Page 90 of Vacation with the Ice Queen
Serena turned toward her, moonlight casting half her face in silver while shadows claimed the rest. "You've taught me more in two weeks than years of executive coaching ever did."
"Maybe you were finally ready to learn," Lila suggested.
Their eyes met in the darkness, understanding passing between them without words. Whatever was growing between them—this connection that had survived misunderstandings and retreats and the looming knowledge of separation—felt increasingly precious with each passing hour.
A subtle shift in the breeze carried the scent of rain from distant clouds, breaking the spell between them. Lila glanced toward the horizon, where faint lightning flashed far out over the ocean.
"A storm is coming," she said, squeezing Serena's hand. "We should probably head back."
They turned, walking slowly toward the cottages as if reluctant to end their time together. The distant rumble of thunder matched the tumbling thoughts in Lila's mind—hopes and fears colliding like air masses before a storm.
"Would you like to come back to my villa?" Serena asked, her voice catching slightly on the invitation. "For a nightcap or just... to talk more?"
The hesitation in her normally confident tone made something flutter in Lila's chest. This wasn't CEO Frost issuing commands; this was just Serena, uncertain and hopeful.
"I'd like that," Lila replied, pressing a kiss to Serena's knuckles before releasing her hand. "Let me grab a few things from my cottage first. I'll meet you there."
The flash of disappointment across Serena's face was quickly masked, but Lila caught it anyway. "Of course. Whenever you're ready."
They parted at the junction of paths leading to staff quarters and guest villas, the brief separation feeling oddly significant after their reconnection. Lila hurried to her cottage, her mind racing ahead. She needed a few minutes alone to center herself, to be sure she was making choices from clarity rather than simply responding to the magnetic pull between them.
Inside her small sanctuary, she moved with purpose as she changed into a fresh sundress and brushed her teeth. The woman in the mirror looked back at her with eyes too bright and cheeks flushed with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
"Eyes open," she reminded her reflection, taking a deep breath. "Heart open, but eyes open too."
The sudden rumble of thunder, closer now, hurried her steps. She grabbed a small overnight bag, adding essentials without overthinking the implication. Whatever happened tonight, she wouldn't be rushing back through the rain.
Lightning forked across the sky as Lila made her way along the path to Serena's villa, the humid air heavy. Fat droplets began to fall just as she reached the steps, sending her laughing to the door with quickened steps.
It opened before she could knock, revealing Serena in warm light. She'd changed, too, and was now wearing silk lounge pants and a simple top that somehow made her look both more casual and more elegant than usual.
"Perfect timing," Serena said, stepping back to welcome her in. "The storm's just starting."
As if punctuating her words, lightning flashed, followed almost immediately by a crack of thunder that vibrated through the air. Rain began to fall in earnest, drumming against the villa's roof in a sudden deluge.
"I love a good storm," Lila said, setting her bag down and slipping off her sandals. "Especially when I'm not caught in it."
Serena smiled, her eyes lingering on Lila's form with undisguised appreciation. "I've opened some wine. Unless you'd prefer something else?"
"Wine sounds perfect."
The villa felt different from that morning—warmer somehow, despite being physically unchanged. Serena had opened the terrace doors to let in the storm-cooled air, and soft lighting created pools of gold against the darkness. Most notably, her laptop was closed and pushed to the side of the desk, work apparently set aside for the night.
They settled on the sofa facing the terrace, close enough that their knees nearly touched. Rain curtained the view beyond, transforming the world outside into impressionistic smudges of night and distant resort lights.
"I've been thinking," Serena said, handing Lila a glass of ruby-red wine. "About what you said earlier about making these days count."
"And?" Lila took a sip, the rich flavor blooming on her tongue.
"And I realized I've never actually asked what you want." Serena's fingers traced the rim of her own glass, an uncharacteristically nervous gesture. "From these five days, I mean. I've been so focused on my own fears and boundaries that I haven't considered yours."
The question caught Lila off guard. So many people in her life—particularly romantic partners—had taken what she offered without asking what she needed in return. Sophie had elevated it to an art form.
"That's... a really good question," she said finally. "One I need to think about."
Lightning flashed again, briefly illuminating Serena in stark relief against the room's warm glow. In that frozen moment, Lila caught a glimpse of genuine attentiveness in her expression—not the shrew listening of someone gathering information for future use, but the focused attention of someone who truly wanted to understand.
"I want honesty," Lila began slowly, organizing her thoughts. "Not just about facts, but about feelings, especially the scary ones, like when you're pulling away or when something feels too much."
