Page 53 of Grand Escape

So, the door was slammed shut to the idea of being with me this evening. At least I had tomorrow to try again.

“Can I at least walk you back?” I asked.

With a huff, she nodded. I wasn’t going to say anything else, or she’d change her mind. Instead, I drank my water and waited until she finished behind the bar.

Our walk was quick and quiet. I did pull her in for a hug, my lips grazing her cheek before I said, “See you tomorrow.”

“Thanks for walking me,” she said, then disappeared inside.

Are you joining us for breakfast? Cal’s text read when it came through around seven in the morning.

Although I wanted to give him an excuse, I knew Cal’s patience was spent. Sadly, we were both early risers and persistent when we wanted to do something. Part of sharing the womb, I imagined, but right now it was an exercise in suffering.

Yes.

I sent the one-word reply and did some pushups in my room before showering and tossing on board shorts and a T-shirt. With any luck, I could eat and catch Rylan at the pool or beach. Heading down to the restaurant, I plastered a smile on my face, ready to bid Chelsea and Sophia farewell.

“Good morning,” I said, approaching their table.

Cal glanced up at me. “Morning.”

“Morning, Ad,” Chelsea said, giving me a Miss America wave.

Doing my best not to roll my eyes, I turned to her friend. “Hi, Sophia.”

She gave me a soft hello and went back to her coffee.

Luckily, the server swung by and poured me some coffee. Taking a swig, I looked around the table, not wanting to start conversation.

“I’m taking the ladies to snorkel with the turtles this morning,” Cal said like it was no big deal.

I stared at him, taking in our differences.

His hair was neat and styled compared to my messy head. He’d opted for a polo while I sat there in a white Nike T-shirt. Our eyes—mine blue and his brown—met in a staring contest as we waited for one of us to break and address the elephant in the middle of the table.

Finally, Sophia broke the silence, speaking over her coffee mug. “Chelsea couldn’t get a flight until late this afternoon. There were no seats, so this is the best we could do. We’re going to try to enjoy our morning with the turtles, and then come back here for lunch before taking Chels to the airport.”

I nodded like I was hearing a verdict from a judge. This afternoon? Fuck.

“Sophia is staying here with me, so we can enjoy a date tonight,” my brother said in his non-negotiable voice.

Frustrated and not wanting to be an ass, I simply nodded.

“The concierge highly recommends snorkeling with the turtles, if you want to come,” Chelsea said to me.

“You know what?” I said. “I’m going to hit the gym before I eat anything. See you all later.”

I stood and nodded at Sophia, ignoring Cal and Chelsea. It wasn’t my best look, but it was all I could do in this moment. I needed to sweat out my anger at myself.

If I’d been honest with myself about Rylan, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Rylan

A knock sounded at my door, and I knew who was there without even opening it.

I’d spent the day at the pool bar, sneaking glances at Adam and mentally yelling at myself for doing so. He was lying on a lounger, next to Cal, his eyes covered in sunglasses, his hard, firm chest on display.

The night before, he’d walked me to my villa after work, but I’d called it an evening at my door. Of course, Adam didn’t argue, but I felt the pressure building today between us with him sitting mere feet away. Every time he caught me glancing at him, he raised an eyebrow, and my heart leaped while my brain yelled at me to just stop, already.

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