Loving You Too Long

A few moments earlier.

A knock on the door forced Gilbert, who had just come out of the pool, to reluctantly open it half-naked. He frowned upon seeing Loretta standing there.

“Why?” Gilbert asked without opening the door wider.

“Is Haisley still here? I want to invite her to dinner,” Loretta said, peeking into the room.

“She’s not here; she’s already back in her cabin,” Gilbert replied bluntly. “But we’ll pick her up later. We’re going to have dinner together.”

“Where are you going to have dinner?” Loretta inquired.

Gilbert scratched his eyebrow with his index finger. “I don’t know. Maybe around here.” Gilbert continued, “There’s a seafood restaurant near the beach. Dean and I will pick up Haisley and eat there. Sorry, I didn’t invite you two because I thought you might want a candlelight dinner with Nathan.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Loretta looked at Gilbert in silence. Without much ado, Gilbert said goodbye to Loretta and went back into his bungalow. Shortly after, Dean entered their room and looked around because he didn’t see Haisley.

“Where’s Haisley?”

“Back in her cabin, wants to rest,” Gilbert replied flatly.

“Well, I just rented a car, wanted to take her out, and she’s already back. You let her go back too, we wanted to hang out,” Dean complained, looking annoyed.

Gilbert shrugged. “Well, just pick her up then. What’s the big deal? We can have seafood while we’re at it,” he offered, mentioning the restaurant he had mentioned to Loretta earlier.

Dean looked at his cousin with a raised eyebrow. “Do you even know where she lives?” Dean asked, and Gilbert nodded. “Okay, let’s go,” he said, and less than fifteen minutes later, they were in the Haisley’s cabin area.

“Why do I have to like her?” Dean complained when they arrived at Haisley’s cabin gate. From a distance, they could see a guy handing a bag of groceries to Haisley. “I haven’t even gotten rid of your brother, and now there’s a new competitor.”

Gilbert rolled his eyes. “It’s your own fault for liking Haisley. As if there’s no other girl on this planet. You and Haisley are really a perfect match. Both like overthinking. Enduring a love you can’t get.”

Dean kicked Gilbert’s leg hard enough for him to groan. “As if you’re any different, jerk!” Dean cursed in frustration.

Gilbert chuckled. “Well, we’re all in the same boat,” he grinned.

They then called Haisley’s name. The girl looked up and walked towards Dean and Gilbert. As you know, both of them forcibly brought Haisley without allowing her to bid farewell to her guest.

And now, after receiving Loretta’s wave in the place Gilbert mentioned earlier, they walked towards the couple who had been seated first. Haisley still stared at the two men who kidnapped her with a suspicious look. However, they both avoided eye contact with Haisley.

The three of them sat across from the couple. Loretta and Nathan’s dishes had arrived, emitting a distinctive aroma and looking tempting.

“I’m really hungry, can I start first? Our orders will be here soon anyway,” Gilbert requested and shamelessly began to take the crab legs on the large plate in front of them.

Nathan ignored his brother and focused his gaze on Haisley. “Is this your habit after returning to the US?” he asked curtly. His gaze shifted from Haisley’s clothes to the top of her head.

Haisley widened her eyes and then held her head. The small towel she had used earlier was gone. Maybe it fell off unconsciously when Dean and Gilbert picked her up. And she was sure that her hair now looked messy because it hadn’t been combed.

With pride, Haisley lifted her chin and responded to Nathan’s words. “What’s wrong with my appearance? Just because I’m wearing pajamas and my hair is wet and uncombed, you want to ridicule me?” she asked sharply. “Sorry, Mr. Nathaniel Chayton. But this is Miami. Where many tourists even walk around in just bikinis. And of course, everywhere people who have swum will have wet and messy hair.

“If you want to see someone with neat hair, don’t look at me, just look at your future fiancée,” Haisley added. Loretta, suspecting she was mentioned, raised her head and looked at Haisley confused. Haisley chose to shrug as if she didn’t say anything, but Gilbert and Dean laughed.

Haisley kicked both of them under the table. Unfortunately, because her legs were short, what happened was that she just grazed the legs of the two men who dodged, avoiding the pain she intended.

“Never mind, just ignore him,” Gilbert said with his mouth full. “Haisley, there’s something you need to answer.” He looked at Haisley with his sharp gaze. “Who was the guy over there? Is he one of your fans too?” Gilbert asked, making Nathan raise an eyebrow again, and Dean scowled in annoyance.

“You mean Mr. Adit?” Haisley asked back.

“He’s not that old to be called ‘Mr.,'” Dean complained.

Haisley smiled and then reached out her hand, rubbing Dean’s arm. “He is indeed young, Dean, dear,” she said mischievously. “Maybe around twenty-eight or so. Definitely not over thirty.” Haisley replied hesitantly. “He’s a local guy, and he’s handsome too, right?” she teased, making Dean blush.

“Don’t tell me you’re messing around behind Dean’s back, Haisley?” Gilbert teased again. Haisley instantly looked at him with wide eyes and an open mouth.

“I’m not cheating, G. Admiring him, yes. What’s wrong with admiring a handsome man? Like you guys have never admired a beautiful and sexy girl.” Haisley accused sharply, making Dean and Gilbert laugh. “Don’t be like someone accusing me of being an improper woman, G.” Haisley retorted to Nathan. “What do you think of me?” she asked sharply. “I am a good woman. Just because I’ve been rejected doesn’t mean I seek solace by accepting every man who comes to me and cheating.”

“All of them?!” Dean and Gilbert asked simultaneously. Haisley looked at both of them alternately.

“How many is the ‘all’ you’re talking about?” Dean asked, displeased.