Page 47 of Beached Wedding

“I want to see the balloons.” Ryan looked appealingly at Whitney.

“I’ll bring you one, sweetie.” Whitney smoothed his hair. “I want to talk to Auntie Ashley. You go with your dad and I’ll bring it to the villa. Sound good?”

Ryan nodded and Whitney exchanged a light kiss with her intended before we all broke up and went different directions.

A thick silence fell between Whitney, Fox, and me once the Holloways got off on their floor.

“Have you checked out the fitness room?” Whitney asked Fox, pointing to the plaque beside one of the elevator buttons. “I’ve been meaning to see if there’s a yoga class we could do with Fliss.”

“I was thinking that, too, but I haven’t looked up their schedule yet,” I said.

“Would you mind fetching one for us?” Whitney asked Fox as the doors opened on the Vista level. She used her sweetest voice and added a pretty-please bat of her lashes.

“Really?” I said flatly. “If you want to talk to me alone, just say so.”

“I assumed Fox was smart enough to figure that out.”

“I’ve been meaning to check out the gym.” He handed me the overstuffed beach bag he had carried up from the restaurant, but made sure to meet my gaze and give me a chance to signal that I wanted him to stay with me.

I might not want to talk to my sister right now, but I wasn’t afraid to.

“Thank you,” Whit said of his understanding.

He stayed in the elevator and I led Whitney through the coffee lounge.

“Anything you have to say you can say in front of him,” I muttered over my shoulder.

“Yes, I can tell you’re very close. What isupwith that?”

“He’s my friend.” I ignored the burn of what felt like a guilty conscience. I didn’t have anything to be ashamed of. Except maybe some ill-advised oglingafterhe’d told me I’d been thrown over. A bit of weepy leaning on him last night. A teensy shred of anticipation for a quiet dinner with him tonight awayfrom the madding crowd of my family and Whitney’s impending happily-ever-after.

Whitney didn’t need to know about this weird, new, misguided attraction I was suffering, though. She had a litany of crimes and misdemeanors she wanted firmly placed on Fox’s record.

“He broke up your wedding. He’s staying in your room?—”

“Technically, I’m staying in his room. And he took the pullout ’cause he’s a gentleman.”

“He’s seducing you with massages and dinner cruises.”

“I’m not even going to dignify that.” I shuffled through my bag in search of the keycard as stood outside my door. “You don’t get to judge me. I’m going through a lot and you arenothelping.”

“What was I supposed to say? Sorry Oliver, but I can’t accept your extremely romantic and heartfelt marriage proposal because my sister’s feelings are more important than ours? It’s not my fault your wedding fell through. And I’m sorry it did, I really am. But I’mhappy. For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely in love. I want you to be happy for me.”

“I am.” I didn’t sound it. Not really.

I found the card, but didn’t use it. I faced my sister and spoke from the heart.

“Oliver seems like a really good guy. Ryan wouldn’t be such a happy, confident, well-adjusted kid if his dad was a deadbeat. I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes your life better. I am genuinely happy for you.”

“Thank you,” Whit said, and we shared a hug.

“But your timing sucks,” I added as I tapped the card against the mechanism and pushed into the suite.

“Holy Christmas,” Whitney gasped as we entered.

The spectacle was worse since the resort had delivered what Fox had called a ‘Sorry for your loss’ bouquet—which was a rearrangement of the wedding flowers I had already paid for.The note said the Events team regretted they wouldn’t be able to provide the celebration I’d been anticipating. If there was anything they could do to improve my stay, they encouraged me to reach out and very much hoped they could serve me in future.

“This view is killer.” Whitney opened the door onto the lanai and stepped out.

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