Page 160 of The Vacation Mix-Up
“We do.”
“Is it amicable?”
“Mostly.”
“That’s good, Riley.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“What about her family? Do you still talk to them?”
He shakes his head. “Not really. Communication was always strained because she married me so young.”
“That must’ve been hard.” I slip my hand into his while following his line of sight as he continues to stare out to sea, the sunlight glittering on the surface of the water.
He glances down at our entwined fingers. “It was, but Mom and Roni somewhat filled that void for her. Like you, Krystal is an only child, except her parents were more concerned with their place in society than they were with supporting her decisions. Until she married me, she was their shiny, obedient trophy. But I guess Krystal wanted that lifestyle after all. To be a top-notch attorney, someone her parents could once again be proud of.”
I snap my face toward his. “Her parents would be proud that she cheated on you and destroyed your marriage?”
“My guess is they don’t know that part, and they probably never will.”
My jaw drops. “But that’s… that’s not fair.”
He turns to face me and gently tucks my hair behind my ear. “It doesn’t matter, Riles. I don’t care what they know and what they don’t know. All I care about is thatIknow the truth,Krystalknows the truth, andmy family and friendsknow the truth. If she wants to live a different life without grief or guilt, whether it’s real or not, then I’ll let her.”
“Wow!” I scoff. “You’re a better person than I am.”
He chuckles. “I don’t know about that.”
“You are. I would’ve set the record straight, no doubt about it.”
“I want her to have peace, if that’s what she thinks peace is. She’s been through enough.”
Sliding my hand onto his face, I cup his cheek and peck his lips. “You’re incredible, and you should be proud of your strength and selflessness. Not many people could do what you’ve done.”
He jerks back and smiles. “Mom said the same thing.”
I wink. “That’s because she’s smart, like me.”
“You’re a lot like her, you know. Except for the eating meals part. Mom loves meals. Big meals. Three times a day. She’d be horrified to know you don’t.”
I pinch his cheek. “Hey! I do like meals, just not all the time.”
“We’ll see about that.” He opens the door and steps out on the balcony, and I can’t help smiling because it means he plans to be around in my not-so-distant future, at the very least.
Knowing that fills me with joy and hope, hope that we just might be able to makeuswork.
Staying put while Riley takes a moment outside, I twist my bracelet as he wrenches his arm back, rocks forward, and then pitches the box into the ocean, his hands grasping the railing as he leans over it and watches his ring splash into the water.
“Chapter closed,” he says, scrubbing his palms together.
I smile at his words but, at the same time, sympathize with his grief and the pain it caused. “The good thing about closed chapters is they set up the ones to come.”
He smirks. “Your fancy publisher talk is sexy.”
I laugh. “It’s not.”
“It is.” He strides toward me, pupils dilating. “Now, where were we?”
