“Do you still love Grace?” she asks.
I mull over the question, waiting for some sort of guilt or betrayal to hit at the immediate response that flashes in my brain. When I experience neither, I offer her an answer.
“I—no. I think at the time, I thought it was love. I’m not so sure now.”
“Well, for what it’s worth,” she mumbles, “I think she was wrong. I think you are all of those things and a million more.”
It’s worth a whole damn lot.
For a long while, she says nothing more, simply sits in my lap and plays with the ends of my hair, creating a loose braid. I revel in the quiet contentment, soaking in the moment before this is all gone.
It’s not a thought I allow to linger. If I do, it might crush me. I’m not ready to accept the end, not until I’m confident there’s no other option for us.
Because there’s one thing I didn’t tell her.
I’m not so sure I was in love with Grace because it doesn’t hold a candle to how I feel about Sofía.
Chapter 25
sofía
“Welcome to Cape Tribulation,” our driver and guide, Oscar, announces, ripping into a parking spot and slamming the brakes. “Let’s take a stroll.”
My stomach churns from the choppy ride, and I leap out of the car, grateful for the solid ground beneath me. Molly appears beside me, equally green.
“He is ahorribledriver,” she groans, hands on her knees. “Make sure you include that in your review.”
I side-eye her. “How did you know I review?”
I mean, I do. I review everything. People deserve to know my thoughts about a service or provider. I like to think I make a difference in people’s choices—whether I sway them into it or guide them far, far away.
Some could say I am an influencer on review platforms.
“You give off that vibe,” Molly says, presenting me with a look that saysAm I wrong?“You can add that he’s knowledgeable. Was talking Doug’s ear off about prehistoric plants.”
“Really? I didn’t hear him.” I dust off some imaginary dirt from my workout dress now that my stomach has settled.
“That’s because you were busy giggling in the back with Jett,” she says, offering me another pointed yet affectionate expression. I fight the urge to fiddle with something, to evade her knowing gaze. “Oh, now she’s shy once I mention you two flirting while thinking Doug and I don’t notice.”
“It’s a part of the PR thing,” I grumble.
“You and Doug don’t notice what?” Jett asks, appearing out of thin air.
I squeak in surprise, practically leaping out of my skin, and Molly howls in laughter, wiping away the tears that brim her lashes.
Jett watches us with crinkled brows, and I hold a palm to my chest, trying to calm my racing heartbeat—a side effect from the scare and his proximity.
“How well you and Sofía work together,” she replies, her composure snapping back into place. “She’s a great addition to the team.”
“I’m lucky to have her,” he says, quiet and low, peering down at me with intensity. “Couldn’t imagine life without her.”
The words land in a way I don’t think he intends—my mind embedding them with far more meaning than he meant—but my body reacts like each word is a loud declaration.
It’s a massive problem.
Molly blinks at him, stunned. “I’m gonna…go find Doug.”
She’s gone in a flash, leaving behind me, Jett, and my growing attachment to him at the front of the boardwalk.
