Page 98 of A Quick Stop in Paradise

“I’ll think about it in the shower,” I said, walking into the bathroom, switching on the light, pausing in the doorway, looking back at her. “Stella?”

“Yeah?”

I took a breath, slow and quiet. “You… you should be better than me. Do what makes you happy.”

She swallowed, looking down at her phone. “Um… yeah?”

“Yeah.” I paused. “So, dinner?”

“Allison recommended this spot that we never ended up going to. They do gyros.”

“I could crush a gyro right now.”

“You and me both. I’ll go order and pick it up.”

“Thanks, Stella.” I shut the door, turning to the mirror, and I stared long and hard into my reflection, waiting for something to happen—anything.

Chapter 25

Brooklyn

For whatever reason, Allison knocked. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d invited herself over and accidentally locked herself out while she was at it, but she’d gone out the back, she should damn well have known the back door was unlocked. Maybe she was carrying something? I shut off the water, putting aside the last of the dishes I was washing, and I toweled off my hands before I crossed the room and opened the door to where my stomach dropped, a dazed sensation, at the last person I’d have guessed—Stella, clearly dressed comfortably for the travel she was supposed to be in the middle of right now, standing in the doorway, giving me a pleading look through her glasses.

“Hey,” she said, and I raised my eyebrows.

“How are you clueless enough to miss your flight but clued-in enough to know where I live?”

A smile danced over her lips. “I guess it’s a compliment that I’ve graduated to where you can be mean to me like you are to Allison. I know where you live because I’ve stayed at Allison’s place like two feet down the road. Ryan and I missed our flight on purpose,” she said, dropping her voice low, gaze turning more serious. “Some of our family absolutely sucks. And… things happened. So the two of us are scheduled for a flight tomorrow, instead.”

I found myself reeling, but above all else, it was a bitter feeling, a sharp stab in the gut, and I pursed my lips, straining a smile. Finding out I had to deal twice with that stomach-twisting feeling ofthe plane’s taking off nowand knowing Ryan was gone—it wasn’t twice as sweet, to put it lightly. “And, what, you’re looking for a place to stay?”

She folded her arms, scowling, but her heart wasn’t really in it—clearly nervous, antsy about this. “I’m telling you to go talk to her,” she said, her voice low, and I sighed, hard, moving the door a little more closed.

“It’s not a fairytale, Stella. If there’s anything I can do to help out, I’m listening, but I’m not—”

She stepped forward, sticking her foot in the doorway. “She cares about you,” she said, her voice soft, her gaze anything but. “She cares about you alot,you know. If this isn’t what you’re waiting for, then whatareyou waiting for?”

“There’s nothing to bedone,” I said. “She’s made her decision. I’m not—”

“How can shemake her decisionif you never asked her? She’s waiting for you, you’re waiting for her. Brooklyn—I’m begging you. I donotwant to stand around and wait as she wallows in this and finally settles for some mediocre person who’s going to make her miserable. What are you both soafraidof?”

“It’s not that I’m afraid, it’s just…” Dammit, I didn’t know what itwas.It was that I was afraid, wasn’t it? I knew what this feeling was, this sensation of panic prickling my senses, this keenly dangerous awareness that chasing people down, that trying to make something more only ever hurt. That looking for something serious was a fool’s errand.

That everyone went away. Christ, how pitiful was that?

I didn’t get to come up with some weak-willed excuse, though, not before the back door slid open, and I looked at where Allison came in the room, carrying the dishes from outside. “Hey,” she said. “Who are you talking to… oh, shit.” She fumbled when she stepped in close enough to see Stella on the other side of the door, eyes wide, nearly dropping the stack of dishes. “Oh… uh… hi…”

God, that look wasgone, through and through. Even with Stella dressed like she’d been ready for a flight and then had a scene with her family and then was crashing exhausted and frustrated in a hotel room, Allison was all in on her.

That was probably how I looked at Ryan. Dammit.

“Hey,” Stella said, her expression softening. “Sorry for dropping by unannounced. Ryan and I… had some shit go down. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

Allison pursed her lips, eyes wide. “Oh…” She shook her head, clearly only just realizing what Stella had said. “Shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

Stella’s gaze faltered. “My family fucking sucks. I’ll figure it out. Whatever.”

I stepped to the side, clearing the space between them, as I took the dishes from Allison’s hands. “You can go ahead and kiss her now,” I said.

---