Page 41 of Aloha, Seattle

Here he is worried about me when he is the one facing one of his biggest fears. Why am I even thinking about Derek with Theo here with me?

“I’m sorry, I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

I can’t bring myself to tell him the truth. Not yet. I don’t even know what truth I would tell him. I don’t know what’s going through my head. It feels like a bowl of spaghetti noodles strewn about and I am not sure which strand to follow.

“I think I might have left my phone charger at my apartment.”

By the look in his eyes, he must know I am keeping my true thoughts to myself, but he doesn’t press. “Good thing we can always buy you one when we land.”

“Are you alright? Do you need anything?” I ask him as the plane rounds the tarmac to the runway.

“I’ve got everything I need.” He swallows a pill, smiles, and squeezes my hand as the plane speeds to launch into the air.

“Hawaii, here we come,” I hear Caleb say to Sarah and he kisses her.

“I saw that, Caleb.” Tess hisses from behind us. “Don’t make me press the button.”

“Do it,” Caleb’s voice sounds with a lightheartedness. “Ibetyou won’t.”

This family and their betting. I shake my head with a laugh.

Chapter Nine

Hawaii is paradise and I am in awe of how beautiful, lush, green, and vibrant it is. I am honestly thrilled to be here, even if it is as Theo’s fake girlfriend. And Theo just seems thrilled to be off the plane.

The hotel staff drape leis around our necks and welcome us for our holiday/wedding stay. As if Hawaii couldn’t get any more gorgeous, the inside of the hotel is jaw dropping. Normally, when I fly and have to stay overnight in hotels, I’m put up in whatever is cheapest and closest to the airport. This place is something out of my daydreams and I can’t wait to explore every inch of this place.

And maybe every inch of Theo while I’m at it.Shoo. I swat that naughty thought away. I probably just need to eat something. Maybe drink a beer, too, while I’m thinking of it.

The concierge checks Sarah and Caleb, Tess and Liam, and Athena and Steven into their rooms. Theo and I step up to the counter as soon as she motions us forward and we give her our names for the two rooms Theo reserved for us.

She taps rapidly on her keyboard and frowns. “I’m sorry, but there doesn’t seem to be a two room reservation for Theo Bennett.”

“Maybe it’s under Cate Ortega?” I ask, trying not to panic.

She once again clicks quickly on her keys and shakes her head. “Nothing under that name either.”

“What?” My eyes dart to Theo’s, now in full-blown panic mode. His face is pale. Really pale. “Did you not make two room reservations?” I whisper as loud as I dare.

He leans closer to me, so his family doesn’t overhear. “I did. I swear I did, Cate.”

“Could you check again, please?” I whimper, rubbing my temples, resisting the urge to chew my fingers.

“Of course,” she sweetly nods and checks both of our names again. Her eyes shoot up at me and I know before she says it that there is only one room under Theo’s name. “I’m sorry.”

“Is there another room we can -”

She shakes her head again. “I’m sorry, but we are fully booked up for the holidays.”

Hell. Hellfire and horror to the tenth degree.

“You can take the room,” Theo says, pulling me back to the present. “I’ll see if I can bunk with Caleb or Tess.”

I pull at my earlobes and my eyes dart to meet his. I shake my head. “They already have full rooms. Maybe…” I suck in a breath.Am I really about to suggest this?“Maybe we could share the room.”

Theo’s eyebrows raise. He looks shocked. And to be fair, I am too. But I already suggested it and there is no way I’m going to take it back.

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