“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Wyatt frowns.
I glance over at Wyatt as Spencer puts my motorbike helmet on. I don’t think this is a good idea, either, if I’m honest, but I’m trying my hardest to act braver than I really am.
Spencer frowns while he concentrates on fastening the strap under my chin.
“This makes me feel claustrophobic,” I say.
He smirks, choosing not to respond verbally.
“How much experience do you actually have on motorbikes?” I ask. I look at the nippy little machine parked in our garage.
“Heaps.” He knocks on my helmet three times. “I’ve only been to hospital three or four times. A few broken bones have been the worst of it.”
“What?” My eyes widen.
“Both legs, both arms,” he teases. “Fractured skull.”
“Tell me you’re joking.”
“I swear, if you crash with her on the back of that bike…” Wyatt interrupts.
Anthony laughs as he watches on.
“Stop laughing, Ant,” Wyatt warns. “This could be the last trip we ever come on.”
“Or last trip we ever make,” I mutter flatly.
Spencer’s eyes widen with delight. “Will you all fucking relax? I’m an excellent driver and…” He throws his leg over the bike and leans down, pretending to ride fast. “You won’t be able to keep up with Charlotte and me.”
Good grief, I may actually die today. “Spencer, I don’t know about this.”
“Get on, woman.” He gestures to the back of the bike with his chin.
I put my hands on my hips and smirk at him. He’s said that to me before, although the context was completely different. “Get on and wrap your legs around me.”
I do as I’m told, enjoying the way he helps me onto the seat behind him.
“You boys all right with everything?” Spencer asks them. Wyatt starts up his engine, followed by Anthony. Spencer starts our bike up, too.
“Go slow,” Wyatt warns him. “Don’t drive stupid.”
Spencer rolls his eyes. “You nag me to fucking death, Wyatt.”
Anthony chuckles. “Right?”
Spencer turns around and flips my little glass screen down over my eyes. “Hold on tight, angel.”
He pulls out slowly, and I scrunch my eyes tight and hold on.
He begins to pick up speed, and I squeeze him so tight that I’m afraid he may pop.
We pull out into the street and down the hill.
“You okay?” he calls.
I nod, too scared to reply. We ride on the cobblestone streets for a while, and I watch the people flash by us in a blur.
He runs his hand along my thigh. Hmm, maybe this isn’t so bad after all.
We pull out onto a wider road and he speeds up a little. Wyatt appears on his bike beside us out of nowhere, holding his hand up for Spencer.
“Slow down!” he calls to us.
Spencer shakes his head, flips him the bird, and accelerates away.
“Ah!” I scream as I am pushed back from the G-force.
I look behind us to see Wyatt and Anthony chasing us with a look of sheer terror on their faces. I giggle and shout out to Spencer, “Lose them.”
Spencer nods and twists his wrist to send us faster.
“See you later, motherfuckers,” he cries.
I hear Wyatt’s horn blare to life, and I put my head down on Spencer’s shoulder and laugh.
Being naughty is so much fun.
*
Three hours later, we pull into a beach and I smile goofily as I take my helmet off.
That was the most fun I think I’ve ever had. We’ve seen so much of the island and had a great time doing it, too.
Wyatt and Anthony pull in beside us, and Spencer laughs as soon as Wyatt takes his helmet off.
“I just aged fifty years thanks to you.” Wyatt huffs. “You’re a maniac driver.”
Spencer holds his hand out at the beach. “But look at your reward.”
We look around and see the most beautiful beach of black sand. It has deckchairs lined up in pairs with straw thatched beach umbrellas above them. The water is bright blue and crystal clear. There’s a beach bar, too, and people are sitting out the veranda drinking cocktails.
“May I present Perissa Beach on the Aegean Sea.”
“Wow.” I smile. “Impressive.”
“And, an added attraction of this beach is the spectacular view.” He gestures to the deckchairs where there are rows of beautiful women all oiled up and topless.
“This beach is also known as Juggernauts Hangout.”
We all laugh, and I roll my eyes. It’s such a Spencer thing to say.
“See, boys, I have your best interests at heart.” He winks mischievously.
“Excellent.” Anthony smirks.
Spencer helps me off the bike and he rests our helmets on the handlebars.
“Charlotte and I are going to have some lunch before we take a swim and lie around for a few hours. Do whatever you like,” Spencer tells them.
“We will be close,” Wyatt assures us.
“Not too close.” Spencer takes my hand in his. “Take the hint and go look at some boobs or something.”
I smirk at the boys. Being told to go and look at some boobs is not something I imagine that they have ever heard from their employer before.
“This way.” Spencer takes off towards the restaurant. Anthony walks beside him, and Wyatt gives me a lop-sided smile, as if he has something on his mind.
“What’s that look?” I ask as I link my arm with his and we turn to follow the other two.
“I like seeing you like this,” he says, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“Like what?”
“Happy.”
I bump my shoulder with his. “Does it really show?”
“Like a beacon.”
We walk for a moment, and I see Spencer up ahead laughing out loud at something Anthony has said. His laugh is childish and carefree. “This is a lot better than suffocating in Nottingham, isn’t it?”
Wyatt smiles as he looks at our surroundings. “For all concerned.”
*
The late afternoon sun is warm on my face and I smile at the sky. We’ve been at Perissa Beach for hours. It’s simply too good to leave.
The boys are up the back somewhere, and we are down by the water on our deckchairs in our swimwear.
We’ve eaten, swam, drank, and I even had a little nap. Spencer has gone to the bar in search of some cocktails while I lie here in my bliss.
The sound of the waves, the seagulls, the laughter, and music in the distance… I think this may just be my most favourite place I’ve ever been to. And I’ve been to a lot of amazing places, but I think it’s because of who I’m here with.
Spencer is my favourite place. Anywhere with him is Heaven.
He reappears with two very pink and exotic looking drinks in his hands. I sit up with a frown. “Wow, what are these?”
He passes my tall glass, bright pink and bubbling with fancy straws placed in it. “A Pinky Sweetheart for my pinky sweetheart.”
I smile as I look at the glass suspiciously. It’s probably as toxic as all heck. “How am I a pinky sweetheart?”
He sips his drink and narrows his eyes. “Well, you’re my sweetheart, and your bits are a delicious shade of pink.” He shrugs. “Pinky sweetheart.”
I laugh and take a sip. He falls into the deckchair beside me. “This is delicious.” I nod. “Good choice.”
He raises his glass to me. “Not just a pretty face.”
Isn’t that the truth?
Spencer is so far from being just a pretty face that I don’t even notice he’s so good looking any more. It’s what’s inside him that I love. The two parts of him that make him so different to anyone I’ve ever met. He’s playful, honest, and sweet, but then he has this dominant side that only ever comes out properly when we’re in the bedroom. I remember how he was when he first met Wyatt and Anthony, and I know he’s no pushover to people who don’t know him.
Like Edward.
“Can I ask you something?”
He nods as he sucks through his straw. “This drink is lethal by the way. Don’t let us swim, we may die.”
I giggle. “You said that you went on a Triple P trip. What does that mean?”
“Oh.” He frowns. “Triple T?”
“Yes, that’s it. What’s a Triple T trip?”
“It’s a time to think trip. You know, when things get too much and you can’t handle it anymore, you have to escape life to have time to think.”
“So, what do you do?”