He nodded. “Yeah, of course. I’m just kidding.” Though he wasn’t, and that was incredibly obvious to everyone.
“What did we miss?” Nick asked, as he and Megan finally reached us. Their wet clothes clung to their bodies, Megan’s long blonde hair stringy and a shade darker than usual. Her smile was infectious. An island employee rushed toward us, holding out three towels, which they each took graciously.
“Thanks, Nani,” Megan said, bowing slightly as she began to dry her hair.
When the woman walked away, Nick asked again, “Sorry, what did we miss?”
“Nothing,” Emily said, “we were just chatting.”
“Yep, just chatting,” Natasha agreed, a too-perky, patronizing grin on her face.
“I think we’re going to go dry off,” Megan said. “Will you guys be out here long?”
“Ye—” Andy said, but Emily cut him off sharply.
“No. I plan to get up early and do yoga on the beach at sunrise, and I need a full eight hours or I won’t be of any use to anyone tomorrow, so I think I’ll go to bed. You’re welcome to stay, though, babe.” She nodded at him. He seemed unsure of what to say.
“We’re probably going to stay awhile, aren’t we, babe?” Brad asked, already seeming sure of that fact. “If you want to hang with us for a bit, Andy.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “You’re welcome to stay with us, Andy. At least until the sun sets. I’m not sure how late I’ll stay out after that.” A yawn escaped my throat. “Unless I fall asleep out here.”
Nick looked reluctant to leave, though Megan was already pulling him away, waving happily at us as Emily stood to leave, too.
“You going to bed?” Jaren asked Natasha, who shook her head.
“I’m about to get one of those pretty little drinks Andy has and stay right here.” She paused. “You?”
“I’ll stay, too… If that’s okay?”
She shrugged. “It’s a big beach.”
I could remember so well when things were good between them. They’d met in college, and for such a long time, they were the picture of happiness. I wasn’t sure where it went wrong, but it made me incredibly sad to watch it play out in real time.
When he walked away, I looked at Natasha. “He tries…”
“That wasn’t trying,” she said firmly, her tone sharp. That was the end of the conversation, and no matter how badly I felt for her husband at times, I’d always side with my best friend. I knew her better than anyone, which meant I saw her pain when Jaren was at his most irritatingly obtuse.
“She’s great, isn’t she?” Andy asked, interrupting my thoughts as Emily walked away.
I smiled, trying to decide what to say, when Natasha spoke up. “She treats you like you don’t exist, Andy.”
Andy’s jaw dropped, and the smile faded from his lips as he attempted to come up with a response.
“Now, that’s not fair.” Brad came to his rescue.
“And why the hell not?” Natasha pressed. “She’s barely looked at him all day. I’m sorry, Andy. She seems like she’s a sweet enough girl, but she’s totally self-obsessed.”
Andy paused. “Do you all feel that way?”
His question was met with silence. Finally, Brad cleared his throat. “I think she’s great, Andy. Honestly. But as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
Torn between my husband and best friend, the truth and a lie, I chose silence.
“I thought you’d all be excited that I’ve found someone I’m serious about.”
I wrinkled my nose at his words. “Are you? Is it serious between you two?”
“Yeah,” he said. “This trip was my way of showing her how serious I am. I think…” I held my breath as I waited for him to finish the sentence. “I think I’m ready to settle down. Stick it out. See what happens.”
“Does she want to do that?” Natasha asked skeptically. “I think you should talk to her before you make any big decisions.”
The life deflated from Andy at her words. “I really thought you guys would be more supportive. Aren’t you always telling me I’m too old to keep dating around?”
“Yes,” I said, giving him an assertive nod. “And if you’re serious about her, and she’s serious about you, then we’re so happy for you, Andy. We just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Andy pressed his lips together. “I won’t. You guys know me. But just wait, you’ll see. This week, you guys will get to know her better and see how great she is.”
I hoped he was right, because he truly did seem the happiest he’d ever been. When I glanced up to where she was, as she headed back to the huts, it surprised me to see that she had stopped just a few yards away and was staring back toward us again. Had she heard what we said?
Her gaze was locked on Brad, a small smile on her face. My blood ran cold.
When she noticed me staring, she lifted her hand in a small wave, then turned abruptly and walked away. I looked at Natasha and Brad, though neither of them had seen the exchange.
The only proof that it had happened were the goosebumps lining my arms.
She doesn’t like Brad.
And even if she did, Brad would never act on it. He loves me. He loves Andy.
Still, I couldn’t get the image of him staring at her completely out of my mind. I refused to look for her again, though I could swear I felt her stares burning into the back of my scalp.
Chapter Twelve
Nick
The sound of crashing waves and distant laughter pulled me from sleep, and I wondered, briefly, where I was and why the hell I was soaked in sweat. When I opened my eyes and looked around, I saw wooden walls that were not my own, white curtains blowing in the wind from the open windows, and then, the ocean. Crystal blue, vast, and utterly terrifying, yet incredibly beautiful in the most inexplicable way.
I sat up in bed, realizing Megan’s spot in our bed was empty. Where had she gone? The white sheet fell
