“Should I even ask?” I bite my lip.
“Only if you want to feel crushing disappointment,” he grumbles.
“Let me guess. You’re going to be visiting my lovely state the exact dates I’m going to be gone.”
“That’s the gist of it.” I hear the sound of an elevator’s doors dinging open on Dom’s end of the line. “Well, shit. Where are you going?”
“Hawaii.” I sigh. Like going to Hawaii is anything less than amazing.
Dom chuckles at my tone. “Poor darling. Is this for work or fun?”
“Fun. Though staying home is sounding like a lot of fun, too.”
Dominic lets out a full laugh. “Did you just compare me to a tropic vacation?”
I smirk into my empty room. “I didn’t say I was canceling my ticket.”
He laughs again. “Angel, you wound me.”
“Uh-huh.” I flop onto my back, the mattress making me bounce a little. “But even if I wanted to, it’s a family thing, so I can’t really reschedule.”
I press my lips together. That sounded like a bit much. We’ve only met once, and even fake offering to reschedule a vacation is crazy.
Way to speed right to clinger territory, Val.
“Family thing could be fun.”
Okay, so he’s not acting like that was weird.
“My half—” I stop and correct myself. “My brother is renewing his vows with his wife. So it’s basically a wedding, but not exactly.”
Should I be saying this?
What if he asks about their first wedding?
Or how they met? Because I can’t really tell him any of that since King literally kidnapped his wife and blackmailed her into marrying him.
“Ah.” He makes a noise of understanding. “I’ve been to more than one vow renewal, so say no more. Nice place for it, at least.”
I nod, glad he didn’t ask any of the questions I just had a minor heart attack panicking over. “It is. My brother rented out a group of those over-the-water bungalow things. Which is great, because apparently, my new thing is to let men buy me expensive things.”
“You better just be referring to me and that little backpack,” Dominic says flatly.
I snort. “Who else is buying me things?”
“Good answer.” Dominic exhales. “I gotta go. Tell me to have a good night and send me a picture when you get to Hawaii.”
“Have a good night, Dominic.”
“Night, Angel.”
Me: sends photo of myself standing on the deck of my bungalow
My lungs fill with the warm morning air.
With the ocean underneath and all around, and with the sun just barely rising, the place feels magical.
Otherworldly.
I take another deep breath.
And quiet.
I’m ready early. I’m always ready early. So I’m the only one standing out here, but I know King is two bungalows down. His best friend, Nero, and his wife are in the one between us, and Aspen is on the far side of King.
And…
The breeze flutters my bright pink skirt around my knees.
And even with them all so close, I feel lonely.
So goddamn lonely.
I press my lips together.
This isn’t about me. I’m here for King and Savannah.
I exhale.
And Aspen is here alone, too. So it’s not like it’s just me and a bunch of couples. But…
I do another set of inhales and exhales.
But Aspen and I aren’t close.
She’s not mean to me. And she’s not indifferent to me like she used to be. I can’t even begin to imagine the mind-fuck stuff she’s dealt with recently. But still…
I’ve tried.
I’ve tried really hard to be her sister. Just as hard as I’ve tried with King. And they’re both nice to me. It’s just…
I close my eyes.
I’m happy King found Savannah. They’re good for each other. And I’m happy he’s doing this for her—surprising her with this sunrise ceremony. And I’m going to have fun today. I will.
I just need to quit hoping for things that are never going to happen.
I open my eyes and look around at the walkways connecting the buildings.
And I need someone else to come out of their fucking bungalow so I’m not standing here like I’m the only person left in the world, in possibly the most romantic setting in the world.
It’s annoying.
I lift my phone the second I feel Dominic text me back.
Big Guy: You look beautiful.
Each word resonates between my ribs, meaning so much more than he could imagine.