Page 41 (1/2)

We reached the bungalow and Nico opened the door, holding it open for reide I turned in circles in thehome for the next few days It was nicer than any apart

We had walked right into a living area with a couch and love seat, both clean and white A very large flat panel TV was aze fell No, my eyes immediately went to the wall-to- that opened up to a patio where all you could see ater Nothing but crystal blue ocean as far as the eye could see

Who needed a TV when you could watch the gentle waves swelling and rolling beneath your bungalow all day? Out on the patio, I noticed there was a hot tub and a massive hammock that could easily fit two or more people

A kitchen was set off to one side of the h-end appliances – all stainless steel There was a wine fridge, because of course you'd ine in your own tropical paradise, along with a mini bar stocked with rows of fancy liquors whose names I couldn't even pronounce Off to the side of the kitchen was a dining area with a slass doors that also opened to a small deck that overlooked the sea beyond

“Nice, isn't it?” Nico said, following h as I took the tour

“Very nice,” I said “A, actually”

There were two small, but nicely decorated bedrooiant floor-to-ceiling s My room opened up to the patio, so I could slip outside whenever I'd like or open up the sliding glass doors and let the waves singme the nicer of the two rooms

We each had a bathroo for the master suite It

had a large jacuzzi style tub and large shoith seating I was most definitely in the lap of luxury

“I have no words,” I said “This is nicer than anything I've ever seen before Anything I've ever iined before, quite honestly”

Nico laughed and kissed the back of lad you like it, Sophia You deserve to be happy and enjoy the finer things in life”

I deserve to be happy? No one – and I mean no one, not even my father – had ever uttered such a phrase to n concept that I'd honestly never even thought about it Happiness was a luxury that I couldn't afford, so I'd always been content to just do what needed to be done and take the small pleasures in life where I found them

But happy? Did I really deserve this? What had I done to deserve all of this? After all, if it hadn't been fordebt, I wouldn't even be there So, to think that I deserved it was so of a stretch

“So, tell me, Sophia,” Nico said “What would you like to do first? The island is yours to explore”

What did I want to do? In thathe'd done, and for being so sweet to ht We were just friends He wasn't expecting anything – and I didn't think he even wanted anything like that from me, anyway He seemed content to just enjoy a little companionship, and I was perfectly fine with that