Page 55 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"Kirstie and I have been traveling a lot," David said.

"Well, I'm happy you were able to make the time now."

"Can you give me a hint about what new treasures you've picked up?" David asked.

I was curious what Victor would say, but our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Megan and her media team. I hadn't realized they were even on the yacht.

Andrew immediately went into groom mode, putting his arm around me as we posed for the camera. After several shots with the group, Victor encouraged Megan to take us around the yacht and get more photos and videos done before lunch was served.

For the next forty minutes, we took romantic photos all over the yacht, wrapped in each other's arms, kissing each other, and posing in odd ways to catch the light at just the right angle. With each passing minute, the pain in my hip spread to my leg and back, and when we were done, I was pretty much in agony.

Andrew glanced at me and frowned. "What's wrong? You look like you're going to cry."

I wanted to cry from the pain, but I couldn't do that. "I wish I could get off this boat and go lie down."

He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a hug. "You need to take the medication I gave you. Then we'll get some lunch. You'll sit. You'll rest. You'll take a breath. You can do this."

I drew in a deep breath and let it out. "I know I have to do it," I said.

"This is what we signed up for," he reminded me.

He walked me over to the table where I'd set down my bag. While I retrieved the medication, he got me a bottle of water. I took two pills and then said, "Okay, let's go to lunch."

The pain started to ease about halfway through lunch, to the point where I actually felt like I could converse and eat something without throwing up. I was sitting between Andrew and Harper, who had pretty much let me just be quiet. Harper was talking to Colin on her other side, and Andrew was engaged in conversation with the outgoing Kirstie. I was relieved that Allison was seated at a second table on the other side of the deck with Megan, Bennett, and the media guests.

"More champagne?" a steward asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"I'm okay."

"Have another glass," Harper said, speaking to me for the first time in a while. But that was probably because Colin had gotten up and left the table. "It might help you relax."

At her words, the steward filled my glass, and I took a small sip. Then I said, "How are things going with you and Colin?"

"So good," she said happily. "We get along really well. He's smart and funny. I feel like he's always one step ahead of me, which is challenging. It makes me realize how my ex was really never at my level intellectually. I always had to explain things to him. But Colin gets me, and I like that he's sarcastic, too."

"I'm glad you're getting along."

"We are." Harper glanced around me to see if Andrew was listening, but he'd left the table, probably to go to the restroom. Kirstie was talking to her husband now.

Still, Harper lowered her voice as she said, "Allison and Andrew fought last night at the bonfire."

My gut tightened. "How do you know that?"

"I overheard part of it before she dragged him down to the beach."

"What did you hear?"

"He told her to leave the island, but she said she wouldn't go, and he can't make her. I asked Colin about their relationship, and he said she and Andrew hooked up last year, and she's still stuck on Andrew. Colin thinks she's trying to use Andrew to get closer to Victor, which seems to be working. She is on the yacht with us."

My gaze moved to the other table, where Bennett and Allison had their heads together, conversing about something. She had definitely gotten into the Carrington inner circle, even though Bennett had seemed leery of her yesterday when he'd asked me about her. Apparently, her charm and beauty had wiped away all his doubts.

"Lauren?" Harper asked, bringing my gaze back to hers. "You're not worried about her and Andrew, are you?"

"Not worried, exactly. But I wish she didn't keep turning up everywhere we go. He said it was over between them before he even met me."

"It is weird that he invited her if they had hooked up. Who invites their ex to their wedding?"

"He said she pushed to come because she wanted an introduction to Victor in a more casual setting. He was helping her out." I paused as Andrew slipped back into the seat next to me.

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