Page 106 of Nothing to Do

“Yeah, I figured it was too late to lock down Halloween and Thanksgiving, but we can do Christmas, can’t we?”

“I’m usually with my mom and Alessia.”

“We could do it here.”

“Christmas?” His eager optimism was a wonder. Something, maybe saying goodbye, spurred him to grab for what he could. “Drift, I am no less yours today than I will be tomorrow and the next day. We’re together. I love you.”

“You two are sneaky.” As Zane turned, the terrace came into view. Roxie, owner of the accusation, pounced across the threshold. “You been getting naughty? You know you can do that at the house too. Or you could but…” The blonde looked at Zane. “Zairn’s out front.”

With a broad smile, Roxie’s hint was less than subtle.

“We were—”

“I’ll bring her with me,” Roxie said. “We can do tears and kisses at the airstrip. It’s really important you talk to Zairn. Really, immediately talk to him.”

“Mm, okay.”

Zane was right to be suspicious but was polite enough to go.

Roxie’s eyes roamed a little in the grace period Zane got to put distance between them. It would’ve been quicker for him to go out via the hallway and staff exit they’d used during their dates. Speed wasn’t necessarily of the essence.

“Is something wrong?” she asked, dropping onto her elbows.

“Yes, something is very wrong.” Kicking off her shoes, Roxie sat on the end of the bed facing her, legs folded in front. “You should be coming with us.”

“Not you too.”

“I don’t understand why you’re not! You should be at the bachelorette party, at the very least come there with me.”

“Thank you. You know I’m honored you’d ask—”

“I don’t want you to be honored, I want you to come. You said you and Dyce weren’t over.”

“We’re not over.”

“Then you’re part of the team, one of the girls. You have to be there.”

“I don’t know anyone and it’s not right that I should—”

“You know me! Stick with me. Come with me. I’ll tell you a secret if you come.”

“What secret?”

Lounging forward, Roxie pushed both hands up the center of the bed. “It’s a huge secret, ginormous, you won’t even believe the epic hugeness of this secret. If Zairn knew I was going to tell you, oh, ho, would he be mad.”

“So tell me.” Wriggling further back, the weight of her boot just over the edge was getting uncomfortable. “What’s the secret?”

Roxie zipped her lips and threw away the invisible key. “I can only tell you if you come to the bachelorette party.”

“Why is it some big announcement?”

Roxie frowned. “Oh no. No, no. This is a secret to be kept. A secret known only by the chosen few.”

Maybe her friend had learned something about her in the last few weeks. “You’re trying to get me curious.”

“You’re already curious.” Raising her hands to flop them down, Roxie couldn’t be more proud of herself. “So you’ll come?”

“I can’t! You know I can’t.”

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