Page 22 of A Quick Stop in Paradise

“Hm,” I said, my voice like sucking on a lemon. “Well, you’ll be delighted to know it’s not his first time.”

She wrinkled her nose at me, cringing. “He’sbeencheating?”

“Yup.”

“What a fucking asshole. This is why you don’t date players. They’re never really reformed.”

I closed my eyes with a heavy sigh. “Where’s Mom? I’m assuming Shane got to her to tell her his version of events…”

“Mom’s in her room,” Oscar said. “Getting ready for the proper breakfast.”

“Where’sShane?” Stella said. “I’ll go give him a piece of my mind.”

I put a hand up. “Please don’t. I know you’re trying to make the situation better, but please don’t. I’m going to see Mom before we go out.”

Stella rolled her eyes with a sharp, pointed sigh. “What, are you going to be polite now? Try not to start something? I’m going to find him. God dammit—I’m so pissed off, like Iknewthis was going to happen.”

“Stella, please,” I sighed, stepping back. “Thanks for the support. Just don’t… make things worse with Shane. I’m… I’m going to talk to Mom now.”

“I’m sorry he’s such a piece of shit,” Stella said, folding her arms and giving a dirty look just past me, like she was seeing Shane’s specter there. “I’m glad you dumped him. Iknewthis was going to happen. I can’t believe he’d already been cheating.”

“What’s happening?” A voice I didn’t need right now came approaching from behind, and I turned with my heart heavy to where my aunt Helena Saxton came up the side of the path, dressed in a light, flowy maxi dress with a floral pattern and a wide-brimmed hat, and she stopped with a wide-eyed look at me. “Oh, god, Ryan. I thought you’d up and run away from us all. How long have you been back?”

“Just got back,” I said, trying to sidestep her. Aunt Helena’s input was the last thing I needed right now. “Going to go see Mom about some stuff.”

The heavens had it out for me today, because Stella cut in when I needed her to least, with, “Some stuffbeing Shane fucking cheating on her.”

“Stella,” I groaned, a hand to my forehead. “I don’t want to do this right now.”

Aunt Helena laughed, once, short, sharp, confused. “Is this all some kind of joke?”

“Yes,” I said, cutting in as fast as I could. “Stella’s just having some big feelings. Please ignore her.”

Stella gestured to me. “She just dumped Shane’s sorry ass because he was trying to sleep with the bartender.”

Oscar shot her a look. “Stella, do you listen?”

Helena looked aghast between me and Stella, and I felt like sinking into the earth. I guess we were having this conversation now. Right here in public, with Stella to provide commentary. Helena said, “I’m sure this is all some kind of mistake. Shane loves you desperately.”

I stood up taller, drawing in a tight breath trying to keep myself under control, and I said, in a tight, measured voice, “Shane admitted it to me himself, so I’m inclined to believe him. Brooklyn told me he’d been taking her back to his room until she realized a couple was staying there, so she tracked me down and told me. It’s pretty damn clear what’s going on here.”

Helena scowled at me, like this was my fault. “Was this really the best time for all this?”

Stella came to my aid, at least. “What are you talking about? It’s not Ryan’s fault he cheated on her now.”

“I understand everyone has relationship issues,” Helena said, “but making a scene out of it as soon as we finally get the family together and we’re on vacation—”

For once, for just a moment, Stella was my favorite person in the world, because she shot Aunt Helena a look and said, “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

Helena looked like she’d pass out. “Stella.Don’t use that kind of language here.”

“Ryan’snot the one making a scene if it’sShanesneaking around and trying to fuck the bartender—”

“He didn’t sleep with her,” Helena said. “Your husband is going to think about other women sometimes, and it’s never good for anyone involved, but you can’t lose your cool about it.”

Well, that was a grand old insight about her husband James that I did not need. Stella continued throwing fuel on the fire before I could recover and find words for that. “It’s not even the first time he’s cheated on her.”

“Still, communication is important,” Helena said. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation here.”

---