Page 4 of The Weekend Getaway

Three days. It would either go by in a blur, or it would take a lifetime. Was three days enough? Would it even take that long to make sure their lives weren’t ruined? Alex had three days to convince Phil to go along with his plan. But would Phil do it? Would he agree to Alex’s terms?

Would Phil have a choice?

Alex was determined to make sure their lives didn’t go down the drain, and to accomplish that, he needed Phil on his side. He needed Phil to see things his way. Alex had told her it wouldn’t be hard to persuade Phil. And yet Mia worried.

But not about Phil refusing.

She worried what Alex would do if things didn’t go his way.

Mia didn’t want to think about what Alex was capable of …

“Hey, is that Christopher Columbus and Grace!” Phil broke into a wide grin and started to wave.

Mia turned. Chris and Grace walked toward them. Chris lumbering, despite his small, stooped stature. Grace stomping the stone tiles in tall heels, trying to replicate a runway walk, showing off her slender frame without the seventy pounds of fat she’d lost. She was lanky and awkward and appeared slightly older with hollow cheeks and pouty, pursed lips.

Grace’s outfit wasn’t doing her any favors, but Mia didn’t care. She was happy to see Grace. She was tired of being alone with Alex and Phil. Tired of smiling when she wanted to scowl. Tired of pretending she was happy to see Phil when she could have gone the rest of her life without ever seeing him again.

“Phil, how you doing?” Chris smiled like a kid on Christmas. “Great to see you again!”

“Good to see you, too!” Phil said. “And Grace! Gracing us with your beauty! You look fantastic!”

“Good to see you, Phil. And thanks,” Grace said, giggling.

Mia struggled not to roll her eyes. Why was Phil laying it on so thick? Grace had never graced any of them with her beauty. She could be pretty with the right make-up, but she’d never been beautiful, and she never would be. Mia wondered if Phil was trying to humble her, as well. Was he trying to pit her against Grace? Manufacture strife so she and Grace would spend the weekend competing with each other for male attention and validation?

“Hey, Mia,” said Grace, giving her a quick hug. “This place is gorgeous!”

“So glad you’re here,” Mia said, latching on to Grace’s arm, something she usually didn’t do, and wouldn’t have done if she didn’t need a buffer. Grace could provide an easy exit away from Alex and Phil. If things got too tense, she could always grab Grace’s arm and lead her away so the men could talk …

“Ladies, how about some champagne,” Phil suggested, walking toward Mia and Grace, away from Alex and Chris.

“Sounds great,” Grace said, giggling again.

Mia shifted her gaze at Alex, standing a few feet away. His nearly imperceptible nod was the permission she needed. Smiling at Phil, Mia said, “I’d love some …”

CHAPTER 3

ALEX

“This place is effing fire, man!” Chris said, eyes alight with unrepentant excitement as he glanced around. “Can’t wait to get in the pool.”

“Effing fire?” Alex sneered, staring at Chris, annoyed by his excitement. “Is that something you heard the interns say?”

Shrugging, Chris wiped sweat from his forehead with stubby fingers that made Alex think of little sausages.

“Maybe,” Chris said, grinning like an idiot, his round, chipmunk face red and damp, flushed from the sun. Limp strands of wispy hair clung desperately to his head. The yellow T-shirt he wore was too tight around his gelatinous gut and clashed with the red Bermuda shorts riding up between his thighs. Alex wasn’t surprised to spot a glob of something dark and crusty on the shirt. Chris was a slob. Always had been.

Disgusted by Chris’s disheveled appearance, Alex looked away. He couldn’t stomach Chris’s overenthusiasm. His energy, which was more infuriating than infectious. The guy was like a human Golden Retriever. Always trying to please. Always obeying commands. Fetch. Stay. Roll over. Alex gave the command and Chris carried it out. He didn’t ask questions, which Alex appreciated. He liked Chris’s submission and subservience.

But Chris was weak. Easily manipulated.. Most likely to panic when shit was hitting the fan instead of remaining calm, staying rational, thinking things through.

“Listen,” Alex began, voice lowered as he stepped closer to Chris, staring at him, but also keeping an eye on Phil, Mia, and Grace, standing at the outdoor bar beneath the covered terrace. “This is not a fucking vacation.”

Chris’s face fell. “Yeah, I know. I just?—”

“Stay out of the fucking pool,” Alex warned. “We are here for one reason only and it’s not to lay out on the beach and get a fucking tan.”

Nodding like a bobblehead, Chris said, “Sorry. I understand, I just thought?—”

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