#Goals Read online

  “What’s this?” Monique said, a thick envelope in her hand. “‘Sunset Vacations’? Doesn’t ring a bell.”

  Avery stepped closer and she handed him the envelope. Placing his coffee mug on the table, Avery tore it open and took out a letter and a thick brochure.

  “‘Sunset Vacations’ specialises in luxury travel for the LGBTQ-plus community,’” Avery quoted after scanning the letter. He kept reading as Monique moved to lean over his shoulder. “‘Our aim is to deliver an unforgettable travel experience, a relaxing holiday, and a safe and diverse environment. A portion of the proceeds from every booking goes to various LGBTQ-plus charities – see footnote for details. We’d like to invite you and your lovely boyfriend, Victor Nilsson, to a luxury five-star, two-week holiday in Bali, all expenses paid. It’s our new destination, and we’re trying to focus on love and romance for this package. You’ll get the honeymoon treatment in every sense of the word.’”

  “Your boyfriend?” Monique shrieked, too close to Avery's ear.

  “Ouch,” he said, moving away. Monique folded her arms and glared at him. “Yeah, about that…”

  Avery summed up the story for Monique, whose scowl turned to surprise, and then her eyes unfocused as if she was calculating the situation in her head.

  “When do they want you to leave?” Monique asked when Avery was done.

  Avery skimmed the letter again. “In ten days.”

  Monique drummed her fingers on the table, thinking. “Okay, we can make it work.” She opened the giant planner again, thumbing through pages and making notes. “We can reschedule some meetings, and move some of the promo posts around, and I think we can get you two free weeks.”

  “I can’t!” Avery exclaimed, looking at her as if she’d lost her mind. “I can’t take two weeks off this close to the auction! You know buying the building is my top priority right now, and I need to focus on getting more followers, and getting the collaboration deal with ‘Avanti’, in order to do that.”

  Monique’s eyes softened as she lifted them off the page. “I know, honey. But think about it.” She put her hand over Avery's on the table. “It’s a paid gig. A very well paid gig as far as I saw in that letter. And you’ll be posting every day from Bali, and getting more followers. You know people love couples much more than they love individuals, it’s a great opportunity to…”

  “We’re not a couple!” Avery exclaimed, interrupting her. “Victor is actually coming here later to discuss how to handle the rumours without damaging either of our reputation.”

  Monique’s slow smile scared Avery. “Excellent.”

  “No! Whatever you’re thinking – no.”

  “Just hear me out.”

  “Your craziest ideas start with that phrase!”

  “And they always bring you more followers and new advertising opportunities!”

  Avery couldn’t argue with that.

  “Fine,” he said, slumping in the chair. “But I’m not promising I’ll agree.”

  Monique’s smile only grew bigger. They both knew that wasn’t true.

  Avery made his favourite dish – pasta with green pesto and lots of parmesan cheese. He baked some garlic bread and left it to cool while he made a big green salad. By the time the door bell rang, all the table was missing was wine.

  “Hey,” Avery said as he opened the door. “Come on in.” Avery couldn’t resist a cheeky once-over as his guest walked in.

  Victor looked stunning – long waves swept away from his face, a simple white t-shirt and blue jeans that fit him so well as if they were tailored to him, and various bracelets on both wrists.

  “Smells divine,” Victor said as he made his way inside Avery's house. “Did you cook?”

  “Yeah,” Avery said, grabbing two glasses and a bottle of wine from the kitchen. “I love cooking. I try to do it as often as possible but unfortunately I don’t always have the time.”

  He poured the wine into the glasses and sat at the table to join Victor.

  “Love the hair,” Victor said, clinking his glass to Avery's.

  “Thanks. Took ages to do and had to bleach it to an inch of its life. I’m pretty sure if I continue changing my hair every three weeks, I’ll have to shave it all off. Or, it’ll fall off on its own.”

  He was babbling and he knew it, but he couldn’t stop. He’d never felt nervous in Victor's presence before – the guy had the uncanny ability to relax him, even in awkward situations, like accidentally tripping over a prop and landing on his face while Victor was trying to capture the perfect shot.

  That had been massively embarrassing, but even then Victor had smiled kindly, helped Avery up and given him a hug. Avery still remembered how good he’d smelled, and how he’d melted in his arms, instantly feeling better about his clumsiness.

  It was a different kind of nervousness tonight. He was about to ask Victor for a huge favour, and even though he’d agreed with Monique’s plan, he still felt anxious.

  Dinner revolved around small talk, delicious food, and a shared bottle of wine. Avery hadn’t had time to make dessert, but he managed to whip up a plate of dark chocolate and fruit they could share.

  “Shall we move to the sofa? I’m stuffed and I feel I should lie down,” Avery suggested.

  When Victor agreed, he grabbed the dessert plate and their glasses, and moved them to the coffee table.

  “You seem a little… tense,” Victor said, sitting down next to Avery. “Is everything okay?”

  Avery scrolled through his favourite playlists and selected one, then connected his phone to the sound system. Quiet music started playing all around them, and combined with the food and the wine, it almost seemed like they were on a date.

  I wish.

  “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something,” Avery said, leaning back into the sofa and tucking his feet underneath him.

  “About the whole ‘Instagram thinks we’re dating’ thing?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Victor raised an eyebrow. “You’re being very cryptic.”

  Fuck, the man was sexy. Lounging on Avery's sofa, his blue eyes sparkling from the wine, and his accent coming out a bit thicker than usual, Victor was a snack Avery wanted to devour. It would take a lot of effort to restrain himself from covering Victor's body with his, and kissing the full lips that taunted him all evening.

  “I have a proposition for you, and all I ask is that you hear me out before you say anything.”

  Victor smirked, his eyes travelling up and down Avery's body lazily. “Okay,” he drawled, leaning back to lay his head on the armrest.

  This was going to be harder than Avery had expected.

  “I received an offer today from a luxury travel company specialising in LGBT holidays,” Avery began.

  Victor frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “According to the brochure, it means they offer holidays for LGBT people that would make them feel safe and relaxed, and would cater to their individuality.”

  Victor's frown didn’t ease but he nodded for Avery to continue.

  “They have a new service they’ve launched recently, that focuses on LGBT couples. Something like a honeymoon, but it doesn’t have to be a honeymoon. More like, a ‘celebrate your love any way you want’ kinda thing.” Avery winced at his own words. He was usually way more eloquent than this. His hands were sweating, and he seemed to have forgotten half the English language vocabulary.

  “Okay…” Victor said uncertainly.

  Avery took a deep breath, trying to calm down, Monique’s instructions replaying in his mind.

  “I don’t know how they caught up to the rumours about us so fast, but they did, and they sent me an offer today.” Avery held Victor's eyes, trying to judge if he was catching on. He still looked confused, so probably not. “Well, maybe I should say they sent us an offer. They want to send us on a luxury two-week holiday in Bali, all expenses paid, plus a generous fee if we agree to do at least three posts a day each while on holiday.”


  Victor's confused expression was too cute. His nose scrunched a little as he mulled over Avery’s words.

  “Us?” He said, as if testing the word on his tongue. “As in, you and me?”

  Avery nodded.

  Victor tucked an arm behind his head, his posture remaining relaxed as he lay on Avery’s sofa, but his eyes became a sharper shade of blue.

  “And you want to do it?” Victor asked.

  “I…” Avery began, too many thoughts swimming in his head. In the end, he decided Victor deserved to know the truth. “My personal assistant, who is a media marketing genius, thinks it’s a good idea.”

  “What do you think?”

  That it’ll be torture pretending to be in a relationship with you and not actually being in a relationship with you.

  “Avery.” His name on Victor's lips always made his insides tingle. The harder roll of the ‘r’ and the tilt in his voice in the end were so sexy that Avery didn’t want his name pronounced any other way.

  “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I really need to get to five million followers before June. And Monique thinks, as a rule, couples get more followers, even on their individual accounts.” Victor held his eyes, studying him. When he didn’t say anything, Avery felt the urge to continue speaking. “Plus, it’s a holiday in Bali! I mean, it’s not exactly hardship. We’ll post a few cute photos every day, and basically just lie on a beach for the rest of the time. And get paid while doing it.”

  Victor still didn’t say anything, and in the silence Avery realised, more than anything, he wanted him to say yes.

  “Can I take a look at the letter they sent you?” Victor finally said.

  Avery felt a weight lift off his chest.

  He’s considering it!

  It wasn’t a flat-out refusal, so Avery could still convince him.

  Victor sat up when Avery brought the letter. Taking his time, he read it and then browsed through the brochure. The whole time, Avery was barely keeping still next to him. He wanted to say something, the speech Monique made him remember slowly creeping back into his mind. But something about Victor made him reconsider. He’d made his case, and Victor was smart enough to weigh in his options and decide without Avery nagging him.

  After what seemed like an eternity, Victor took out his phone from his back pocket. Avery gave him space, leaning away. In his mind, he was already on a beach in Bali, his toes buried in the warm sand.

  “Okay,” Victor said, coaxing Avery out of his fantasy.

  “Okay what?”

  “Okay. Let’s do it.” Victor put his phone and the letter on the table, and turned to face Avery.

  Avery blinked a few times, lost for words. As much as he wanted him to agree, he never actually expected it.

  Victor chuckled softly, placing a hand on Avery's knee. “I just took a look at my calendar for the first two weeks of May, and I can definitely move things around. I should be able to come.”

  “Really?” Avery said, his heart thumping so loudly in his chest he was convinced Victor would be able to hear it. “You’re okay with pretending to be together?”

  Victor shrugged, and as casual as the move was, Avery saw a muscle tick in his jaw.

  “Like I said before, there are worse things than having to pretend to be dating you, Avery.”

  He held Avery's eyes as he said his name, and Avery all but melted into a puddle in his feet.

  “We’re going to Bali,” Avery said, his mouth spreading into a wide smile.

  “We’re going to Bali,” Victor echoed.

  Chapter three

  Victor didn’t know why he was scrolling through Avery's feed. At the back of the taxi, he couldn’t stop thinking about earlier tonight. Avery had been relaxed, dressed casually in shorts and a t-shirt, his newly-white hair flopping product-free, and his face bare. Victor had never seen him like that.

  The cab stopped at yet another traffic light. Victor looked outside at the dark streets of London, feeling somewhat melancholic. People crossed the road, most of them wearing headphones, others looking at their phones, all of them hurrying to their next destination.

  The light turned green. Victor's attention was claimed once again by Avery's Instagram photos. He looked cute in all of them, whether he was posing with a friend’s dog, or lounging by a pool, or feeding the ducks in a park. Every month he’d organised a themed contest for his followers, like the best Christmas tree in December, green cupcakes in February, and more recently – rainbow flags in weird places. Victor smiled as he scrolled through the photos Avery had been tagged in – a flag hanging from an abandoned building, another tied on top of a random lamppost, and a bright rainbow appearing right behind the Statue of Liberty.

  When the cab lurched to a stop again, Victor turned off Instagram and put his phone back in his pocket.

  He had no idea why he’d agreed to go on holiday with Avery, pretend they were a couple. For a few thousand followers? For the money?

  For the chance to spend some time with Avery, alone?

  The thing was, there was something about Avery. Something in his eyes; his smile. Something real. When Victor complemented him, his eyes lit up like a child’s – so pure and unguarded. There was no way he could fake such an emotion. Victor had seen such smiles only in kids he’d photographed as a struggling student back in Sweden.

  In hindsight, he’d been much happier back then. Penniless and unknown, struggling to get any photography work while juggling part-time jobs and studying, but happy. Carefree.

  Now? Now Victor was tired of the alternate reality social media created. He was tired of people only interested in how they looked, finding value in themselves only when the number of likes grew.

  He was tired.

  Maybe this holiday would be a good thing after all. Get away from it all, recharge, find a reason to keep going in this business.

  Spend time with Avery. Get to know him better.

  Victor's mouth quirked as he thought about having Avery all to himself for two whole weeks. He couldn’t wait to see what he’d find when he peeled away all of Avery’s protective layers.

  Chapter four

  Walking around the resort was like stepping into a fairy tale. When they’d left London over twenty hours ago, it had been raining and miserable, the wet, grey weather affecting Avery's mood. He’d slept for most of the flight, but still felt groggy as they disembarked in the sunny Indonesian paradise.

  A car had been waiting for them at the airport, and the driver – who had introduced himself as Aziz, informed them he’d be their personal butler during their stay. Anything they needed, he’d arrange for them.

  “Sounds good to me,” Avery had said with a tired smile.

  And now, stepping into their private villa, all he could do was gape in awe.

  “Oh my god,” he managed, grabbing Victor by the hand and pulling him towards the terrace. “Look at this!”

  Victor didn’t protest. Without letting go of Avery's hand, he gazed at the ocean spread beneath them.

  “This is incredible,” Victor said.

  “Yeah.”

  The villa was situated on a cliff top overlooking the ocean and the rest of the resort. Avery hadn’t had the chance to look around inside the villa yet – the stunning views stole his breath the moment he’d walked in.

  And it wasn’t just the views. The huge private terrace seemed bigger than the villa itself, and made for honeymooners. There was a cabana on one side, with a giant day bed and soft white drapes tied loosely around the four posts. On the other side of the terrace, Avery could see an infinity pool, just for the two of them, and what seemed like a fully stocked bar area with lounge chairs next to it.

  Victor yawned so hard his jaw cracked. When Avery looked at him, his eyes were red and his skin dull with a yellow tinge. He was still trying to smile, though, and his blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight as he gazed into the beauty around them.

  “Alright, bed,” Avery said, pulling Victor back inside the vill
a.

  Aziz had left their suitcases in the lounge area and quietly departed. In the bedroom, there was a bottle of champagne on ice, a box of chocolates, and another box, wrapped with a red ribbon. Avery's curiosity piqued, but he decided getting Victor into bed was his priority.

  Into the bed.

  There was only one bed.

  Of course there would be only one bed. They were supposed to be a couple. It shouldn’t be a problem.

  But it was.

  Because Avery couldn’t imagine sleeping next to Victor for two weeks and not being able to touch him.

  “Um…” Victor said, stopping in his tracks as if he’d also just considered the one-bed situation. “I’ll go sleep on the sofa.” He pointed to the lounge where their suitcases still waited. “It looks comfy and it’s definitely big enough.”

  Avery was shaking his head even before Victor had finished speaking.

  “No. You look dead on your feet.” He said, folding his arms. “I’ll go do some work and then I’ll take the sofa.”

  “You look tired, too,” Victor protested weakly.

  “Thanks.”

  “I didn’t mean…”

  “I’m joking.” Avery winked at him, then gently pushed him towards the bed. “Go on. Sleep. We can figure out the arrangements later.”

  Victor looked too tired to argue, so he just nodded and, taking his shoes off, snuggled into the bed. It was so huge that he looked like a plush toy underneath the crispy white sheet.

  When Avery returned to the room with their suitcases a moment later, Victor was snoring softly. Avery couldn’t help but stare at him for a few stolen moments, so peaceful and beautiful as he slept.

  With a shake of his head, Avery rolled the suitcases farther inside the bedroom, and closed the door behind him. He had work to do, his followers – and ‘Sunset Vacations’ – were waiting for his posts.