Ocean. B.L.U.E (Book 2)

Chapter 13: Last Day

I swallowed hard and turned my back to him, focusing on brushing my teeth.

For a few minutes, we were quiet, the only sound the rush of water around us.

Then, I felt it.

A glance.

I turned my head slightly, catching Elias looking.

His eyes darted away instantly, ears turning red.

I grinned. "See something you like?" My voice echoed.

"Shut up," he muttered, facing the opposite direction of me being the glass shower door.

I laughed, shaking my head as I rinsed the toothpaste from my mouth.

After I showered and stopped Elias from trying to join me despite him already showering, we both got dressed. Some part of me was tempted to stay in the hotel room with all day and do what I had planned to do since we got here, but that could wait until whenever.

For some reason I could tell, today would be the only day I'd get to have him to myself.

•••

The restaurant was tucked into a lively corner of the city, its windows wide open to the afternoon breeze, carrying the scent of fresh bread and sizzling dishes from the kitchen. The inside had a cozy, old-world charm—dim lighting, polished wood, and the soft murmur of voices stealing any remaining silence. It wasn't anything too fancy, but it had an energy to it, like it belonged to the city, like it had stories woven into its walls.

Elias sat across from me, fingers tapping absently against the menu, his eyes flicking between the different options with a small crease in his brow. He always took forever to decide on food. I'd learned to just wait it out.

I watched him instead, letting my own menu rest against the table. His blond hair was still slightly damp from the shower, his skin glowing in the golden afternoon light filtering in through the windows. His blue eyes beaming into the menu,

For the first time in days, it was just us. No groups, no schedules, no interruptions. Just Elias and me.

It felt good.

"I don't know what I want," he admitted, still staring at the menu. "Everything looks good."

I smirked. "You're so indecisive."

He set the menu down with a huff, resting his chin in his hand. "I just want something good. And something that doesn't make me regret eating it after."

I snorted. "That rules out, like, half the menu."

His lips twitched, but he let it go, shifting slightly in his seat. "This trip has been good," he said, his voice softer now. "I mean, despite everything."

I leaned forward, resting my arms against the table. "Yeah. It has."

Elias's fingers traced the rim of his water glass absentmindedly. "It's weird, though. I feel like we've been here forever, but also like we just got here."

"Time moves weird when you're traveling," I agreed.

He nodded, quiet for a moment. Then, as if he'd been holding the thought in for a while, he said, "I've been thinking about taking art more seriously."

I tilted my head, interest piqued. "Really?"

He nodded again, but this time with more certainty. "I mean, I've always loved it, you know? But I never really thought about actually doing something with it. Not in a way that feels real." He hesitated, then shrugged. "But after this trip, after seeing everything... I don't know. I think I want to try."