Page 11 of Submit

So I do, but I definitely leave out any and all description of Casper. Choosing instead, to focus on my ability to pick the sport up so easily. I also tell him about meeting Johanna and the plans I made for Monday’s gym session.

“That sounds great, Lib. I’m glad you’re making friends.” He drains the drink in his hand.

I sit up a little straighter, my swimsuit digging into my ass as I do so. “What about you, Will? It can’t be all work down here and your boss can’t be your only friend.” I say it gently because I know how defensive he gets these days but right now he just looks resigned to the fact that I’m right.

He nods his agreement but doesn’t say anything else. The look on his face conveys that he has a million things on his mind, half of which I’ll never know.

“Are you done with meetings for today? Maybe we could grab a coffee downtown or a bite to eat if you haven’t eaten already?”

“I need to hash out a few more details for our expenditure report. Why don’t we plan on an early dinner out?”

I know it’s about compromise and I also know he will be more pleasant at dinner if he takes care of business now.

“Sounds great.”

~

SEASIDE DINING IS MY favorite. Perhaps the novelty will wear off eventually but it won’t be anytime soon. I’m very comfortable with strands of loose hair clinging to my neck and since we arrived in Aruba, I haven’t even bothered with makeup. My light dress reaches my knees and the breeze causes it to swirl around my body creating a fan-like effect. It’s Kelly green with thin straps and I know at one time it was Will’s favorite. I wish I could say that’s why I wore it tonight, but the reality is that when I saw it, it immediately reminded me of Casper’s eyes.

Besides, Will has failed to comment on my appearance at all so perhaps it’s no longer his favorite anyway. His silence sends me into a poor mood and I begin to wonder when I got so needy.

West Deck is a popular restaurant downtown so I called to make a reservation as soon as Will agreed to dinner. I was a little afraid he would back out of this too but he was ready to go at five fifteen.

He grabs my hand as we’re led to a table on the patio and I feel the tension in my shoulders relax a little. Will looks better tonight than he did this afternoon. More color in his face, his hair is behaving, he shaved finally, and he has on his customary khaki linen pants with a light blue button down. He switched from his contacts to his frameless glasses that I love so much and I can’t stop myself from giving him a smile, despite the growing headache from both of our yo-yoing emotions.

“Good evening,” our waitress starts, “would you care to start with a cocktail or a glass of wine?”

Will gestures for me to go first. “Just water for me, please.” Will raises an eyebrow at me in question and I just lightly shrug. I have new gym friends and I want to get better at kitesurfing. Alcohol hardly does anything to help my athletic performance.

“Gin martini,” Will says.

Of course.

I try to shut down the judgement before it comes out of my mouth.

He reaches for my hand across the table and I can see a few pairs of eyes follow his movements. Yeah, he looks good tonight. “How are plans for the wedding coming along?” he asks.

They aren’t coming at all. Harper keeps sending me pictures she’s added to the Pinterest board she’s made for me, but I haven’t even looked at them yet and I only send her noncommittal thumbs up emojis in response. I know she’s going to stop trying before long and I feel terrible because I’m ready to let that part of my life go.

Besides, instead of bringing Will and I closer together, this move has only driven us further apart…and it’s only been a couple weeks. I’m having a hard time getting excited about making wedding preparations when I hardly ever see the man I’m supposed to commit my life to.

But like usual, I don’t want to stress Will out more than he already is and the evening is nice so far, so I lie. So much for bold Libby…I must have left her at the kitesurfing hut this afternoon.

“They’re good. I think I just want a small ceremony right on the beach.” It isn’t until the lie comes out of my mouth that I think perhaps it isn’t a lie at all. An intimate beach wedding sounds perfect even if it’s on a different beach… at a different time… with a different man.

Will leans back and takes a sip of his newly arrived martini. “Marcel offered the banquet hall at Tierra del Sol if we’re interested.”

Tierra del Sol.

A resort and golf course. It’s sprawling, but it isn’t even oceanside. The opposite in fact, it’s in the desert.

“We aren’t,” I bite back, probably harsher than I should have. We’ve knownMarcelfor a week and he’s already inserting his opinion into my wedding?

Calm down, Elizabeth.

Before we can discuss this any further, a woman who’s shorter than me with light brown hair comes over to our table. I’d say her patterned dress is cute, but I don’t think there’s enough material there for it to be called a dress.

When I look up at her, she’s looking at Will.

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