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At the image, I bark out a laugh and cover my mouth. It makes me walk faster. If I don’t, Gio might do something else that will make me surrender this much-needed beach day to watch his sexy chef performance instead.

“Can we talk about it yet?” Amelia asks in the foyer.

I shake my head, signaling not here, and keep going. Stepping outside, I escape her scrutiny and the oncoming Giovanni Salami invasion. Both were coming in way too strong.

“What was that earlier?” she asks as she closes the door.

“What was what?”

I drop my sunglasses over my eyes and place a wide-brimmed hat on my head. If I can’t run from her, I’ll hide. I clutch my beach tote to my chest and squeeze it like a shield, creating a barrier between us.

I haven’t faced her yet, but I can hear the literal crack in her jawbone. If I don’t fess up about Gio soon, she may kill me. My beautiful mermaid has sharp teeth and claws.

But that’s the thing. Gio and I are just being us. We’ve settled into a weird comfortableness. Even I don’t completely understand it.

Amelia spins me so our hat brims touch. I do my best not to show fear. This is what I would do if I were up against her in the middle of the ocean, even if there were zero chance of survival.

“Based on what I’ve witnessed this past week—the almost-kiss, the tickles, the hugs, the endless flirting, the shameless innuendos, the casual touches and brushing against each other at every opportunity . . . Sophia! Who are you? Sure, you’ve always been a lover, but I’ve never seen you like this. It’s next-level, even for you. You didn’t even act like this with Roman, and you were about to marry the lowlife.”

Yep, she’s been watching. I remain aloof.

She narrows her eyes at me. “I’m starting to think the internet gossip is true. Is it?”

“How can you say that when all I do is hate him and try to ruin his life?” I toss my hands in the air.

“I’ve seen no hating or life-ruining. But if you’re not careful, he might ruin yours.” She lowers her sunglasses to flash me concerned eyes. She’s a love cynic.

I groan, unable to hide any longer. Might as well get this interrogation over with.

I’m ready to spill almost everything when a group of women passes by. One points her phone in my direction while the others whisper. It’s been like this all week.

I straighten, remembering my new reality. To them, I’m not Sophia. I’m Angry Bride. I have to be careful because everyone could be recording me. They could take my words out of context and make up their own stories. I don’t care, but I’m doing it for Gio, though I would never admit it. He insists we lie low.

“What are you looking at?” Amelia waves her arms to scare them away. The women scurry off.

“You know that’s going to end up online, right?” I peek around her.

“I don’t care. Let’s go to the beach.” She wraps her arm over my shoulder as if she could hide me as we march in search of peace and quiet.

After crossing a bridge with a babbling pond filled with koi fish, we follow the path and emerge onto a crystal white-sand beach. Gentle teal waves crash on the shore. Dolphin fins roll beyond. The ocean sparkles in the sunlight. It’s magic on earth.

Beautiful white loungers shaded by green-striped cabana tents dot the beach. A cabana boy spreads towels on our chairs, then brings us a pitcher of ice water, along with a basket filled with organic suntan lotion and local treats.

This place is heaven.

I drop my bag, kick off my flip-flops, stretch my arms high above my head, and inhale the salty air. This is where I’m meant to be. The beach, the sunshine, the rustling palm fronds—this is my cure-all. In this paradise, nothing could go wrong.

Beside me, Amelia relaxes on her lounger, stretching out her legs.

Just as I settle into my chair, she reaches for my hand. I turn my attention to her.

“I’m worried about you, Soph. Only a few weeks ago, you were about to march down the aisle. Sure, the man who shall not be named is a creep, and it might be good for you to have a hot rebound fling, but I’m starting to think you’re not capable.”

Scowling, I say, “I’m capable.”

“I know you’re in your I-hate-men era, as you should be, but we both know that’s not who you are. I know because I am that person. What you’re going through is a phase. Before Roman, you loved so freely. That’s how you’ve always been.”

Lifting the brim of her hat a little higher, she says, “I can tell you’re giving Gio the real you. He’s not getting angry-breakup Sophia. He’s getting open-hearted Sophia. He’s getting homebody Sophia, who loves Sundays in her pajamas while sipping tea and rewatching her favorite cat posts.”