Page 31 of Nothing to Do

“There’s nothing to tell Thom,” Thea said. “Whatever it was, it’s over.”

“Aww, why? I love you two together.”

Her sister’s exuberance was either endearing or incredibly naïve. “You’ve never seen us together.”

Lunging down the bed, Alessia gripped the covers. “He owns everything. Like everything,” she said. “He owns thesebeds, the linens, the building…” She raised her arms up. “He owns the whole island.”

“Thanks, yeah, I got that,” Thea said and went over to capture her sister’s hands. Pulling her off the bed, she gave Alessia a hug. “Can we please go to bed? I need sleep.”

She needed space. With Alessia going on and on, forgetting about Zane’s deception wouldn’t be easy. Face it, forgetting wouldn’t be easy no matter what and sleep probably wouldn’t be easy to come by. Still, Thea tucked Alessia into bed, then went to hers to stare at the ceiling.

Zane. He was a stranger. Not who she’d believed him to be. What did the truth mean? What did it change?

THIRTEEN

AT BREAKFAST, they were given a speech about the previous night and sent Roman’s apologies. He wouldn’t be joining them that day. Oh, what a terrible shame.

Eye roll.

Spending time with her sister was preferable over even thinking about work… and all that entailed. Sand, the ocean, the glorious sky. There was a lot to be grateful for. Roman’s groupies may not agree, but from her point of view, the reset was appreciated.

The day was spent on the beach. Servers brought out a picnic lunch and she finally got her chance to swim. All very civilized, benign… though the name Roman Lowe came up more than she’d like.

Where was he? Was he sick? Had he left? Would he ever forgive Sway? For what, she didn’t know, but that last one was a popular topic.

The day might’ve passed for good if it hadn’t been for the pervading thoughts about the previous night. Contrary to every other female brain on the island, Roman wasn’t the man taking up space in hers.

She’d sort of managed to shrug off her overthinking until she was in the shower before dinner. Washing and blow drying her hair in the bathroom gave her nothing but time to obsess. She came out of her bathroom in a towel only to discover Alessia laying out dresses on her bed.

Thea’s dresses on Thea’s bed.

“Uh, what are you doing? Picking out my clothes?”

“I’ve worn all my favorite dresses,” Alessia said.

“So you thought you’d pick some of mine?”

The knock on the door turned her around.

Alessia was already scampering across the room. “Lark said she’d bring me some dresses!” she called out, rushing over to answer it.

Turning back around, Thea glanced over the apparel her sister laid out. Why didn’t she put as much thought into her outfit? Literally any of them would do.

“Oh my God,” Alessia exclaimed.

“Alessia, right?”

Thea recognized that voice. Shit.

“Uh huh, oh my God, you know my name?”

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Zane said. “Is your sister around?”

“Oh, God, yeah,” Alessia said. “Yeah, come in.”

Adjusting her towel to ensure it was tucked in tight, Thea couldn’t expect her sister to stand in Zane’s way.

Fuck, she’d had a whole day. Why did she feel so unprepared?

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