“Nick, what are you doing here?” I asked, walking toward him, keeping my own voice low.
“What am I—” His mouth opened and closed as if he were forming words, but no sound came out. He blinked back fresh tears—I could see them glinting in the dim light—and leaned forward, pulling me into a hug. I breathed in the scent of him—warm. Safe. “Thank God you’re okay.” He kissed my cheek, pulling back, his hands still on my shoulders. “I thought you were dead. I pictured all of these horrible things…” He trailed off, dropping his hands from my shoulders and looking at Andy. I saw the muscle in his jaw twitch. “This is why you were so interested in my feelings for Laura. You two were…” He pointed back and forth between us, and I flushed red, thankful he wouldn’t see it in the darkness. Shadows couldn’t reveal my embarrassment.
“God, Nick. No. No, Andy and I aren’t together.” I put a hand to his chest. “It’s nothing like that.”
“What, then?” he asked, shaking his head. “I don’t understand. Where have you been? Did he tell you the police are here?” He pointed out the door. “They’ve been looking for you. We have to go tell them you’re alive.” He pulled me into another hug, and I inhaled his scent again. I wanted to savor it. Even without the usual aroma of his cologne, his scent was so familiar. It felt like home, a place I desperately wished I could be.
“They know, Nick.” I patted his chest again. “The police know. Look, we have a lot to tell you and not a lot of time, okay? Let’s just sit down, and I promise I’ll explain everything. How did you—how did you find me anyway?”
“I was walking on the beach…looking for you. I haven’t been able to sleep. I saw you through the window. I-I couldn’t believe it.” There were fresh tears in his eyes again, and he shook his head. “I can’t believe it.”
At Nick’s words, Andy grumbled, glancing outside to see if anyone else was coming. “You shouldn’t have turned on the lamp, Laura.”
I didn’t respond, though I knew he was right. It was why he’d turned it off immediately after jumping out of bed. I shouldn’t have come, but I had to talk to him. I had to know what was happening. If we’d been seen, the plan would be ruined. I watched his expression, and only when he nodded and his shadowed face moving in the moonlight gave me the go-ahead, did I exhale with relief. I turned to Nick. “I’m sorry, Nick. I’m sorry I worried you. If I’d had any other choice, believe me, I would’ve told you.”
“What are you talking about? Why couldn’t you tell me? Where have you been?”
“I've been here. I've always been here.” I paused, trying to study his face in the moonlight. “There's so much to tell you, and it starts with the fact that we know what happened to Emily.”
“Oh, God,” came the instant response. “You know who killed her? How? Who?”
From behind me, Andy touched my shoulder. “Laura, you really shouldn’t be here. I can fill Nick in on what’s going on, but you should go back. If anyone else saw him come here, it could ruin everything.”
“Hang on a second,” Nick said, pointing at Andy. “You’ve known where she was all along? All this time? We spent an entire day in the jungle looking for her, and you’ve known everything?”
“I had to keep it up, man. It was for her protection.”
“For her protection? What does that even mean?”
I cleared my throat, trying to hide the tears that were coming no matter how hard I tried to fight them off. “If you’ll let me talk, we’ll explain everything. But, like I said, you should sit.” He was never going to forgive me.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Laura
THREE DAYS EARLIER
“I can’t believe our drinks are empty again,” Emily said, a brilliant, charming smile on her face. She leaned her head back in the chair. “They may as well leave a few refills next time they come.”
“I don’t have time to wait,” Natasha said with a quick laugh. “I had mine finished before y'all even started.” She started to lean up. “I’m going across the hall to get more. Everyone want the same as what they have?” She pointed at each of us. “This round’s on me.”
I laughed at her ridiculous joke, the wine aiding my good mood. “I can go this time, Tash,” Emily said. Natasha hated nicknames, hated it even more when someone took it upon themselves to create one for her, but to my surprise, she smiled. “You went the round before last, and Megan went last time. It can be my turn. I need to stretch my legs anyway.”
“Okay, you won’t hear me complain about having to do less work. Go for it.” Natasha sat back down, and Emily sauntered out of the room. After we heard her footsteps growing fainter, she smiled at me. “Little Miss Thang ain’t so bad after all, I guess.”
“She’s sweet,” Megan said, her head leaned back, cucumbers on her eyes.
“Young,” Natasha agreed. “But sweet.”
“What do you think the men are talking about?” I asked thoughtfully.
“Oh, honey, that ain’t even a question. The question is, do you think they’ve ever stopped talking about her?”
I laughed. “Ah, I know. Brad denies it, but she is pretty.”
“Unfairly pretty,” Natasha agreed.
“Half our age,” Megan said. “With skin that screams it.”
“It’s enough to make you sick, isn’t it?” Natasha asked with a laugh. “But hey, if she’s going to keep vacations like these coming, Jaren can keep right on staring for all I care.”
I smiled, but it was less free than hers then. I didn’t want Brad to stare at her. Not the way I’d seen him. Footsteps were headed back in our direction, and I looked up, the conversation cut short. “Hey, Laura, would you mind helping me?”
