Page 127 of Champagne Fizz

Dammit, I don’t even know what I think anymore. Connor said I love her this morning, and I probably just let that slip because he planted the damn idea in my head.

“Is this the wedding planner?” Esme asks cautiously. “I met her at the airport. She’s really cute. Are you two together?”

“No,” I say exacerbated. “That got messed-up big time, and Arie didn’t help.”

“She’s just jealous,” Esme offers.

“I don’t care,” I say, locking up my office and heading for the door. “Arie has a boyfriend. She has Connor. There’s no room for jealousy in our friendship.”

“But you’re replacing her,” Esme says, trailing after me.

“I don’t want to sleep with your sister!”

“No, of course not,” Esme agrees, making hand gestures to show that wasn’t her meaning. “But it does sound like you want to throw in the towel on this restaurant—the one the two of you builttogether.” She puts a hand on my shoulder to slow me down. “And it sounds like you might be doing it for another woman.”

“Except, that’s not what this is!” I snap, not in the mood to hear anything Esme is saying. Arie has pushed this too far.

“Well, that’s what it sounds like it is,” Esme says, defending her sister. “That’s probably how Arie sees it.”

“Arie has been nothing but cruel and mean.” I face off with Esme. I understand that she loves her sister, but Esme also knows how hot-headed Arie can be. “No, she’s beenexceptionallycruel,” I emphasize. “You heard that comment in the kitchen. That’s just the beginning.”

“You’re right,” Esme nods, “it wasn’t nice.”

“It was awful,” I assert. “Remember how vulnerable you felt when those pictures of you and Desmond were leaked on the internet?”

Esme winces, she doesn’t like to remember, but she holds her head high and nods.

“Okay, now imagine Arie’s one of those trolls saying horrible things to you,” I continue. “That’show she’s been behaving, and for no good reason other than as a power play. So trust me, I’m not walking out for another woman,” I head for the door again. “I’m walking out becausethisis how Arie’s going to behave around every woman I’m ever interested in. AndIdeserve better. I don’t care if she’s jealous. You don’t behave that way with your friends and with the people your friends care about. Period.”

Esme is quiet, taking that in.

“Okay, but—” she begins, but I don’t have the bandwidth for it right now.

“I know you love your sister,” I cut her off, “and you want to defend her. But we have to talk about this another time. Ned and Olivia’s wedding is too important for me to be this angry. They deserve better.” I turn around and give her a hug. “It’s good to see you. I’m sorry I’m in such a mood. I just—” I shake my head, feeling like a time bomb ready to explode. “Later.”

I walk out the front door and leave her behind.

“Later,” I hear Esme echo quietly.

I know Esme’s going to play peacemaker now and use her vacation to try and fix everything. She shouldn’t. This is between Arie and me. But bless Esme for caring so much. I just wish her sister had even an ounce of her compassion.

35

KENDALL

The bellhop is stacking Mrs. Voss’s suitcases into the Leaning Tower of Pisa when my heart stops in my chest. The last person I expect to see in the lobby of the Atlantis Resort is Ned!

What the heck is Ned doing here right now?

I gasp for air as if a thousand snipers just turned my lungs into Swiss cheese.

Wasn’t Connor supposed to call Ned? Or go to his work and distract him? Not lead him into the serpent’s den where he could cross paths with his mother—his mother who is about to walk around these suitcases and ruin everything.

I bee-line it for Mrs. Voss, boxing her in next to the bellhop’s cart.

“Mrs. Voss!” I announce loudly, causing her to scowl at me like I’m a hyena. “I, um—we, uh—” I blabber, attempting to stall. In the movies, people have perfectly formulated plans for moments like this. I, on the other hand, am a bumbling mess. “We can’t check in right now, we—”

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Voss interrupts. “Haven’t you stayed at a five-star resort before?” She tries to skirt around me, but I grab the luggage cart and cut her off.

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