Page 19 of Summer Ever After
I sink lower into my chair, embarrassed by what I’m about to say. “Did Tala tell you that I plan to use romance tropes to try and spark some chemistry?”
“Yes, and I love it! I’m already brainstorming the possibilities.” This is why I love Capri. She just gets me.
“No need to brainstorm. Yesterday, I made a list of tropesand of single men who live on the island.” I lean forward, shaking the computer mouse. “I’m sending them to you now.”
“Perfect. We are well underway to having you engaged by the end of summer.”
“Let’s not go that far. I’m not sure I’m doing this anymore.”
“Oh, come on. You’re not a quitter.” She pauses talking for a second. “Okay, I just pulled up your list of tropes.” She goes silent as she reads what I prepared. “Taking care of someone when they’re sick…classic.”
“Obviously,” I agree.
“I’m glad you included some of the lesser tropes like the ‘That’s my wife!’ statement because those can be just as powerful.”
I love that I don’t have to explain any of this to Capri.
“How could I forget about those? Ilivefor moments like those. Or when the guy has a keepsake that he stole from the girl, and he smells it every night.”
“Or what about when he says, ‘Who did this to you?’”
My hand flies to my heart. “Don’t even get me started on how much I love that question.”
“I know. I feel the same way,” Capri sighs. We’re just on the same page. Have been for the last fifteen years. “I’m just glancing over the single men list. I see you’ve left off Tristan Palmer.”
“Didn’t I swear I wouldn’t date Tristan? Dating him is against the BFF Code of Conduct.”
“Yes, you did swear to that in eighth grade and even signed your name beside that oath in your diary.”
“A promise I still adhere to. As far as I’m concerned, Tristan Palmer is yours.”
“He’s hardly mine.” I can practically hear Capri roll hereyes through the speakerphone. “He doesn’t even know I exist.”
“You’ve been saying that since seventh grade.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Well, maybe if you moved back here, we could fix that, which if I remember correctly, moving away from Sunset Harbor is against the BFF Code of Conduct. So you’re in breach of contract.”
“I’m not in breach of contract. There were extenuating circumstances. You, of all people, knowwhyI can’t move back. But this phone call isn’t about me. It’s about finding you the man of your dreams and living happily ever after.”
I laugh. “Spoken like a true romance author.”
“Shh! I’m on speaker. What if someone hears you?”
“Relax. I’m in my office with the door closed. Besides, I’m a vault, remember?”
“Yes, you’re a vault.” Capri releases a heavy breath as if she really thought I’d carelessly blow her Sunny Palmer cover like that.
Besides Tala, I’m the only other person who knows what she really does for a living. Everyone around here thinks she’s a book editor. Little do they know, she’s actually the one writing the book under a pen name.
“Okay, but you still haven’t told me what happened on your date with Beau last night.”
My head falls into my hand as if my palm can help hide my embarrassment. “I put a piece of rice in my hair, hoping Beau would take it out, but he didn’t even notice.”
“That’s not that bad. So what if one trope didn’t work? Maybe it will the next time.”
“Then, I pretended to choke,” I say dryly.
