Page 22 of Commit

Brooke: I’m with Meg. If you guys have a mature relationship, then I don’t think you should listen to anything Tessa says. Sorry, Tess. You know I love you.

Tessa: Fine. Everyone can act like it’s terrible advice, but deep down, you all know it’s the oldest and most effective trick in the book. We all want what we can’t have. A couple hours of ignoring Remi, and she’ll be putty in your hands.

I’ve never played the typical relationship games other men do. I like to think of myself as a pretty good guy. I was raised by a natural gentleman and witnessed the most incredible love story of all time from my parents. Romeo and Juliet have nothing on Paul and Marilyn Johnson. I know how to treat a woman, how to respect her and cherish her. But I’m debating not doing any of that with Remi. I should tuck my tail between my legs and admit defeat, but putty in my hands?

That’s exactly what I want.

If there ever were a time to follow Tessa’s advice, it is now.

All is fair in love and war.

A man’s pride can only take so much.

CHAPTER 12

MATT

I build rockets for a living. Surely I can go one weekend without letting Remi get to me. There isn’t anything she can do that will break me. I’m a man on a mission, a man who’s going to prove to her that I’m so over us. I’m bringing my A-game. She’s the one who’s going to be wishing we were back together.

Not me.

I’m not getting another ‘you poor thing’ look again.

I kick off my flip-flops and step into the sand. Remi’s already on the beach, skimming her toes into the rolling waves. She’s wearing my favorite pink bikini.

Really?

Did she have to bring the one swimsuit she knows drives me crazy? She has, like, twelve other ones. She’s not even playing fair.

What we really need right now are some life jackets to cover everything up.

Or maybe a wetsuit.

Water preparation is key.

Since there aren’t any around, I’m going to have to stick to the plan. Per Tessa’s advice, I feign disinterest and glance away.

This is war, baby.

I’m aloof.

Distracted.

Women hate that.

And I will not look back. I don’t know how they do it, but women always know when a man checks them out. Not today, Remi.

“We’re waiting for the hotel guide to give us some instructions on sailing,” Jana says, pointing at the row of catamarans on the beach.

“There he is!” Reece’s mom, Deb, steps forward, hugging me. “We’re so glad you made it.”

“It’s good to see you,” I say.

We go through the rest of the introductions. There are Maggie and Sarah, the college roommates. They seem normal. Then, there are Jana’s parents, Doug and Jolene; her brother, Cobie; and his new girlfriend, Lissy. She’s sporting a white bikini that barely covers the body parts typically covered by a swimsuit.

Reece comes over to my side. “Have you ever been sailing on a small catamaran before?”

“Nah, but I’m sure I can figure it out.” My eyes shift back to Remi in the water. I know I said I wouldn’t look at her, but that swimsuit is a chink in my armor. She’s standing on the beach, talking to someone. “Who’s that guy?”

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