He nods. There’s still a wet stain on the bottom of his polo shirt, and I can’t look at it too long without feeling guilty. Everyone around the pool must have seen what happened. Maybe they even awarded points. Seven-point-eight for that pathetic performance. Thank goodness no staff saw that disaster, or they’d have been here with extra towels and kind smiles, and I would have felt even worse.

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His eyes flash to mine, but then he sighs. “Yes, but not as much, and with a much nicer view. Chicago this time of year is… well.” But it takes one to know one. After a flight where I managed to cry not once but twice, and the last few months of moving all my belongings into a new house, this is refreshing. I can’t remember a time when the person I was speaking with didn’t know everything about my situation.

I’m spared from answering by our waiter’s return. He has a rum punch in a tumbler and a glass of red wine, with one beverage looking decidedly more fun than the other. It has a sprig of mint in it and a frozen slice of lemon. Jamie dives into the water with us. He shouts and I look up, seeing him waving a few feet away. “There!” he calls and points to a spot in front of us. Our fishing guide digs out a frayed towel. The fabric is rough but dry, and I wrap it around myself.

How to Honeymoon Alone by Olivia Hayle, Paperback | Barnes How to Honeymoon Alone by Olivia Hayle, Paperback | Barnes

He nods. “Seems like the network doesn’t reach all the way to the bungalows, at least not reliably. I was on a video call for work this morning, and it kept cutting in and out.”As the morning moseys into midday, I change into a bikini and a cover-up, and grab my beach bag and guidebook. As I head through the lobby, I take a deep breath of the citrusy scent that always lingers in the hotel’s common areas. Five-star service right there. My first booked excursion is tomorrow, and I want to make sure I know exactly what to expect. I tie the belt of my bathrobe tighter and stroll along the colonnade. The path opens up to the outdoor hotel pool in the distance. The pool closes at 8 p.m., with a large sign informing guests that no swimming is allowed at night.

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I grin. “Noted. Well, I hope you have a good holiday, then. Don’t forget to schedule some non-work, too. It’s a beautiful island, you know.” I’m abroad, I think, and no one can take that away from me. The magic is right here. It’s in the new experiences, the calm ocean, and the sandy beaches. I just need to reach out and grab it. Maybe two of the characters in my story would be arguing over something on the beach. Others will take note, and after the murder, suspicions will rise among them. But it’s just another red herring… because the argument was just over the lounge chair. This is mine. Yours? There was no towel here! No, but I always use this one. And how was I supposed to know that?So he’s staying in a bungalow. It’s the resort’s most expensive option, and one I had looked at briefly when researching. But a single glance at the price made it clear that it wasn’t for people like Caleb and me. I really, really enjoyed this strangers to lovers vacation romance that sees two newly single people - teacher and aspiring writer Eden and lawyer Philip - falling for one another as they're each on their meant to be Barbados honeymoons. Yeah. All of it is pre-paid. You haven’t been too annoyed by me today, have you? On this giant boat?” I sit down on one of the lounge chairs. They’re all empty, the area abandoned. Decorative lights illuminate the desk, and the sound of tropical nightlife is heavy in the air. I’ve learned from my guidebook that it’s not cicadas, as one might suspect from the sound, but tiny whistling frogs.

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But David’s ready with the net. Up comes a large, yellow-green fish. It has a blunt face like a pug. They start this book as complete strangers so I was a little afraid about it going way too fast but not at all, fortunately!!Phillip nods again, the dimple flashing. “Well. I think it’s scheduled for this weekend. Want to come along?”