Page 85 of The Grumpy Side of Paradise

And if I can’t be with Adam, I can’t stay in Paradise.

That reality crashes over me like a weight dropping on my chest.

“I’m not signing the contract, Georgia,” I say over her excited descriptions of different designs we can use on the new cottages.

She goes quiet. “What?”

“I’m not going to sign. I can’t.” I’ve heard cracks described as places where light can shine in. I hope that’s true, but right now I feel my heart cracking, and all I see is dark.

“What are you talking about? Of course, you can sign. You have to sign. I can’t do this without you.” Georgia sounds genuinely upset, which is flattering but also makes saying no a thousand times harder.

“Yes, you can. You can do anything. But I can’t stay in Paradise.” I sit up and pull my knees into my chest.

Then I tell Georgia everything. I tell her about kissing Adam, about our perfect day, about what he’s taught me. Not just about nail guns, but also about feelings—which ones to hold on to and which ones to let go. I tell her all the happy stuff.

I have to tell her the not so happy stuff too. My fight with Adam, how I hurt him, and, worst of all, Dakota coming back.

Instead of being angry with Adam or Dakota or anyone, like I want her to be, she lets out a happy sigh. “I knew you two would fall in love. You’re perfect for each other.”

“Um, I think you missed the part about the love of his life coming back.”

“Dakota? I wouldn’t worry about her. She won’t stay.”

“You’re crazy.”

My phone buzzes and vibrates at the same time, and I hold it away from my ear to see Georgia trying to FaceTime me. I roll my eyes. If I’m an optimist, Georgia takes optimism to thenth degree. She will try to convince me I still have a chance with Adam just to get me to stay in Paradise. I know she will, but I switch to the video call anyway.

Georgia’s green eyes, freckled nose, and red hair fill my screen. “I’m not crazy! I’ve known Dakota my entire life. She is not back in Paradise for good.”

“You don’t know that,” I scoff.

But Georgia’s words and confident smile are a beacon of hope. I want to believe her. I’m just afraid she’ll turn out to be more siren than beacon.

“I do know that. It’s been a while since I’ve talked to Dakota, but I’m telling you, don’t worry. She will always love Adam, but never enough to live in Paradise.” She brings her face close to the screen. Georgia is a close talker when she wants to emphasize a point.

“What if Adam decides he’s ready to follow her back to New York?” I wish there weren’t a screen between us. It would be easier to believe her if she were here.

Georgia shakes her head. “One, he doesn’t love her enough to leave Paradise. Two, if by some million-to-one chance I’m wrong and he does leave, then you have no reason to leave.” She flashes a dimpled smile, obviously pleased she’s found a loophole in my reasoning. “Trust me. Everything will work out. Sign the contract.”

I chew on my bottom lip, trying to find the hole in her arguments. Maybe it’s the fact that everything Georgia does works. She has a golden touch. If she says things will work out with Adam, why shouldn’t I believe her?

“At least look at the salary they’re offering you,” she adds before rubbing her fingers together in the universal sign for cash, money, you ‘bout to be rich.

“Fine. I’ll look, but I’m not making any promises.”

“Do it now.”

I huff a breath and climb out of bed. I drag my feet every step of the way to the spare room to pick up my laptop, and I take my phone and Georgia’s face with me so she can appreciate the effort it takes. During the seconds it takes for my email to load, I turn off the TV. I don’t want to hear what’s happening in the apartment below, but I do want to get a better idea of whether I should stay or go. The only way to do that right now is to listen for signs of arguing.

I don’t hear arguing, or anything else. Not even any sounds of barking, and I wonder when Adam will pick up Rosie from his parents. I never thought I’d miss her barking, but I do now. It would mean things were the same as they have been every day I’ve been here and Dakota hasn’t.

When I finally open the email with the contract, I gasp when I see the number and the five zeroes that follow it. My bank account is only slightly better than it was when I left New York. With all those zeroes, Georgia has shot the last nail into my coffin of excuses for why I can’t stay.

Then I think about seeing Dakota every day downstairs at Adam’s. Or, worse, staying in Paradise andnotseeing Adamevery day.

“I’ll consider it,” I say to Georgia. “But I can’t sign it yet.”

A deep, disappointed breath escapes, and she drops her head. “Fine. I get it. But don’t wait long. They already have someone else in mind if you don’t take the offer. Obviously, I don’t want to work with anyone else, but now that we have the green light, we have to move fast and build on the publicity we’ve already got going.”

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