“I’m going to go change,” I announce. As soon as I say it, I realize it isn’t necessary for me to explain my decision to them, but it feels too late to take it back.
Ugh, why am I so bad at awkward situations? For a brief, awful moment, I wonder why I thought this situation would go differently when the rest of my life is a hot mess.
I head back into Jellybean’s bedroom now that he’s awake and there’s no point to sneaking around anymore. It seems like a better option than wandering around the rest of the suite carrying my undies.
I head into the bedroom, half waiting to hear the shouting match that I assume is coming. I’m annoyed and want to leave, but now that I’m outside of the conversation I have to admit that I’m both curious and a little nosy.
Instead, I hear footsteps behind me as Jellybean follows me into the bedroom. The door opens and then closes.
I do the same with my mouth, as I wonder why the hell he is following me when he’s supposed to be out there arguing with the couch people, whoever they are.
Instead, he stands there in his boxers with his arms crossed, staring at me. “You were sneaking out?”
I scowl at him. “What? Of course I was sneaking out. That was the deal, remember? No names, no getting tangled up in the whole bullshit vacation boyfriend and girlfriend drama. We’re both adults here. So yes, as agreed, I was sneaking out.”
Now it’s my turn to be accusatory, since until a few minutes ago I was under the impression that we were alone in the suite. “Who are those people?”
Jellybean sighs. “They’re my brother and sister.”
I close my eyes and try to count to ten to calm down like my own therapist suggested. Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Fi my therapist, but she read it in a psychology article, so it’s close enough. I don’t even make it to three. “What are they doing in your room so early in the morning?”
“We took the redeye,” a voice from the living room shouts.
“Oh my God, now they’re eavesdropping. How did they even get in here? What do you do, share a room with all of them? Are more relatives coming?”
Jellybean’s eyes widen and he indicates his head toward the bathroom. First, he crosses and locks the bedroom door and then he goes into the bathroom.
I roll my eyes and follow him into the bathroom. Then he shuts and locks that door. Then he turns on the shower.
“Really?” I ask him, putting one hand defiantly on my hip. “Are you sure this is enough privacy?”
It feels like overkill to me. After all this is a one-night stand, not a spy thriller. “What are you going to do, give me some illegal insider trading tips?”
For the first time since last night, I see the smirk playing at the edge of his lips. But right now, stress and fear are winning out in the battle of his adorable facial expressions. “I happen to think this is just the right amount of secrecy.”
“The right amount of secrecy for what?” I demand to know.
He sighs. “Okay, listen. I checked out what my brother said earlier about there being a development where I work. And he’s right. A guy named Mark is making a play for my job. In fact, there’s an emergency board meeting on Sunday afternoon.”
A growing worry gnaws at my insides. That maybe there is more going on here than me throwing panties on and hitting the road. I give him the universal girl stare that means get on with it so I can put my damn clothes on already.
“Then I guess it’s time for you to be flying back to wherever it is you came from, Jellybean,” I say, hoping this is an opportunity for me to get the hell out of here without getting dragged into all the drama.
“I can’t just go back,” he says.
“Bummer,” I say, giving up and finally slipping my panties on whether he’s standing there or not. “Listen, you’re a grown man. You can do whatever you want. You had a fling, it’s over. It’s fine. Trust me, you don’t need my permission to go get on with your life.”
He slumps back against the wall, as if explaining all of this is painful to him. Like I’m the one who’s stupid. Well, it’s his arrogant face that’s stupid.
“This guy Mark is trying to convince the board that he’s more stable than I am. I take one fucking vacation all year and he pulls this stunt the minute my back is turned. Snake.”
There is a moment of silence as I pull on my skirt from last night but keep his t-shirt on hoping he won’t notice in all of his obvious emotional upheaval. He looks deep in thought. Then he turns to me. “The board is naming a new CEO, soon. The job’s supposed to be mine. But Mark’s married. The board thinks that means he’s settled down. I’m not in a relationship and they are going to hold it against me. Don’t you see? If I’m not careful, I’m going to lose everything I’ve worked for.”
“I’m sorry to hear it,” I say softly. “That sucks. They sound very mean. Good luck to you, I hope you win in the end.” I say the words, but I don’t think he’s listening. He’s lost in his thoughts.
“Thanks, Coconut. What I really need now is a girlfriend. Oh, or even better, a fiancé.”
I blink at him. Sure, he’s sexy and he was fun last night. But none of this is any of my business. I have to get to work. “Good luck with that.”
“Wait, the photographer last night,” his face lights up in a way that should not be possible at five-ish in the morning before coffee. “It was probably the paparazzi. The photos that he took are probably already out there. Of us together.
