“Oh god, Tom. This is bad. Seriously. Shit. I’m coming over right now.”
“Okay. You remember where Calvin lives, right?”
Calvin starts flailing his arms beside me, mouthing No, no, no. I ignore him. He still owes me after Sunday’s disaster.
“I’ll be there in twenty. See you soon.”
She hangs up.
Calvin groans dramatically. “Fine. I’ll be hiding downstairs. No way am I dealing with her.”
He heads for the music studio, muttering something about trespassing as he goes.
When a car door slams outside, I know Tiffy’s arrived. She walks into the lounge like she never really left. She used to live here until she’d caught Calvin in the act.
What happens in Aruba, stays in Aruba,Calvin always says.
Now I know why.
I need a second to school my face into something neutral.
I watch her take in the mess of empty beer bottles, Calvin’s flip-flops abandoned near the pool, and of course,Mia, the flamingo floatie with the red lace thong around her neck.
She drops onto the sofa beside me.
“You look like shit,” she says, observing the bruises around my eye. I better not flash her my Hollywood smile.
“There’s improvement, actually. I couldn’t even open my eye until yesterday.”
“And you did that…to protect Yosh?”
The way she’s looking at me, I can tell the big question is already sitting on her tongue. I spare us both the dance.
“Yeah. We’re… sort of a thing. No official label yet.”
She squeals, hand flying over her mouth.
“Tom… wow. Really? That’s amazing!” Her eyes shine.
“He really, really likes you, you know. I’m so relieved it worked out.”
Her expression turns more serious. “He needs someone to love him, Tom. Someone who stays. No matter what.”
“Tiffy, I’m not going anywhere. Right now, I just want to find him and tell him exactly how much he means to me.”
Worry crosses her face. “About that… Here’s the thing. I’m having a bit of a crisis. Yosh is going to hate me for this, but I don’t trust the situation, so I’m telling you anyway.”
“If you’re worried, I’m worried. Tell me.”
She taps her neon-pink nails against the bamboo armrest.
“I tried calling Yosh on my way over. He texted me back. He’s staying at Erin’s place to get ahead of a potential relapse. Said he doesn’t trust himself to be alone.”
Wait, what?Relapse?
“Yosh was a guest at Arcadia once. That’s the whole reason he came to Avalon.”
I stare at her.
