Page 26 of Nothing to Do

“A long list,” Thea said, gazing up into the stars, her fingers lost in her hair. “There are a million places I want to go.”

“Give me an example.”

Their hammocks were staggered so they lay face to face, just a foot between them.

“Italy, I always wanted to go there.”

“So why don’t you?” he asked.

She laughed. “You think I have the time or money to fly halfway around the globe?” With a lazy nod, she highlighted the exception. “Present situation excluded.”

“I think—” a buzz cut him off.

When she twisted to see what it was, he was checking his watch.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Alarm crossed his expression. “Zane?”

He rolled out of his hammock and sprang to his feet. “I’m sorry, babe.”

“Sorry?”

He came around to her side. “I have to take you home.”

“What?” she asked, surprised by the sudden shift. “What happened?”

Bending over to put his arms around her, Zane helped her to stand in the sand. “I’m sorry.”

Apologies weren’t necessary. His urgency to get her away from the beach and back to the cart scared her a little. Not scared for her life, but scared he was going through something bad.

On the road to the hotel his focus was intense. She didn’t get it or like it. Something had happened and she wanted to support him. Were they there yet? Involved enough to share burdens and confide in each other.

They pulled into the side parking lot where the carts lined up.

“I’m sorry,” Zane said once again, grabbing her hand to pull her across the front seat of the cart and onto the asphalt.

“Zane,” she said, hurrying to catch up when he dragged her to the door and unlocked it with his thumbprint.

The door popped and he held it open. “Babe,” he said, bowing to kiss her. “I’m sorry, but I’ll see you in the morning, okay? Go to your room, stay inside. Don’t come out again.”

With a hand on her back, he pushed her into the corridor. Before she could say a word, the door closed.

For a few seconds, she stood there dumbfounded. What a way to end a date? What the hell was going on? She wasn’t pissed, or angry, or upset, she was worried. Had something dangerous happened? Something that might threaten life and limb? A natural disaster? A terrorist parachuted in? All kindsof horror scenarios lit her mind. Good thing she trusted Zane. Whatever it was, he’d fix it. He’d never leave her, or anyone, in danger.

Figuring out what his watch alerted him to was impossible, and following him would be ridiculous. If he wanted her to know, he’d have told her. If it was some internal thing, he’d tell her tomorrow, or Alessia would come back with gossip after her excursion the next day.

She went to her room, using her thumbprint to get inside.

“Alessia,” Thea called out, expecting all kinds of tales from her electrified sister. The excitement about their host hadn’t calmed down a jot since they got there. “I’m back.”

Taking out her earrings, Thea slipped her shoes off under the vanity and tossed her jewelry on the surface.

No response. Maybe the excitement had been too much for her sister and she’d passed out already.

She finished removing the pins from her hair and checked how her makeup held up.

Not bad.

“Alessia,” she called again.

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