Rule #3
A short story that won me $1,000
Last year, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority held a romance writing contest as part of the ‘Love and Wanderlust’ Romance campaign and I thought, “What the heck, this is right in my wheelhouse.” It was to the point that I immediately had an idea, but I let it gestate for a bit. What I hadn’t anticipated was my almost making it into a novel. So I had to stop and recall what little I could remember about flash fiction and here you have it.
I must say that I do feel a kinda way as I do have an advantage over others having written a few romance books. It reminds me of all the times I put others first because I thought that was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, the right thing came with regret so, I took a chance and I won $1,000. Sadly, the credit union would only accept the smaller version of the check.
Rule #3
I wasn’t looking for love and yet…
Looking up from the now empty cup, I look into his eyes. No, his name isn’t love, it’s Adrian and when I had affirmed that I was through with the fickle emotion called love, there he stood.
In the crowded reception of Bay Club Resort and Spa stood a man with the deepest dark brown eyes and dimples that appear when he smiles. He always smiles when he looks at me.
With a sigh, I return the cup to its place beside my half-eaten breakfast and I feel the weight of this moment. Why not? I had already broken Rule #3. Not looking for love. I’ve been able to keep the first two rules that my travel buddy and best friend, Cressida and I agreed on.
Rule #1: Have the best time ever in paradise, aka Antigua.
Rule #2: We don’t talk about home.
We don’t talk about her newly minted fiancé, work, bills and my being dumped by Thomas, Mr. Right, Mr. Checks-all-the-boxes, Mr. Son-of-a-
Adrian reaches across and rests his hand on mine. When he had heard of our rules, well, the ones Cressida and I had come up with, he adopted them.
If Rule #3 was known, I’m not sure he would have arranged that candle light dinner at the gazebo that overlooked the bay. We watched the riot of colours as the sun dipped into the Caribbean Sea. I barely noticed the tiki lanterns being lit as I was loss in conversation with Adrian.
Conversation is easy with him. Even never speaking of home, it forces us to look beyond our professions, our family and friends. It left only us and each moment on a tiny island at the edge of a great ocean.
He intertwines his fingers with mine and I look down at his hand. I smile as I remember this one and that one holding me as he helped me down from a brown horse. We had gone horse back riding on the beach, finding ourselves at the back of the pack. We eventually fell back until we were somewhat removed from them and it was just us.
I blink back a tear and look to the side in time to see a pelican fold its wings and plunge into the deep blue sea. Soundless.
I can tell him. I can tell him where I live. I can tell him what I do. I can make it easy for Adrian to find me when he returns to wherever in the world he’s from. What’s one more rule broken when I, when we, have been so good with Rule #1.
Decided, I turn back, I tighten my grip. He’s leaving today and I just want to hold onto him. I don’t want this to end. “Adrian,” I began, ready to spill everything, it’s not too late. “I know we agreed to-”
“Uh, excuse me,” an apologetic voice comes from beside us and I look up to see the maître d, an older woman with a sad smile. “I’m sorry but we have to prepare for lunch,” she motions to the rest of the dining room.
When I look, its empty save for the wait staff who are setting tables nearby.
“Oh,” Adrian pulls his hand away and looks at his watch. “We’re sorry,” he starts to get to his feet.
She waves the apology aside and gives us a knowing smile before returning to her station. I wonder how many times she has had to do that as I fall into step besides Adrian. Shepherding out lovestruck couples from the dining room, they’re having lost track of time.
Time. I look across at Adrian. Time is running out. We walk to his room, it’s there we say good bye. But does it have to be for good? Should something this special be relegated to a single moment in time? I want it to be longer than that.
I slow my pace, building up the courage to say that I want more. He slows down, too, then comes to a stop. I stop as well.
“As I was saying, uh, before-”
Adrian disappears between the hedges then pulls me into him. He claims my lips and I forget what I was going to say. I feel his body flush against mine, the scent of him envelopes me. I grow breathless and… I … don’t… care.
He pulls away and dimples appear. We both know that if I step foot into his room, he isn’t going home and I…
I giggle, then bite my bruised lower lip, trying to contain my smile but there is no way I can contain the joy I feel right now. Can we just stay here?
The dimples disappear and Adrian heaves a sigh. Reaching out his hand, he doesn’t meet my gaze.
I take his hand and we return to the path to his room.
Rules are made to be broken. I’ve already broken one of them, I look across at him. He is so worth it. But why hasn’t he… I look ahead, knowing he respected my wishes, my rules.
Once again, we slow down and come to a stop, but this time, we are standing in front of his block of rooms. When he lets go of my hand, I hold on just a little bit longer before letting go.
“I wish…” he turns to me and I see the torment in those brown eyes.
“Me, too,” I say. Then I try to muster up some cheer, “So, what’s next for you?”
There is a pause, Adrian studies me or is he memorising my features as I am locking his away in my permanent memory. “Well,” he sniffs, glancing away, then looking back at me. “I’m going to be moving. I got a new job and this was a little celebration trip before I get into the new.”
“Moving?” I reach out and cup his cheek, wanting one last kiss. “To where?” I step into him.
His response comes out as a murmur, but it rings loud in my ear and I grin at him. “What?” confusion knits his brows together.
Stepping away, I take his hand, “I guess this is not goodbye.”
“What are you saying?” he rubs my knuckles with his thumb.
“I’m saying,” I pause then step back into him as I wrap my arms around him. “See you later, see you either when I get home or when you move to my home city.”
I lean in and we kiss. Sweet, lingering, something to last until that time.
When I lean back, he is holding me and I see him grinning at me. Then Adrian whispers, “See you later.”
We stand like this for a heartbeat or five, who’s really counting? Then I pull away. He does have a flight to catch and I have a vacation to finish.
I walk back to the room I share with Cressida. More like I float back, buoyed by all that is in store in the future.
I wasn’t looking for love but I may have found happily ever after.