Parched on the sunlounger as the sunset turned the sky a burnt orange, Lira watched the clouds drifted across the sky. The soft breeze ruffled her wig, and she could hear the waves lapping against the shoreline, lulling her into a trance-like state of relaxation.
She'd been sitting there for hours, waiting for Roz to initiate a conversation. But the kid was only enjoying the book he read, and his one-liner replies to her questions told her that he didn't like to be disturbed.
Lira's heart skipped a beat as she observed Roz. His face looked tired and drawn, his eyes puffy from lack of sleep – and she had never felt attracted to a man before like she was right now.
She knew that what she was feeling was probably guilt or some kind of a condition called 'Rescue romance syndrome,' where she developed romantic feelings for her rescuer.
But Lira didn't care. She needed someone right now, and Roz happened to be that person who saved her during her darkest days.