Page 41 of Just One Summer with the Grumpy

Chase pointed them out long before the tour guide did. Then he brought me around to the best place to see them, beneath a tree canopy further down. I took at least thirty photos of the cute little guys while Chase watched me, a half smile on his face.

A moment later, the tour guide called Chase over for a quick discussion of who-knew-what. Considering Veronica was in the group, smiling sweetly at him, I could only imagine that she’d found some excuse to get the tour guide to bring him over.

As his official fake girlfriend, I should have gone over to rescue him. But at that moment, Ty appeared at my side.

No amount of humor or subject-changing could improve what surely qualified as the Book of World Records’ most awkward silence in the history of time. Ty and I stood a few feet apart, avoiding each other’s gazes and pretending to be interested in the rainforest around us.

“So he’s treating you well?” Ty asked, his voice a full octave too high.

I grinned. “Very well.”

“Good.”

His voice carried a false note, which finally compelled me to look at him. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t nothingme. What do you mean?”

Ty glanced at Chase, still chatting with the tour guide behind us. “It’s just that…I’ve heard things.”

The pool guy came back to mind. I hadn’t seen him in a few days. “You’ll need to be more specific.”

Ty leaned in closer, still eyeing Chase. “Just rumors.”

“Like?”

“Like he burned through his fortune too quickly, and his employees are going to take the hit for it.”

I thought about what he’d said yesterday about the company. “Well, islands and million-dollar corporations aren’t cheap. But he’s changing lives on this island.”

Ty cocked his head in that way I knew so well. It screamedYou’re not telling the full story.

“He’s a really good man, Ty. I know it’s hard for people to see, but once you get to know him—” I stopped. Did I even really know him? Why did I feel it necessary to defend Chase when I’d come all this way to win Ty? I should be telling sob stories right now so he’d feel sorry for me and try to pull off some kind of rescue. At the very least, we should be discussing Veronica right now. Who knew when we’d get another opportunity like this?

But I couldn’t throw Chase under the bus, not even now. Not when the accusations were flat-out wrong.

“Chase is a really good actor,” Ty continued. He seemed completely oblivious to the fact that his wife-to-be was currently flirting with Chase, both surrounded by a crowd of tourists. “He doesn’t let people near him because he has so much to hide. If he’s letting you in, you have to ask yourself why. I guarantee there’s a reason. There’s always a reason with him.”

“You’re one to talk,” I snapped. “You broke up with me because I had no money, and then you get engaged to Veronica freaking Loyal? Really?”

Ty’s mouth pressed together in disapproval. “All I’m saying is that I’m sorry I hurt you. It wrong of me to treat you that way. I don’t want to watch that hurt play out all over again with a self-absorbed billionaire who’s never had a relationship last more than two months.”

“You don’t get to worry about someone you dumped,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “You don’t get to swoop in here and act like you care, because you don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t be marrying that woman.” I stomped past him. If the group wanted to take ten years to get past a single tree, I’d leave without them.

Ty grabbed my arm. “I do care,” he hissed. “You don’t date someone for two years and suddenly stop loving them in a day.”

I shook my arm free, gaping at him. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying…” His eyes pleaded for me to understand without voicing the words. “I’m saying I don’t know. It’s complicated.”

He’d dodged the words I needed him to say.

“Well, it shouldn’t be complicated,” I insisted. “I’m with Chase and you’re marrying Veronica. It’s what you chose, so I’m happy for you. I hope you can be happy for me too.”

“I know I am,” Chase said, appearing by my side. Before I knew it, he swept me into his arms, twirled, dipped me so deeply I rose onto my toes, and…placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.

Curse the no kissing thing.

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