CHAPTEREIGHT
Giana
“I hope you’ve dusted all the cobwebs off your hooha. You two are so gonna fuck.” Stacy’s sing-songed declaration bellowed through my speakerphone like a megaphone at a pep rally.
I’d been strolling along leisurely, sipping coffee as I worked my way back to my hotel room at Royal Barbados Resort when Stacy finally called me back.
Of course, my no-holds-barred bestie couldn’t kick off her end of the conversation with a simple:How was your flight? orHow’s the hotel?
“And,” she went on, “don’t bother telling me I’m on speakerphone. If after all these years you still haven’t learned my mouth will spew F-bombs, I can’t be held responsible for what anyone around you may have just heard.”
My head fell back as I laughed, pressing the phone to my ear. “First of all, you’re off speakerphone now. Second of all, we’re not…” I trailed off, peering around to see who was nearby. “…Going to fuck.”
“Puh-lease. When you and that lava-hot hunk you were crazy in love with share a room over the next couple of days, pretending to be engaged, you think nothing will happen?” Her sinister cackle made my face feel hot. “Like I said, you two are so gonna fuck.”
Biting my lip, I stepped onto the empty elevator and pressed button 22. When I tried to re-book a two-bedroom or a separate suite for Reed last week, the coordinator told me everything had been sold out. Thoughts of sharing a one-bedroom suite with my fake fiancé made me break into a sweat. Not that I didn’t trust him. But it had been six years since we’d shared a room.
“I don’t know, Stacy.” A sigh puffed between my lips. “Reed missed a few chances to kiss me while we were in the Hamptons. He made zero moves unless you count hand-holding and hugs, not that it would have mattered. You know about my insecurities.”
“The Reed I knew was always a gentleman first. Maybe he was being respectful since you two hadn’t laid eyes on each other for close to a decade.” She cleared her throat. “Regarding your insecurities: girl, stop.”
I stepped off the elevator and shuffled down the hallway to my room. “Well, none of this would be happening if you didn’t cancel on me last minute.” I knew my quip would roll off her shoulder.
“Actually,” Stacy countered, “none of this would be happening if your sister didn’t pull a bitch move and decide to marry your dick-ass ex-fiancé.”
Stacy had a sensible cut-to-the-chase way of putting things into perspective, and part of me wished I’d backed out of this crapshow.
“You still have feelings for Reed, don’t you?”
Her question struck me like a bolt of lightning. I couldn’t deny that when it came to Reed Cortez, my heart fluttered, skipped beats, and even after six years apart, still had all the crazy feels. “I believe I do.”
“Does your grandma know about your plus-one farce?”
I told Noni, who’d already been reeling about me selling a house to Reed. She had nothing but love and respect for him. Our crash and burn affected her in many ways too. Besides, I’d never kept anything from my grandmother; we were too close.
“Noni is fully on board, delighted that Reed has come to my rescue. And speaking of Noni”—I walked into my room, its door slamming shut as I sauntered inside—“I’m meeting her for an early lunch since Reed won’t arrive until five.”
Stacy and I chatted for a few more minutes, she giving me rich advice on how to handle my sister if she questioned my “rekindled” relationship with Reed. “Just slap the bitch,” she joked, which sometimes seemed like a viable reaction.
“I promise to send you updates.”
“You better send me pics of your hotfiancétoo. If you need to vent, I’m only a phone call or text message away. I love you to the moon…”
A smile curved my lips at what we’d told each other since grade school. “And back.”
* * *
I was annoyed that I’d traveled to Barbados for a wedding that made me want to puke, but at least the five-star resort made it worthwhile.
At Azul Mahoe, a Caribbean-style restaurant overlooking the ocean, I sat and waited for Noni, a light breeze sailing over me. It was almost noon, and I’d expected a text from Reed anytime, confirming his arrival at the airport in enough time to catch his flight. He told me he had plans that morning but didn’t offer up any details, nor did I probe.
As I perused their menu, my phone chirped on the table, and my stomach fluttered when Reed’s name flashed on the screen.
Reed: Hey, I made it to the gate. Plane should board in a few minutes. How’s everything on your end? You holding up?
His concern for me made my heart smile.
Me: Glad you made it. All is well here. I’m meeting Noni for lunch
