____________________

HEARTBURN

♧

WAFIA _____________________

LOUD LATIN MUSIC boomed through the house, shaking the walls and rattling my patience. I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow. It was 9 a.m.—didn't they get hangovers? I rolled over, threw the blanket off, and trudged toward the kitchen, my hair a mess and my mood worse.

The scene that greeted me was nothing short of chaotic: Celine and Val dancing wildly to Rompe by Daddy Yankee, their movements synchronized and careless, bikinis already on. Koko sat on the counter, unboxing a vape like it was a delicate treasure, while Malakai stood behind Val, tying the straps of her bikini top as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"Morning, Antonio!" Val grinned at me, mid-spin.

"It's a good morning for you guys," I muttered, heading straight for the coffee maker.

"We're in Tulum, babe. Of course it is!" Koko said, blowing out a puff of vape smoke and passing it to Malakai, who took it like clockwork.

"Oh, don't tell me you're grumpy this morning," Celine teased, her hips swaying as she turned to me.

My eyes landed on her neck—the faint purple spot I'd left there last night peeking out from under her bikini strap. The sight of it softened my irritation, just a little.

"I'm not grumpy," I said, sipping my coffee.

"Could've fooled me," she said, smirking before grabbing Val's hand and twirling her.

"You guys are like a mariachi band," I grumbled.

"Oh, don't be a buzzkill!" Val laughed, flipping her hair as Malakai took a sip of coffee from my mug.

"I hope you realize that's mine," I said, giving him a flat look.

"Sharing is caring, bro," he said, shrugging and passing it back.

Celine danced her way over, her body moving to the music so effortlessly it was infuriating. She took my mug from my hand, looked me dead in the eye, and took a long, slow sip.

"Didn't you just yell at Malakai for that?" she teased, licking her lips after.

I clenched my jaw, trying not to get lost in the smirk she threw my way. "You're unbelievable."

"And you love it," she said, spinning away and rejoining Val as the song shifted into another Daddy Yankee hit.

I sat down at the counter, sipping what little coffee was left in the pot and watching the chaos unfold. Even in the midst of their nonsense, my eyes kept trailing back to her. That damn purple mark on her neck wasn't helping.

Tulum was going to test every last shred of patience I had left.

I ate my breakfast as they all conversed on what they wanted to do today.

"Can we have more bacon?" Celine asked fluently in Spanish, the rhythm of her words effortlessly blending with the morning energy.

"Oh, I have bacon," Koko said beside me, casually pointing at her plate.

"Oh yay," Celine chimed, skipping over to plop onto Malakai's lap. She leaned across the table, grabbing a strip of bacon off Koko's plate before pulling a cigarette out of her bikini top and lighting it with a practiced flick of her lighter.

I froze mid-chew. "Are you serious?"

"What?" she asked innocently, exhaling smoke as she perched comfortably on Malakai's thighs.

"You don't even ask, you just take?" I gestured toward the bacon she'd stolen.

"Malakai doesn't mind," she shrugged, winking at him.

"You're lucky I don't," Malakai teased, wrapping an arm around her waist as he leaned back, looking far too comfortable.

"She's always like this in the mornings," Val said with a smirk, sitting cross-legged in her seat and stealing the cigarette from Celine for a drag.

"You're all savages," I muttered, pushing my empty plate away and reaching for more coffee.

Celine flicked her cigarette into the ashtray on the table and smiled mischievously. "What's the plan for today? Are we snorkeling, or are we just annoying Antonio until he finally gives in and has some fun?"

"Who says I'm not fun?" I shot back, narrowing my eyes at her.

"You're fun," she teased, tilting her head. "In a grumpy-old-man-on-vacation kind of way."

The others erupted into laughter, and I found myself, despite everything, biting back a smile. She was infuriating, and yet, I couldn't look away.

I finished my breakfast and headed back to our room, settling at the desk to go through the work I had been neglecting. The morning chaos still lingered faintly in the back of my mind, but I forced myself to focus, scribbling notes in my planner.

The sound of the door clicking open barely registered until I heard her voice.

"Papi."

"Don't call me that," I said without looking up.

"You liked it when I called you that last night," she teased, sauntering toward me with that infuriating sway in her hips.

"You were drunk last night."

"Whatever." She moved to stand in front of me, her hands gripping the arms of my chair as she spun it so I was forced to face her. My gaze faltered, dropping to the perfect curve of her chest spilling out of her bikini top.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying to steady my tone.

"I need your credit card," she said casually, like she was asking for a glass of water.

"What's wrong with yours?"

"I hit the limit."

My pen slipped from my hand. "You what?! Celine, there's a $300,000 limit on that thing."

"Saint Laurent's expensive," she said, her tone completely unbothered as she crossed her arms, which only made her cleavage even more prominent.

"You spent $300,000 on clothes?"

"Well, not all of it. Some of it was shoes. Oh, and I bought gifts."

"For who?"

"For me, obviously." She grinned, biting her bottom lip like this was some sort of game.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, groaning. "Celine, that's—"

"Relax, Mr. Responsible," she said, cutting me off and leaning closer until her face was inches from mine. Her perfume was intoxicating, and I hated how easily she disarmed me with just her presence. "I'll pay you back."

"With what money?"

She smirked. "I'll figure it out."

"You're unbelievable."

"And you love it." She straightened up, tossing her hair over her shoulder and sauntering toward the bed.

I stared at her, equal parts frustrated and captivated, and muttered under my breath, "What the hell have I gotten myself into?"

She reached into my wallet and plucked out my black card without hesitation.

"No," I said firmly, holding out my hand. "Put it back."

"I'll pay you back," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, holding the card between two fingers like it was a prize.

"Celine," I warned, my tone sharper now. "Give it back to me."

"Come get it," she taunted, smirking as she slipped the card down into her bikini top.

My jaw clenched as I stood up from the chair, towering over her. "You're not serious."

"Oh, I'm very serious," she said, crossing her arms and tilting her head to the side, daring me to do something about it.

I took a step closer, and her smirk only widened. "You know, you're making this unnecessarily difficult," I muttered.

"Am I?" she asked, leaning back slightly as if she were preparing to run.

"Don't push me, Celine."

"Or what?" she challenged, her voice playful but laced with just enough edge to rile me up further.

Before I could overthink it, I reached out, my fingers brushing against her skin as I tried to retrieve the card. She swatted my hand away, laughing, and backed up toward the bed.

"You're going to regret this," I warned, my patience thinning.

"Come on, Antonio," she teased, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "What's the matter? Afraid to get a little close?"

I took another step forward, my eyes narrowing. She gasped, spinning around to dart to the other side of the bed, clearly enjoying this game more than she should.

"You think this is funny?" I asked, circling around, the intensity of my gaze making her falter for just a second.

"I think it's hilarious," she said, though her breath hitched as I cornered her against the edge of the bed.

I leaned down, my face inches from hers, my tone low and dangerous. "Give me the card."

Her lips parted slightly, but instead of surrendering, she grinned. "Make me."

Before I could make a move, the door burst open, and Val and Koko barged in, screaming at the top of their lungs.

"THERE'S A VICTORIA'S SECRET POP-UP HERE!" Val shouted, practically jumping up and down.

"AND IT'S ONLY HERE FOR TWO DAYS!" Koko added, clutching her phone like it held the meaning of life.

Celine burst into laughter, clearly unbothered by the sudden interruption, while I clenched my jaw and stepped back.

"Did we interrupt something?" Val asked, her eyes darting between us before smirking knowingly.

"Not at all," Celine replied smoothly, still leaning against the bed and absolutely not returning the card.

I shot her a glare before addressing Val and Koko. "Don't you two knock?"

"No time for knocking!" Val said, already grabbing Celine's hand. "We have to go! Do you understand how rare this is?"

"You don't even wear Victoria's Secret," I muttered.

"It's not about wearing it; it's about owning it!" Koko said dramatically, dragging Celine toward the door.

"Wait, I need to grab something first!" Celine said, grinning wickedly as she made no effort to hide her hand patting her bikini top—the exact spot where my black card was still tucked away.

"Celine," I said warningly, my voice low.

She turned back to me with the most innocent expression imaginable. "Don't worry, papi. I'll be responsible."

Val and Koko howled with laughter as they pulled her out of the room, leaving me standing there, staring after her.

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "She's going to max that card, isn't she?"

From down the hallway, I could hear her shout, "I'M GETTING EVERYTHING IN EVERY COLOR!"

God help me.

♧

It was probably close to 5 p.m. when they stumbled into the house, arms weighed down with bags upon bags that I knew didn't all come from a Victoria's Secret pop-up. Malakai trudged in behind them, looking thoroughly unimpressed as he juggled even more bags in his arms.

"Oh my God, my feet are killing me," Koko groaned, kicking off her sandals as soon as she stepped inside. She collapsed onto the couch like she'd just climbed a mountain. "Ugh."

"I'm so hungry," Val whined, setting her bags down with dramatic flair before flopping beside Koko.

"You ate a whole platter of dumplings by yourself," Malakai shot back, dropping the bags on the floor with a thud. "Like, a whole platter."

"Hey." Val pouted, waving him off. "I did. But, like, whatever. That was hours ago."

"Hours? It was literally thirty minutes ago," Malakai muttered, rolling his eyes as he sank into a chair.

Celine breezed past all of them, arms full of shopping bags and zero signs of exhaustion. "Some people just don't have the stamina for high-end shopping," she teased, tossing a bag onto the couch.

Malakai stared at her like she'd grown two heads. "Celine, you made me carry fifteen bags that weren't even mine."

"Correction," she said, plucking a bag from the pile. "They're yours now since I used your card for some of it. You're welcome."

I walked in from the other room just in time to catch that. "Excuse me?"

Celine froze for half a second before giving me her most dazzling, unapologetic smile. "Oh, hey, babe. Didn't hear you come in."

"You used Malakai's card?" I asked, arching a brow.

"Just for some of it," she replied innocently.

Malakai groaned, rubbing his temples. "You maxed mine out after Antonio's, didn't you?"

Koko burst out laughing. "Girl, you're a menace."

"And proud of it," Celine said, blowing a kiss in my direction before slipping past me to the kitchen.

I followed her, my patience wearing thin. "Celine, how much did you spend?"

"Not that much," she said, rummaging through the fridge. "Just a little on, you know, necessities."

I crossed my arms. "Define 'necessities.'"

"Shoes. Lingerie. Jewelry. Oh, and this adorable matching set for the beach," she said, holding up a pineapple she'd snagged from the fridge like it was part of her haul.

I stared at her, unamused. "You're unbelievable."

She smirked, cutting into the pineapple with ease. "And you love me for it."

"So, clubbing again tonight?" Koko asked, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she sprawled across the couch.

"Yes," Val and Celine said in unison, their voices practically vibrating with excitement.

"No," I groaned from the kitchen, already dreading whatever chaos they'd drag me into next.

"Actually," Val cut in, sitting up straighter with a thoughtful look on her face, "can we, like, have dinner and go skinny dipping instead?"

"Oh my gosh, yes," Celine gasped, spinning around to face her. Her eyes lit up like Val had just suggested a life-changing revelation.

"Skinny dipping?" Malakai asked, raising a brow as he shoved another handful of chips into his mouth.

"Skinny dipping," Val repeated firmly, grinning. "I mean, come on, we're in Tulum. What's more iconic?"

"You just want an excuse to show off the bikini you bought," Koko teased, rolling her eyes but clearly on board.

"And?" Val shrugged dramatically. "I didn't spend $300 for it to stay in the bag, Koko. Please."

Celine turned to me, already halfway to convincing herself this was the best idea of the night. "Come on, Antonio. Dinner and skinny dipping. It'll be fun."

"Dinner sounds fine. The other part? No." I folded my arms, refusing to indulge her chaos for once.

"Boring." She pouted, but it didn't last long. "Fine, you can just watch from the shore like a grumpy old man."

"Or," Malakai added with a smirk, "he could join us and actually relax for once."

"Not happening," I muttered, grabbing a drink from the fridge.

"We'll see about that," Celine teased, winking before turning back to the group. "Alright, so dinner first. Let's get cute, then we'll skinny dip our souls away."

Koko and Val erupted into cheers, and I knew right then and there I'd somehow end up in the middle of whatever insanity they had planned—because, apparently, my opinion didn't matter when Celine was involved.

Celine's clothes and makeup were sprawled all over my room like a hurricane had passed through. She'd only been here a few minutes, yet it looked like she'd unpacked her entire life onto my furniture. I ran a hand down my face, sighing as I stared at the chaos.

She was in the bathroom taking a shower when the door suddenly flew open, Val and Koko barging in wearing robes and towels wrapped around their hair.

"Cece, can I borrow your highlighter?" Val asked, rummaging through the mess on the dresser.

"Yeah, it's there somewhere!" Celine shouted back from the bathroom.

"Guys, I can't find a fucking stud for my nose piercing! Ugh!" Koko screeched, dramatically flopping onto the bed.

Before I could even process that, Malakai appeared in the doorway, shirtless, holding a tangle of chains in his hand.

"Did you guys take my chain?" he asked, his tone exasperated.

I stepped in front of him, blocking the door. "What are you all doing?"

"Getting ready," Val said simply, blinking at me like I was the crazy one.

"You don't need an audience every time you shower, Celine!" I yelled toward the bathroom.

"Relax, I'm done," Celine replied casually, and I heard the water turn off. "And let Malakai in—I have his chain."

"Are you naked?" I asked, already dreading the answer.

"Malakai's seen me naked since before I had nipples. Let him in."

"It's true," Malakai deadpanned, stepping forward.

"I will punch you," I growled, holding up a hand to stop him.

Val and Koko burst into laughter while Malakai just shrugged.

"Oh, calm down, Antonio," Celine said, stepping out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Her wet hair dripped onto the floor as she tossed the chain to Malakai. "There. Now can you all get out so I can finish getting dressed?"

"This is technically his room," Val pointed out with a smirk.

"Yeah, but I've made it better," Celine said, grinning as she motioned to the clothes and makeup scattered around.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. This woman was going to drive me insane.

She went back into the bathroom to dry her hair and start her makeup routine, leaving the door cracked just enough to shout out responses.

"When's dinner?" I asked, glancing at the chaos of shopping bags still littering the floor.

"8:30!" she yelled back, her voice echoing.

I checked my watch. "It's 7:35."

"Plenty of time," she replied casually, as if 55 minutes was an eternity to get ready.

I leaned against the bathroom doorway, watching her in the mirror as she carefully applied concealer under her eyes. "Are you planning on cleaning up this mess before we leave?"

She met my gaze in the mirror and smirked. "What mess?"

"This mess," I said, motioning to the explosion of clothes, bags, and shoes taking over the room.

"It's not a mess—it's organized chaos."

"It's a mess," I said firmly.

"It's my process," she countered, dabbing highlighter on her cheekbones. "Besides, you should be thanking me for making your room look alive. It was boring before I got here."

"Alive?" I repeated, crossing my arms. "It looks like a crime scene."

She ignored me, turning her attention to lining her lips with precision.

"You're impossible," I muttered, shaking my head as I walked back to the bed.

"And yet you can't take your eyes off me," she teased, peeking over her shoulder.

I didn't dignify that with a response, but the smirk on her face told me she knew she'd gotten under my skin.

I dropped onto the bed, tossing an arm over my face as I tried to block out the growing irritation and the faint buzz of anticipation she always seemed to stir in me.

"What are you even wearing tonight?" I asked, mostly to distract myself.

Celine's laugh was light and airy. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

I sighed. "It's not a trick question."

"It's a surprise," she sang. I could hear the clatter of makeup brushes and the sound of her curling wand heating up.

"Surprises with you usually involve a headache," I muttered, earning an exaggerated gasp from her.

"You're so dramatic," she said, leaning out of the bathroom doorway with a teasing grin. Her hair was clipped up, a few strands already curled, and her bare shoulders gleamed with some kind of shimmer.

"And you're not?" I shot back, pointing at the war zone she'd created in my room.

"Relax, papi," she cooed, dragging out the nickname just to rile me up. "You'll survive."

I rolled my eyes but stayed silent, my attention flickering back to her as she disappeared into the bathroom again. There was a soft hum as she started singing along to the Latin music still blaring faintly from downstairs.

"By the way," she called out, "you should wear that black button-up tonight."

"Why?"

"Because you look hot in it." Her tone was matter-of-fact, like she wasn't just casually throwing that out there to throw me off.

I sat up, staring at the doorway like she might pop out again. "Celine—"

"What? You do," she said, cutting me off.

The way she said it, so nonchalant and yet so undeniably bold, made my chest tighten. Before I could think of a response, she came out of the bathroom with her makeup fully done, her hair in perfect waves, and wearing nothing but a towel.

"Seriously, though," she said, brushing past me to dig through one of the bags on the floor. "Wear the black shirt. Trust me."

I caught the faint scent of her perfume as she moved past, something warm and sweet that clung to the air and made it hard to focus. "You're doing this on purpose," I muttered.

"Doing what?" she asked innocently, pulling out a dress from the bag and holding it up to inspect it.

"Driving me insane."

She laughed, tossing the dress onto the bed. "If I wanted to drive you insane, papi, you'd know."

I didn't respond, but the heat creeping up my neck was enough to let her know she was winning.

The sun had set by the time we all piled into the car, the energy buzzing with excitement. Val was in the front seat, playing DJ, and Koko was sprawled across the backseat with Malakai and Celine. She was perched on Malakai's lap, leaning against him while adjusting her heels.

"This playlist is giving," Val said, turning the volume up.

"Turn it down!" I barked, gripping the wheel. "You're going to make me crash."

"You'll live, Antonio. Relax," Celine teased, leaning forward so her chin rested on my shoulder. Her perfume hit me again, that warm, sugary scent that had been tormenting me all evening.

"Sit back," I grumbled.

"Yes, papi," she mocked with a wink before settling back into her seat.

When we arrived, the restaurant was glowing with string lights and an outdoor patio that overlooked the water. It was busy but not overwhelming, the kind of place where you could hear the crash of waves if you listened hard enough.

"This is so cute!" Koko squealed, clutching Val's arm as they walked ahead of us.

"I need a drink immediately," Malakai said, stretching.

"You need water," I said.

He ignored me, walking toward the hostess stand with the girls, while I hung back with Celine.

"Are you going to be grumpy the whole night?" she asked, tilting her head at me as we followed the group.

"Are you going to keep testing me?" I shot back.

Her smile was slow and wicked. "Always."

We were seated at a round table near the edge of the patio, the ocean breeze making the candles on the table flicker. The server came by to hand us menus, but before I could even glance at mine, the chaos began.

"I want ceviche," Val declared, scanning her menu like it held all the secrets of the universe.

"Ceviche and tacos," Koko said.

"Make it a platter," Malakai added. "Oh, and a margarita. Actually, two."

"You don't need two margaritas," I said.

"And you don't need to be so uptight," he shot back, grinning.

The server looked mildly overwhelmed as they rattled off drink orders—mojitos for Val and Koko, tequila neat for Celine, and water for me because someone had to keep their head on straight.

"What are you getting?" Celine asked, leaning toward me as I looked over the menu.

"Something simple."

"Boring," she said, stealing the menu out of my hand. "You should get the steak."

"Why?"

"Because I'm getting the shrimp, and I want a bite of yours."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why not just get your own steak?"

"Where's the fun in that?" She smirked, handing the menu back to the server before I could argue.

"You're impossible," I muttered, but there was no real heat in my voice.

"And yet, here you are," she said, sipping her tequila.

As the food started to arrive, the conversation turned into a mix of chaotic banter and laughter. Malakai was teasing Koko about how long it had taken her to pick her outfit, Val was showing off her nails, and Celine... Celine was stealing bites off my plate like she'd declared war on my dinner.

"You're not even subtle about it," I said as she swiped another piece of steak.

"I wasn't trying to be," she replied, popping it into her mouth with a satisfied hum.

I shook my head, but I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. It was impossible to stay mad at her, even when she was driving me insane.

As the conversation lulled for a moment, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled the silence. Koko was swiping through her phone, showing Val something that made them burst into laughter. Malakai leaned back in his chair, nursing his second margarita with a lazy grin.

Celine, however, was focused on me, her eyes glittering under the soft candlelight. "So, Antonio, tell me something about yourself we don't already know."

I raised an eyebrow, spearing a piece of shrimp from her plate—fair payback for all the steak she'd stolen. "What's this sudden interest in my life?"

"Humor me," she said, leaning forward, her elbows resting on the table.

"I work, I read, I deal with chaos," I replied flatly, gesturing to the group.

"That's not an answer," she said, narrowing her eyes at me.

Val cut in, grinning. "He probably has some dark, tragic backstory. Right, Antonio? Some brooding secret you're keeping?"

"Let the man have his secrets," Malakai joked.

Celine didn't laugh. Her gaze was steady, curious. "You can't always deflect, you know."

I leaned back in my chair, meeting her eyes. "Why do you care so much?"

"Because you're married to me, remember? Even if it's fake." She smirked, but her tone was softer than usual.

The table's chatter faded into the background as I reached out and placed my hand on her thigh, my thumb brushing against the smooth skin just below the hem of her dress. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she froze, her smirk faltering.

"You already know more about me than most people," I said quietly, my voice low enough that only she could hear. "Don't push your luck."

Her lips parted, but no snappy comeback came. Instead, she tilted her head, her expression unreadable as she stared at me.

"Fine," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

But she didn't move my hand.

Val noticed the shift in tension, her eyebrows shooting up as she leaned forward. "Alright, what's going on over there?"

"Nothing," I said, my hand still firmly on Celine's thigh.

"Nothing," Celine echoed, picking up her tequila and taking a slow sip, though her cheeks were faintly flushed.

"Sure," Val said, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she exchanged a look with Koko.

Malakai just snorted. "Y'all are weird."

"Pass the shrimp," I said, ignoring them all as I grabbed another piece from Celine's plate, my hand remaining exactly where it was.

The soft music in the restaurant mixed with the low hum of conversation as everyone settled into their meals. After a while, Celine excused herself to the bathroom, her dress clinging to her in all the right places as she sashayed away. I told myself I didn't care where she went or how long she'd be gone, but the truth was, I couldn't stop watching her until she disappeared into the hallway.

The others were still chatting and laughing, but my attention kept shifting toward the bathroom. A strange pull gnawed at me, and before I even realized it, I was standing.

"I'm going to the bathroom," I said curtly, not bothering to wait for a response.

As I approached the dimly lit corridor leading to the restrooms, I slowed when I heard a low voice.

"C'mon, one drink. You don't have to stay long. Promise I'll make it worth your while," the man said, his tone oozing with confidence.

I rounded the corner, my jaw clenching when I saw him—some idiot in a loose button-up shirt standing too close to Celine.

She tilted her head, smirking at him like she always did when she was about to play someone. "I told you, I'm here with friends. You don't want to waste your time."

"Friends don't look at you the way I just saw that guy staring at you earlier," he replied, leaning in closer. "You're too gorgeous to just be someone's plus-one."

Her smirk widened, but there was a flicker of something—discomfort, maybe—behind her eyes. "And you're too cocky to take a hint."

Before she could step away, I moved forward, sliding an arm around her waist and pulling her flush against me.

"She's not a plus-one," I said coldly, my eyes boring into his. "She's my wife."

The guy's confidence faltered for a split second, but he quickly recovered, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, man, no harm meant. Didn't realize she was taken."

"She's very taken," I said, my voice low and firm, the warning clear.

Celine blinked up at me, startled at first, but then that familiar glint of mischief danced in her eyes. "There you are, papi," she purred, leaning into me as her fingers traced the buttons of my shirt.

The guy mumbled an apology and backed off, disappearing down the hallway.

"You didn't have to do that," she said once he was gone, her voice quieter now.

I looked down at her, my hand still resting on her waist. "You didn't seem like you wanted his attention."

She shrugged. "I didn't, but I can handle it."

"You shouldn't have to," I replied, my grip tightening slightly.

Her lips parted like she was about to say something, but then her eyes dropped to my mouth. She didn't step back, didn't break the tension. Instead, she stayed pressed against me, her breathing a little heavier.

"Antonio—" she started, but I cut her off.

"You drive me insane, you know that?" I muttered, my voice rough as my forehead leaned against hers.

"Good," she whispered, her fingers brushing against my chest.

For a moment, it felt like the rest of the restaurant had disappeared. The only thing that existed was her—her soft perfume, her lips inches from mine, and the way she felt in my arms.

But then a voice called from the dining area.

"Celine! Antonio! You're taking forever!" Val shouted, her voice cutting through the haze.

Celine blinked, the spell breaking, and stepped back, smoothing her dress like nothing had happened. "Guess we should get back," she said, her tone light, though her cheeks were flushed.

I didn't move right away, watching as she walked back toward the table. My hands itched to pull her back, but I forced myself to follow her at a distance, the tension between us still crackling like static electricity.

As we made our way back to the table, I caught the faintest glance from Celine over her shoulder. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of amusement and something deeper. But she didn't say anything, and neither did I.

When we reached the others, they were halfway through a lively debate over the best places to go dancing later. Val spotted us first, her eyes narrowing.

"What took you two so long?" she asked with a smirk, tapping her wine glass with her nails.

"Celine got distracted," I said smoothly, taking my seat.

"Distracted by what?" Koko teased, raising a perfectly arched brow.

Celine waved her off, reaching for her drink. "Oh, please. Like you guys don't know how long it takes to touch up your lipstick."

"You went to the bathroom, not a runway," Malakai said, his tone laced with humor.

"You wouldn't understand," Celine quipped, her smirk returning as she grabbed a piece of bread from the table.

I watched the easy banter unfold, but my focus remained on her. Her laughter was louder than usual, her gestures more dramatic, and I knew she was putting on a show—probably to distract herself as much as everyone else.

When she reached for her wineglass again, my hand found her thigh under the table. Her muscles tensed slightly, her gaze flicking to me for a split second before she continued talking like nothing had happened.

"What's the plan after dinner, then?" Koko asked, pulling everyone's attention.

"Skinny-dipping," Val said immediately.

"You're really committed to that idea," Malakai said, shaking his head.

"Absolutely. We're in Tulum. When else are we going to do this?" Val argued.

"I'm not swimming with you people," Malakai muttered.

"Oh, grow up," Celine said, her voice sharp but playful. She reached over to shove his shoulder, and when she did, her thigh shifted under my hand.

I didn't move, keeping my grip firm but not aggressive. Her movements slowed slightly, her lips parting as her focus faltered for a moment.

"You okay, Cece?" Koko asked, noticing the brief change in her expression.

Celine's smile snapped back into place instantly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired."

"Tired? You slept in," Val teased.

Celine shrugged. "Blame Antonio. He's exhausting."

All eyes turned to me, but I didn't take the bait. "She's dramatic," I said simply, my thumb brushing against her skin in a way only she could feel.

Her gaze darted to me again, this time sharper, but still, she didn't call attention to it.

"You two are impossible," Koko muttered, shaking her head.

The conversation moved on, but the tension between Celine and me hung in the air, heavy and electric. I didn't release her thigh until the plates were cleared, and even then, I let my fingers linger for a moment longer than necessary.

She shot me a look—equal parts warning and invitation—before standing up with the others.

"Ready for the beach?" Val asked, practically bouncing in place.

"Let's go," Celine said, already leading the way out.

As we followed, I couldn't help but smirk to myself. Whatever game she thought she was playing, I was ready to play it right back.

____________________________________

was lowkey gonn save this chapter for tomorrow but I said fuck it and decided to give it to y'all earlyy I need to increase the tension levels between Antonio and Celine anyways so yeahhhh I lowkey enjoy writing CRO4L's friendship dynamic a bit too much I think it's getting a little out of hand.

tell me if y'all need a pronunciation of their group too !! What do y'all think of them lol ??

And before y'all attack me I said ghis in the first chapter Celine and Antonio are not fucking in the first 10-20 chapters im gonna increase their tension and actions towards each other real soon THATS why I'm pushing all the chapters in the 20s out now so I may deliver what's been asked of me.

thank y'all so much for reading it means alot to me !! xx

how was this chapter loves hope y'all enjoyed !!

Remember to drink enough water and to eat today !!

- zio 🍸