Page 98 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

98 | FRANCESCA PE NN

He smiles at me, brilliant and bold, and my heart stops. He makes everything
in me melt, and Chanel’s words echo in my head. “Stay sober. You’ll get a much
different result.” I’m stuck in the same spot staring at him. I should walk in his
direction, but I cannot move.

“I want you,” I mouth it to myself, testing the words on my lips.
He stops briefly and tilts his head. He isn’t close enough to hear me. He is
aware that I’ve spoken, but cannot know what I said. Could he? Henry studies me
as he walks.
“What did you say?” He is closer now, in my space. There is a sense of urgency
in his question. I look down at his hand, and he tilts my head back to him. “Sanya,
baby, what did you just say?”

Tell him. Tell him. Tell him, my hormones urge. You’re crazy. You have to live
together, my brain counters.
“I, uh … said. You got food.”
His brows crease, and his lips pucker slightly. He is a mix of disappointment
and skepticism. Does he know what I’d just said? Impossible.
“Well, come on then.”

He grabs my hand and pulls me behind him to the group. He’s held my hand
a lot in Florida. I want it to continue when we return home. Deep down I know it
isn’t possible.
The warm sand filters through my sandals, and my legs burn slightly from
trying to keep up with Henry’s strides. The other girls are settled in their spots.
Luckily, Carla has saved me a seat next to her. I plop down in my chair. Tala
continues to look at her magazine, Lizzie ignores me, and Carla smiles.

Henry drops the bag in front of me. “Eat up. I’ll be right back.”
I watch as he walks toward the water then looks from one side to another. He
tests the sand with his foot. He takes a few steps back and does the same thing. I
have no idea what he is doing. He pulls out his phone and reads the screen. He puts
both hands on his hips and lets out a huge sigh. He looks up at the sky like he is
trying to make a big decision.
Henry then turns and walks back toward me. I’d stretched out and gotten
comfortable. He pulls his shirt over his head to reveal his swoon worthy body. I let
out a collective sigh. Yes, you read that correctly, collective. The other bitches sigh,