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When I had looked at her quizzically, Lizzie had smiled knowingly. “You have feelings for Tristan, don’t you?”
“I don’t,” I’d said defensively.
Her smile seemed to get wider and sadder all at the same time. “He’s charming and handsome and witty and smart,” she continued, ignoring my denial. “It’s easy to love Tristan. But the only thing he really loves is his dreams. And unfortunately, his dreams are so big, they crowd you out.”
When I said nothing, Lizzie had given a huge, tired sigh and walked back into the house. I didn’t go out to say goodbye to them, and after that day I had never seen her again.
Until, of course, I had come across her picture on Jason’s feed. I was staring at her face, recalling that conversation with fresh perspective when I heard Gregory’s voice across the pool, calling my name.
I set my phone down and looked up. Gregory was walking towards me with a towel thrown across his shoulder. “Hi,” I said. “Are you here for a swim?”
“I certainly am,” he nodded. “But I also wanted to see how you were doing after last night.” He sat down on the lounge chair next to mine and stretched his feet out. I sat up and swung my legs down to face him.
“I’m sorry I cut out early, Gregory,” I told him. “I just didn’t think I could continue with dinner after that.”
“That’s quite alright,” he said, waving away my apology. “I had fun last night.”
“Did you?” I asked, incredulously.
“Of course,” he nodded. “It was actually quite an enjoyable first date…even if it was interrupted. And, even if it was completely fake.”
I felt a little spasm of guilt. “I shouldn’t have included you in this,” I said. “It was unfair.”
“I offered to be a part of it,” he reminded me.
“But still…you’re Tristan’s business partner, not to mention his friend,” I pointed out. “It was wrong of me to put you in the middle.”
“You might not have discovered how he really felt if I hadn’t have gotten involved.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Um…did I discover how he really felt?”
“Of course,” Gregory nodded. “Tristan definitely has feelings for you.”
“He denies it.”
“Of course, he denies it,” Gregory nodded. “Because he’s very clearly in denial. The man’s a fool. He insists that he has no feelings for you, he insisted as much this morning, too, and yet he can’t contain his rage when he sees you with another man.”
“What happened this morning?” I asked, jumping on that.
“Tristan visited me in my suite,” Gregory said, flashing me a smile. “Basically he wanted me to stay away from you.”
“Did he give you a reason as to why?”
“He said it was because he felt a brotherly obligation to protect you from the likes of me,” he said. “He feels that I’m not good enough for you.”
“He said that?” I asked, horrified.
“He most definitely did,” Gregory nodded. He seemed amused rather than offended. “He was in quite the mood, too.”
I shook my head. “I don’t get him.”
“He’s a complicated man,” Gregory agreed. “But he’s also a man who’s never committed to a woman his entire life. I think the thought terrifies him. I think that deep down he knows that he can’t just get away with a fling if he gets involved with you. He knows it will lead to something—and he’s terrified.”
“That can’t be the reason.”
“I think it absolutely is,” Gregory nodded. “But one thing is certain, and that is that he has feelings for you. He probably has for some time, based on his reaction.”
“Could it possibly
