Page 91 of The Golden Scoop

“We were not lost! We remained in close proximity to the hotel at all times,” he argues.

Julia lets out a laugh. “The GPS kept saying five minutes for forty-five.”

“Whose side are we on?” Matt voice low, leaning close enough that only I can hear him.

“It was scenic,” Harrison insists. He’s too focused on Julia to notice anything happening between Matt and me. Or maybe he already knows, and he’s choosing self-preservation.

Julia, however, narrows her eyes. She folds her hands over the table, ready to grill us until there’s nothing else to hide.

“What’s going on here, exactly? Anything you’d like to share with the class?”

I clear my throat. “Aside from him pushing me off a sailboat and forcing me to hike for, like, six straight hours⁠—”

Matt turns toward me so fast I almost laugh. “Wow. I thought we were a team, Mills.”

Julia’s jaw drops. Her counterpart smacks Matt’s shoulder, clearly proud of his friend.

“And for the record,” he adds, “it was not six hours.”

“Emotionally it was,” I mutter under my breath.

“Mate,” Harrison says through a fake cough. “You threw her off a boat?”

“She fell.” Matt sounds so offended I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me. “And I jumped in right after to save her.”

“To save me?” I ask, innocently.

“Yes.”

Julia snorts. “Emma swims better than everyone at this table combined. Are you sure it wasn’t a ruse to play hero?”

We’re all giving him a hard time now, but Matt barely cracks a smile.

“She could’ve been hurt,” he says, quieter this time.

“That’s fair,” Julia says, giving him some leeway. “Harrison did sprain his ankle during our salsa lesson.”

All eyes swing to him.

“A man can’t excel at everything.” He shrugs, no shame. “I choose emotional support.”

“Was it everything you hoped for?” I ask Julia.

“Yes and no,” she admits. “There were moments we were exhausted but still didn’t want to miss out. We packed a sunburn since day one, and the mosquitoes⁠—”

“God, don’t get me started on those,” Harrison groans.

“But it was also romantic. Quiet, and intimate in way we couldn’t have imagined.” She glances at him, her expression softening. I can see how much adoration he holds for her. “Tears were shed⁠—”

Matt frowns. “Why would you cry?”

“She made me eat spicy food,” Harrison deadpans. “I didn’t cry. My eyes were sweating.”

“Would you believe if I told you Emma’s done the same thing to me?” Matt says, signature grin back on his face.

“Can’t blame a girl for liking things hot,” I shoot back.

Matt’s eyes flick to mine, slow and deliberate. I lined it up for him. It’s too late now. I know there’s no way he’s going to pass this chance up.