followed her gaze and her brows arched slightly.

“Interesting.” She said, she was impressed. “Where have I seen that face before?”

Yalda merely shrugged.

This wasn’t about Alexander; it was about her making a new friends.

“Where’s your man?” She asked her.

“Standing right beside yours.” Nina replied.

And Yalda’s gaze moved to the guy standing beside Alexander, he was tall and blonde, and he was very good looking. She was also impressed. She smiled at her as she nodded.

“How do you deal with the boredom?” She asked her.

Nina smirked.

“I don’t. I merely take naps till my boyfriend’s done talking with the guys.” She replied. “They’ll come find us eventually.”

Yalda arched a brow slightly.

“Really?” She asked her. “That’s even more boring.”

She chuckled.

“I expected you to say that.” She said as she set her drink aside and elegantly rose to her feet. She was shaped like a goddess, plus, she had beautiful dark hair like Yalda’s. “You can choose to nap, or you can do this.”

Yalda watched as she confidently made her way over to where the men stood, her hips swayed sensually with every step that she took, and her beauty had several heads turning to look at her. Yalda expected her to stop when she got to the group, however, she didn’t; she walked past them without so much as glancing at her boyfriend though he turned to look at her the very send she walked by. She walked to the bar, ordered another drink before walking back to her mat to join Yalda.

“He’ll come running back very soon.” She told her smugly.

Yalda grinned. The lady definitely knew her stuff. She had no doubt her boyfriend would indeed come running after her. And in a way, she was glad Alexander had seen Nina return to the mat, perhaps he’d come join her too.

“That was amazing.” She told her honestly.

Nina smirked.

“Girl, you’re stunning, you should know how to pull that off.” She told her. “It’s nothing great.”

And just as she was about to respond, a shadow was cast over them Nina’s boyfriend came to join her.