Page 55 of Sunshine's Grump

“Don’t lose that phone,” Mom wheezed, sitting down on the edge of my bed and blinking at a piece of paper. “Although it came with its own insurance policy in case you do.” I peered up at her. “It’s eighteen-karat yellow, white and rose gold, with 140 diamonds on the edge strip. The back, the sunburst, has another 800 diamonds.” She showed me the paper.

“Holy shit.Four million dollars?” I stared at the home button, which was apparently a six and a half carat diamond, and burst out laughing. “I’ve got to call Rain.”

“She’s out of town, darling. She’s been blowing up my phone checking on you, and I told her what was going on. She wanted to come back as soon as you got home, but the job she’s on turned out to be more involved than she’d thought. She said she’d tell you all about it when she can ‘escape the alphahole.’”

Escape?“Where is she?”

“She couldn’t say, since she signed what she called an unreasonable addendum to her NDA.” Mom’s eyes narrowed at that, and I made a mental note to check in on Blue Skies’ files as soon as possible and see if she’d left a note there.

“Should I be worried?”

“I don’t think so. She said the addendum also meant a triple bonus.” Mom stood, shaking her head. “My little girl, a secret businesswoman. No matter what your dad says, I’m so damned proud of you.”

I wiped my face. When had I started crying? “Thanks, Mom.”

She smiled softly. “Now, I’ll go help Belva get lunch together. You use that ridiculous phone to call Tarquin over. You owe him an apology. And a ring.”

Chapter19

Sunshine

My suitcase was already in my room, and as I unpacked it, memories of the week piled up along with the terrible clothes. The stories the crew had told me about their families and loves. Clotilde and Veronika’s friendship. Sylvia’s emergence from her cocoon of anger and sorrow, into a sharp-witted but sweet-natured, black-draped butterfly. Anne-Marie and her offer to help Blue Skies.

I didn’t let myself think of him.

I shot off a quick text to Sylvia, then another to Tarquin, and finally one more to Rain about Anne-Marie. Rain’s long stream of “Call me, bitch!” texts that had ended suddenly two days before worried me, but there were no additional notes in the files online. I had to trust she’d be okay. Rain’s mom always said Rain was a “real nutcutter,” and it was true. Anyone who’d ever been on her bad side knew that was the last place in the world you wanted to be.

I unpacked everything and hung the clothing back up, knowing that I could never give away the things I’d worn the week I met my true mate, even if it was all tacky and too small.

At the bottom of the case was a gray silk tie, one of Giovanni’s. I pressed it to my nose, inhaling the already fading scent of him. It was wet with my tears by the time I could muster the strength to tuck it under my pillow.

“Why wasn’t I enough for him?”

There was no answer. There probably never would be.

I searched the internet for ways to cope with the loss of a true mate until my phone buzzed. Tarquin was out front.

“Hey,” I said quietly, when I met him outside. He was seated on the porch swing, staring down at his clasped hands, but jumped up when I spoke.

“Oh, Soleil, I was so worried about you.” He crossed to me and grabbed my shoulders, staring into my face with sweet concern. “Your parents told me all about what happened on the boat. Throwing yourself into the open ocean after a little girl? You’re ridiculously brave, you know.”

I sniffled, pulling the ring out of my pocket and holding it out to him. “So brave I dumped you on the phone, Tarq. You deserve better.”

“I mean, yeah,” he said with an awkward laugh as he turned the ring over in his hand. “And like you told me, I’m going to find it. Find the woman who’s just right for me. In fact, um…” He blushed. “I have a date today, in an hour or so.”

I laughed. “Who’s the lucky girl?” I didn’t feel the slightest bit jealous of her. I was envious of him, and his hopefulness.

“I joined this online dating app, Knotmate.com. I got a 99.5% match with an omega named Supriya in Northeast Georgetown, can you believe it?” He told me all about the woman he’d been chatting with nonstop for the past few days.

“Wow, Tarq. That’s incredible. She was right here under your nose all along?”

“Yeah.” He sighed happily. “We sent each other scent samples, and Supriya said mine reminded her of the happiest day of her life, when her dad took her to Paris, and they ate camembert on the Seine.”We both grinned at each other like fools before Tarquin threw his arms around me again. “But it took you being brave enough to let me go, for me to get the chance to meet her. Thank you for being amazing… and thanks for breaking up with me.” He twisted his lips. “Can I admit now that the chemistry just wasn’t right?”

I fought back a laugh. “What, our engagement kiss wasn’t everything you dreamed of?” He stammered for a moment before I put him out of his misery. “I’ll admit it, Tarq. It wasn’t a great kiss, and that wasn’t your fault. I would not have made a very good wife for you. But I hope we can stay good friends.”

“I hope so, too, Soleil. I had no business proposing. You’re amazing, and sweet, but it was my parents—”

“Who made it seem inevitable?” I nodded. “Mine too.”

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