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I lean over and kiss his exposed cheek. “Sorry. Can I get you anything before I go?”
“No. Just go and enjoy yourself.”
“OK. I’m really sorry that you don’t feel good. You sure you don’t want me to stay here with you?”
“No. Please go. Have fun with the boys. Maybe I’ll feel better tonight,” he says in a low voice.
“Alright,” I reply with much hesitancy. It doesn’t feel right to leave him.
I jump in the shower and change into a sundress, remembering my wide-brim hat as I pick up my day pack on the way out of the room. Thank goodness my suitcase arrived on day two of the trip. I would have been sad to not wear the new clothes I bought just for this vacation. Traveling with Grant is like dealing with a fashion show. I always feel underdressed even in formal attire.
I glance over when I exit the bathroom to find Grant’s eyes closed. Giving him one last glance, I quietly shut the door as I leave.
When I show up in the common space between the villas without Zach, Grant and Harrison both frown in unison.
“Zach still primping?” Harrison asks.
I shake my head and give a small, sad smile. “He has a migraine. He said we should go without him.”
“Sorry, that sucks,” Grant says as he steps forward and throws an arm around my shoulders. “We’ll have fun,” he adds with his best “trying to cheer me up” grin.
I shrug as we begin to walk over to the marina. The sailboat is beautiful and enormous. It’s made for way more people than just us. Grant and Harrison don’t understand how to do anything half-assed.
We get on board, and I look around.
“Where are the other passengers?” I ask.
Grant gives me a “really” look.
“Wait. You guys rented this entire sailboat for the evening for just us?”
Harrison laughs. “Darling, is that a serious question?”
A giggle escapes me because he’s right. My friends have more money than sense and this should not in the least bit shock me.
“Champagne?” a woman asks as she walks up with a tray of champagne in flutes.
We accept them and she introduces herself and leads us to the front of the boat where there’s a place to sit.
Pretty soon, Grant and Harrison have me in stitches as they tell me a story about one of their latest parties. An hour later the sun is beginning to lower in the sky and the boat docks off a private island. I’m still bummed that Zach is going to miss what is setting up to be an epic sunset and a great time, but I’m enjoying hanging out with Grant and Harrison. They are the best and include me in all of their discussions, so I don’t feel like a third wheel.
“We have a dinner set up on shore for you,” the captain says as he helps us into a tender boat.
He takes us to shore, and we hop out onto the white sand beach.
There is a cluster of coconut trees in the middle of the island and under one of them on the beach is an amazing setup with a table set for four. A wisp of sadness hits me and I suddenly miss Zach. How is that possible? I’ve spent a week with him, and I don’t need to be with him all the time, yet I want to be.
I turn back in the other direction and frown in confusion when I see white rose petals all over the ground.
“What…” I trail off as Zach emerges from the trees.
He looks like a mirage in linen khaki pants and a white buttoned-down shirt that is rolled up at the sleeves. He has a five o’clock shadow and he looks like sex personified.
I feel a hand on my back shoving me in the direction of my boyfriend until I find myself standing on the petals.
Zach stops in front of me and sinks to a knee, pulling out a small blue box and popping it open to reveal an amazing ring with an aquamarine stone inside a circle of diamonds.
My throat goes dry. I’m at a loss for words.
