Page 98 of Honor

“Being in love and planning your wedding looks good on you,” I counter as I link my elbow around Lottie’s since we’re headed in the same direction.

She tugs on the skirt of the white sundress I put on after we all took a dip in the pool. “You haven’t been to bed yet.”

I have, but not in the way she’s assuming, so I shake my head. “I’m exhausted. I can’t wait to fall asleep listening to the sounds of the ocean.”

“You don’t have to wear yourself thin for him,” she whispers, even though it seems as though we’re the only two people awake at this moment.

“For Reid?” I ask the obvious question.

“What do you really want, Evie?” she asks with a straight face. “Tell me what you envision your career will look like five years from now.”

This hardly seems like the time to delve into a subject as serious as that, but I sense she has a lot of business connections, so maybe I need to take that leap. “I always pictured myself working for a big company in their marketing department.”

“Really?” She slows the pace of her steps so I do, too.

“I have a degree in marketing,” I tell her for the first time. “I worked in the marketing department for a clothing brand for a few summers. I absolutely loved it.”

She studies my face. “I had no idea.”

“My job at Vidori is great,” I say so she won’t jump to an assumption that I don’t like it. “I get paid well, and I’ve met a lot of incredible people working there.”

“But you want something different?” she asks, reading between the lines of what I just said.

“Someday.” I nod. “For now, I want sleep.”

She reaches for my hand to stop me as I start to walk away. “Speaking of someday. I’d like your opinion on the gift I’m giving Randall for our wedding.”

I’m exhausted, but recognize how important this is to her, so I smile softly. “What are you thinking of giving Randall?”

“I’d rather show you.”

I’d rather sleep for a solid eight hours, but I nod. “Did you bring it with you this weekend, or do you have a picture of it on your phone?”

“I’ll show you when we’re back in New York,” she explains. “We can do it Wednesday night if you’re free?”

I have no idea what my life back home looks like now that I’m sleeping with my boss, but I agree to a Wednesday night bride-to-be and maid of honor date. “I’m free.”

“When I was in his room earlier, Randall was in the shower.” She lowers her voice yet again. “I noticed a box from Whispers of Grace. They sell the most exquisite jewelry there.”

I laugh. “Did you notice it, or were you searching for it?”

“Noticed.” She grins. “After a short search. Randall mentioned he brought my wedding gift with him to show Reid.”

“You opened it, didn’t you?”

“It’s a beautiful necklace, Evie,” she whispers, her eyes welling with tears. “It’s custom-made. My birthstone is set in gold right next to Randall’s birthstone. Seeing that made me realize I needed something extra special to give him for a wedding gift.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll show you what I’m getting him on Wednesday after you finish work.” She finally glances at the screen of her phone. “I didn’t realize it was this late. Go to bed.”

“I’m on my way there now,” I say with relief in my tone, and I back it up by sprinting toward my room because I don’t want anything or anyone to get in the way of my bed and me.

CHAPTER SIXTY

Reid

Sitting nextto Evangeline for the drive back from East Hampton to Manhattan was a treat. I didn’t offer to drive, and she didn’t hand me the keys. Instead, she slid into the driver’s seat, adjusted everything to her liking since I was the last one to drive the car, and we set off.

---