Ciro P.O.V
I had gotten my way, but at what cost?
My face was still red from everything that happened in the bathroom. I'd left him in there to put on the pajama pants I gave him.
I touched my lips for a second, and every detail of that kiss flashed back into my mind. What was I even thinking, making that kind of suggestion?
Still, I needed to get my picture. Otherwise, none of it would be worth it in the end.
I stared at the stack of pillows the resort provided, then quickly got to work building a border on the bed. We'd had enough skin touching for one night; I deserved my own space.
I was almost done when I heard the bathroom door creak open behind me.
"Someone would think you're preparing the bed for a war," Kenan said dryly.
I looked up at him, then straight down at the pajama pants hugging his hips. Without missing a beat, I raised my phone and snapped a photo.
"It's quite the opposite. I'm preparing for a pervert."
Still holding my phone, I grabbed his wrist and started dragging him back toward the bathroom.
"Who said you could leave? We have a picture to take."
A few minutes later, I walked out of the bathroom feeling victorious. I deserved a pat on the back. After everything that happened tonight, I was completely drained. I flopped onto my side of the bed and curled up, but I couldn't sleep yet.
I kept scrolling through the pictures we'd taken, picking out every single one where I looked good. I was so absorbed that I didn't notice the bed dip behind me.
When I felt the shift, I turned and muttered, "Remember to stay on your side."
Kenan just pushed my head away, not even bothering to answer.
My eyelids grew heavy, and the next thing I knew, I was fast asleep.
Morning came too soon. Bright sunlight squeezed its way past the curtains and poked at my eyes until I groaned and turned over. Instead of a pillow, I felt something warm and solid under my head.
I cracked one eye open and took in the scene. Somehow, I had rolled all the way to his side, and the border of pillows was nowhere in sight. My head rested right on Kenan's chest, and his arm was wrapped snugly around my waist.
So much for my genius plan.
Carefully, I pried his arm off me and slipped out of bed. In the bathroom mirror, I stared at my wild hair and sleepy skin, sighing at my life choices.
When I stepped back into the room, Kenan was still asleep, sprawled out like he owned the entire bed.
Realizing I'd never be anyone's peace, only their problem, I jumped onto the bed and nudged him over and over until he groaned.
He let out a grunt as I flopped on his chest.
"Hey, get up. I'm starving."
"What does that have to do with me?" he mumbled, his voice muffled as he half-heartedly tried to push me off.
"Two is better than one," I said proudly, rolling away and sitting up.
It took him a full five minutes to drag himself out of bed. He shuffled into the bathroom, and when he came out again, he raked his fingers through his damp hair, pushing it back with sleepy irritation instead of actually scratching it.
"Come on, let's go."
He didn't have to say it twice.
I got up from the chair where I'd been waiting and muttered, "Finally."
He walked past me without a word, and I trailed after him, grinning like the happiest person alive.
We soon arrived at the dining room, where the breakfast options were laid out. My stomach growled the second I saw the spread. I skimmed through everything and decided to keep it simple, piling my plate high while Kenan hovered behind me, "carefully" picking out his food.
We both ended up sitting down at the same time. I poured way too much syrup onto my pancakes, about to take a bite when he commented,
"I never knew you had so much room."
If you're going to talk crap this early, there's an empty table right there," I said, pointing at it without looking up.
He shrugged and kept eating, while I did exactly what I'd planned to do: enjoy my breakfast in peace.
By the time I finished my last pancake, I looked over and Kenan was barely halfway through his meal.
Judging me, yet he's the slowest eater alive.
I pulled out my phone and snapped another picture of him.
"We should go through the itinerary for today."
He stopped mid-bite. "What itinerary?"
I turned my phone so he could see. "This one and this one. Did you not read our assignment properly?"
Truthfully, it was all a lie. I had booked every activity myself, but he didn't need to know that. Couples were required for all of them, and unfortunately, he was my plus-one.
Kenan just gave a small nod and went back to eating like nothing happened.
After we finished breakfast, I checked the time and felt a surge of satisfaction. The massage was just an hour away — the first thing on my carefully curated schedule. If anyone deserved it, it was me. I'd practically carried us through every assignment this semester, not to mention surviving Kenan's attitude.
At the spa reception, a smiling lady greeted us warmly and motioned for us to follow her. I practically skipped behind her, while Kenan dragged his feet like he was being led to his execution. Typical.
We were shown into a softly lit room, the faint scent of lavender hanging in the air. Two massage tables sat side by side, separated only by a small gap.
"Please lie down and relax," the lady said kindly, gesturing toward the tables.
I shot Kenan a smug grin. "Try not to fall asleep and snore. "
He rolled his eyes but didn't argue. For once.
We both climbed onto our respective tables. I tucked my face into the soft cushion and let out a content sigh as the therapist draped a warm towel over my back. I peeked sideways through the hole in the headrest just to check on Kenan — and there he was, glaring at me like this was my fault.
"Don't look at me like that," I mumbled into the cushion. "You're welcome, by the way."
He didn't answer — probably because the masseuse had already started working on his shoulders. His grumbling turned into a low, surprised groan when she pressed into a tight spot. I smirked at the satisfying sound.
Moments later, warm oil spread across my back and all my petty thoughts melted away. Knots I didn't even know I had were slowly unraveled under the masseuse's skilled hands. I let out a muffled, satisfied hum and felt my eyelids flutter shut.
Between the soothing music, the gentle kneading, and the warmth of the room, my mind drifted far away from deadlines, pillow borders, and annoying bed hogs.
A soft chuckle from Kenan's side made my eyes crack open again. His voice, rough but relaxed, drifted over to me.
"You drool in your sleep, you know that?"
"Shut up," I mumbled without lifting my head. But my lips curved into a sleepy grin anyway.
By the time the massage was over, I felt like I'd been turned into butter. I lay there for a moment longer, savoring every ounce of relaxation before reality came back for me — and by reality, I meant dragging Kenan to the next thing on my perfectly planned day.