Mia Lake

We're sitting by the beach bar, and the sun is slowly setting. We've been joking around and relaxing all afternoon, but now, after a few drinks, everyone agrees on playing a game.
We ask the staff to bring us a few games and Amelia picks out one.

It's a bunch of cards, with questions on them. Ezra picks up a card and turns it over.
"Oh...alright, this game is deep." He says before reading the question out loud.

"What's one thing you wish to change about yourself?"

Amelia answers first, not thinking for a second. "I wish my scars would disappear."

Ezra plants light kisses on her shoulder.
I know Amelia hates them, it reminds her of painful memories.

Ezra follows, sitting up straighter. Clearing his throat before speaking.
"Sometimes...well most of the times I'm an asshole. I wish I would be nicer to others." He says. And it's kind of true. It took Ezra almost two years to even be friendly with me.
But I don't blame him, given his past.

Alex's turn. He looks down on his hands. And for a moment I think he's going to skip his turn. "I guess..." he trails off. "My scary hand." He says.

He doesn't elaborate further, but I know what he means. One of his hands, is covered in burn marks, scars from who knows what. He had said it was an accident, but I hadn't believed him back then.
I don't think Alex gets that his hand isn't scary. Not to me at least. It's...beautiful in its own way. Like a story etched to his skin.

I glance at him, wondering if he feels my gaze on him.
"What about you Mia?" Amelia asks and I let out a nervous laugh.

"I guess, I talk too much. So I wish there was some kind of stop button that would stop me from talking someone's ear off." I say fidgeting with my hands.

Alex glances at me, his eyes meeting mine.
"I don't mind it." He says. I swallow, unsure of what to say.

"Thanks." I smile, feeling a strange warmth in my chest.

The game continues, the cards flowing more freely. The conversations shifts and it's pretty fun. It's like we're getting to know a new side of each other. For example, I never knew Ezra was afraid of dogs. Who would've thought?

"He's you ever been in love?" Amelia asks reading the card.

She dosnt hesitate. "Yes." She says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Ezra's hand brushes over Amelia's. "Yeah." He answers.

Amelia smiles softly at him, her expression full of warmth, but then they both turn to me and Alex.

Have I ever been in love? I mean, I've had feelings for people, sure.
But love?

"No." I say quietly. "I haven't."

I nudge Alex with my elbow. "What about you Alexander?" I say using his full name.

He smiles but it falters. Almost as if remembering something deep.
"Yeah. Once." He says.

Now I have a lot of questions. But I keep quiet knowing he won't answer them.

***

Eventually we finish playing and everyone head back to their rooms.

Alex stand on the balcony watching the view. I walk up to him and lean on the railing. Looking out the beautiful sea.

I glance at him. Earlier today I saw his tattoos on his back and really wanted to ask about them.

"So, how many tattoos do you have?" I ask, my voice casual. I'm genuinely curious, though a part of me tries not to be too obvious about it.

He looks at me for a moment, that signature smirk creeping up his lips. And I know he's trying to figure out just how much to tease me.
"Four." He answers. "Want to see them?"

I hesitate for a second, unsure of where this is going. But the curiosity inside me wins. I give him a small, mostly shy smile. "Sure."

He pushes back from the railing and takes off his shirt, then turns around.

I reach up and touch his back. Tracing the tattoos with my fingers. His breath hitches.

The first one is his mother's name, Genevieve, etched in delicate script. Right under is Amelia's name and below that one is his youngest sisters name, Eloise.

Genevieve and Eloise sadly passed away two years ago, but I think it's sweet how he's kept them on his skin.
Like there always with him, wherever he is.
The love he has for his family is clear.

I can't help but notice the way his muscles move as he shifts, the subtle curve of his biceps, the way his abs flex with every movement. He turns back to me.

My gaze lifts lifts back up to his face. I meet his eyes. There's that grin again. What is he thinking about this time?

"Wanna see the last one?" He asks, his voice low, almost daring me to say yes.

I swallow, a little breathless. "Yes." I say not fully sure of what I'm getting myself into.

"Not sure your boyfriend would approve of this." He says with a playful smirk on his lips.

"I want to see it." I push.

Then he does something that make my breath hitch. He pulls his pants down just enough to reveal the tattoo hidden right below his hipbone.

It's a single word, black ink against his skin. Invincible.
The word pulses with something raw and daring. The word feels like a challenge, like something I shouldn't even want to get close to, yet everything inside me screams to understand it more.
I can't handle how hot this is. And he knows it too. My body is reacting in ways it shouldn't. It's dangerous to be here with him.

He watches me carefully, his gaze never leaving mine. "I can particularly hear what you're thinking, Lake." He says, sounding amused.

I feel how my cheeks heat up. My breath catching as I try to look away. It's like he's daring me to make a move, daring me to fall into whatever game he's playing. My mind is racing. I know it's stupid to feel this way. He's Alex. My best friends brother.

"Invincible?" I ask, my voice faltering slightly. I need to keep my cool, even if every fiber in my body is screaming to be close to him. "Is this where you tell me that you're invincible?" I say trying to keep myself talking.

He leans in just a little, the space between us almost nonexistent. His breath skims my skin as he speaks. "Maybe not invincible, Mia." He says his lips almost brushing against mine.

Stay away Mia.

Don't do this to Amelia. She wouldn't want this.

"But definitely, unforgettable." He adds.

I want to pull away, to act like I'm unaffected. But the way his eyes hold mine, the intensity of his presence, it's pulling me in. I've never felt this way about anyone before.
Maybe it's just the attraction. It has to be.

I stand there barley breathing. I can't think straight. The pull between us is magnetic, impossible to ignore.
"What are we doing?" I whisper, my voice barley audible.
My hands are trembling slightly, and I don't know if it's from the wind or the fact that I'm dangerously close to give in.

"I don't know." He says, his lips curving into a slow, almost dangerous smile. "But we both know where this is going."

I swallow hard. His hand moves, sliding up my arm, then to the back of my neck. Tilting my head up to really look at him.

"Tell me to stop." He orders as if he can't do it himself.

"Yes...We have to stop." I say, but still, I'm not pulling away.
His lips hover over mine.

I think I'm going crazy.
I need him, but can't have him.

*buzz*

Fuck.

Our heads turn to the phone. And I push myself away from Alex.

Breathing heavily.

I go back inside and pick up my phone. It's my mom.

"Mom? What happened?" I ask starting to panic.
She never calls unless it's important.

"Mia..." she sounds weak. "I didn't want to worry you, but I've been feeling worse. The doctors...think I need to go in for more tests. Urgent tests."

I close my eyes, feeling like I've been punched in the stomach. "More testes? What kind of tests?" I ask gripping my phone tighter.

"They're concerned about my heart, it's been acting up again...I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure, but they're talking about surgery." She says.

Surgery? I can't breathe. My vision blurs as my mind tries to process what she just said. She's too weak for surgery, she wouldn't survive another one. My knees almost give out but Alex rushes up to hold me up.

"Why didn't you call me earlier?" I ask now crying. She could've said something before we left.

"I didn't want to ruin your trip. I know how hard you work, and you deserve some time away." Mom says.

I stand there, speechless, guilt flooding me. I never should've left, why didn't I even agree to come here? I should've been with her.

"I'm coming home right away." I say already moving.