“She’s ready to move in.”
He laughs. “You’ve done such a great job with the renovations that I think most of the players are going to be looking for me to lose the estate once they visit.”
“That will be tough if you lose it.”
“I’m not even considering it.” He’s silent a moment. “Not only did I just barely win it, but we have good memories there that I want to preserve.”
“I agree, but I’m partial, given all the work I’ve done here.”
He changes the subject. “Dinner tonight with Gabby and Damien?”
“That’s the plan. I can call you after, if you’d like.”
“Whatever,” he says.
“Alright. Talk to you later.”
His seeming lack of interest feeds right into my fears about him, but I force myself to set it aside. We’re thousands of miles apart. Who knows what else he has going on… Right?
Rather than focus on it, I turn my attention to my latest project until Brian lets me know he’s ready to leave for dinner.
“Crap. I need to change, but I’ll be right there.” I run upstairs and go crashing through my closet, looking for my cute come-hither sandals.
Shit! Where did I put them?
I look under the bed, in the other bedroom, and both bathrooms, but I can’t find them, so I grab another pair of cute-enough sandals and run out the door.
“We’ll only be a few minutes late,” I say, looking at Brian.
He nods.
When we arrive, Brian drops me, then goes to park the car before he joins me in the restaurant.
I sit down at the table, a bit frazzled. “Sorry I’m late. Couldn’t find my sandals.”
“Hawaiian life doesn’t require shoes,” Gabby says with a laugh.
I nod. “Mostly that’s true. How was your helicopter tour today? What did you think?”
“Oh my God!” Gabby begins.
For the rest of the evening, I’m regaled with stories of what they saw and discovered.
As we’re served dessert, Damien becomes very serious. “I’ve asked everyone but you,” he tells me. “You know I love this beautiful woman very much and have since I met her when she was twenty.”
“At least it was legal,” I snark, and we all laugh.
He grins and grasps her hand, and I see a stunning new ring on her finger.
“Holy crap!”
I start to get very excited, but Damien interrupts. “Would you mind if I married your best friend? I promise never to come between you and love you like the sister-in-law you pretty much are.”
I jump up from the table and run around to hug them. “I’m so excited for both of you. It’s about time.”
Damien looks at me. “You haven’t answered the question.”
“Of course the answer is yes! Any guy who’d follow two girls across the country, leaving a good job where he was on track for partnership, and start over, and who showers my best friend with gifts, love, and support gets my vote. “
We spend the rest of the night doing some wedding planning.
“Do you think Jackson would mind if we had it at the estate?” Gabby asks.
“I can ask him. I’m not sure what his plans are for it. There’s always the possibility that he’ll lose it the same way it was won.”
Gabby’s face falls.
“He assures me he’s not going to, though.” I’m so happy for them. I knew this was coming; I just didn’t know when. “I will ask him when I talk to him tonight.”
We finally return to the estate, and I send them off to bed, grateful I’m on the other side of the house.
I call Jackson, and the phone goes to voice mail, so I leave a message. “Sorry I missed you. Gabby and Damien are engaged. They’re hoping you’ll allow them to marry here on the cliffs. Call me tomorrow. Miss you.”
When I wake the next morning, there’s a text from Jackson.
Jackson: Sorry I missed you last night. I fell asleep. Congratulations to Gabby and Damien, and of course they can marry at the Halona Moana. I’m off to the factory in Ohio shortly. We’ll talk soon.
I’m happy I’ve heard from him, but I’m disappointed he can’t talk. I wonder what’s going on that he needs to go to Ohio.
I manage to enjoy the rest of the weekend with Gabby and Damien. We have plenty of pool time and find a beautiful sandy beach. The temperatures are in the mid-70s, so the locals think we’re crazy, but we don’t mind. For early-May, it’s warm to us.
As Gabby and Damien board the plane to leave late Sunday night, I talk to Matt, the pilot, for a moment.
“How was Ohio?” I ask him.
He looks at me funny. “I was here all weekend and haven’t been to Ohio in ages.”
My heart stops. Where did Jackson go if he wasn’t in Ohio?
I feel like an idiot. I shouldn’t have listened to Gabby. I’ve watched him distance himself these last few weeks. I’m yesterday’s news. He’s moving on without me.
I can’t stop myself.
Me: Gabby and Damien just left. How did you get to Ohio?
Jackson: Checking up on me?
I’m not going to answer. I just put the phone away and head into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” Leilani asks.
I paint a smile on my face. “I’m fine. Just missing my friends. Their visit reminded me of how much they mean to me.”
Leilani looks at me. “And selfishly, I want you to move here for a while.”
“You’re so sweet.”
She hands me a mug of hot cocoa, and I thank her before heading up to my room.
Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock at my door. I open it to find Brian standing there.
“Is everything alright?” I ask.
“Mr. Graham couldn’t reach you, so he wanted me to check on you.”
I’m completely horrified. “I’m
