Page 16 of Knot Your Sunshine
The distinctive thrum of rotors pulls our attention skyward. Another helicopter approaches, identical to ours, settling onto the neighboring pad. The doors slide open, and Dorian emerges first, then James, then the both of them turn to help Rose down.
"That was divine!" Rose's feet touch the tarmac, and she spins in a circle, arms out, silver hair flying. "Absolutely incredible! I felt like a movie star! I even think I saw whales, actual whales!"
The moment Rose is steady, both alphas converge on Elena. Dorian's arms circle her waist from behind while James cups her face, thumbs stroking her cheeks. Cole joins them, one hand onElena's shoulder, the other on James's back. They murmur to each other, too low for me to hear, immersed in their own bubble of pack intimacy.
My chest tightens, a hollow ache blooming behind my ribs. Not jealousy exactly, I'm happy for Elena, genuinely. It's something else. Something that feels like standing outside a house, watching warm light spill from a window and hearing laughter from within.
"How was the ride, Rose?" I ask, my smile returning.
"Oh, darling, spectacular! Did I mention the whales? A whole pod! The pilot said it was unusual for this time of year."
James finally extracts himself from the pack huddle, running a hand through his artfully mussed hair. "That was positively cinematic. Only thing missing was a dramatic orchestral score."
"Kenny Loggins," Cole suggests deadpan. "Danger Zone."
"That's for fighter jets, you heathen," James shoots back, but he's grinning.
Dorian keeps his arm around Elena's waist as he surveys our surroundings. "Well, shall we see what this resort has to offer?"
Rose's eyes light up when she spots the line of golf carts. "Oh, can I drive one? I haven't driven one of these in ages! Not since that time in Scottsdale when I accidentally drove into the pool."
"All yours, Mom," Elena says with a grin.
Rose practically skips to the first car, sliding behind the wheel with glee. "James, darling, you're with me. I need someone who appreciates a good scenic route."
James climbs in beside her with theatrical resignation. "Just remember we're not in a Fast and Furious movie, Rose."
"Speak for yourself!" she calls back, already starting the cart with enthusiasm that's mildly concerning.
The rest of us pile into the second cart, Cole taking the driver's seat with Dorian beside him, while Elena and I settle in the back.
The path winds through what feels like a botanical garden designed by someone's fantasy. Hibiscus blooms bigger than my hand in shades of coral and magenta. Birds of paradise thrust orange and blue spears toward the sky. The air is so thick with perfume from the flowers that every breath feels like aromatherapy.
Rose stops twice, once to exclaim over a tree dripping with what look like pink powder puffs, and again to take approximately thirty photos of a rainbow that arcs perfectly over the mountains in the distance.
When the resort comes into view through the palms, I find myself holding my breath at the sheer beauty of it all.
But despite all this beauty surrounding me, I can't shake the questions that have been gnawing at me since we landed.
Who exactly is Josh's mysterious boss? And when will I get to meet him?
Chapter six
Keanu
Our office door swings open, and Josh practically bounces through it, grinning like he just solved Fermat's Last Theorem.
Noa, who's been walking back and forth like a caged tiger in loafers for the last hour, finally stops. "So?"
Josh pushes his glasses up his nose. "She's on her way. Should be less than thirty minutes."
The happiness radiating from him is infectious. Josh, who usually treats emotions like variables to be isolated and solved for, looks ready to burst into the opening number of a Broadway musical.
"And? Come on, give us details, Josh," Noa presses, leaning forward.
Josh waves him off, still grinning. "I don't want to bias your experience. Or spoil the surprise."
Our resident nerd, protecting his research integrity even when he's practically floating off the ground. But if Josh is this far gone, I suspect Mia's every bit as special as we imagined.
