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Sam looks to me. “I’m sorry, man. You’re gonna laugh.” He brushes his hand over the back of his head. “I thought you might be here with a guy. You’ve been so secretive. We only showed up here because I wanted to push the issue, as I thought you were afraid we’d give you a hard time and wanted you to know you didn’t need to hide it.” Sam’s southern accent comes through, and I recognize the presence of the long-ago dropped accent as his endeavor to ease a tenuous predicament. My older brother is like me in that regard. He can hide the accent or play it up as the situation requires.
But I’m not sure how to handle the situation at hand. Or what to say to him. I thought—or, no, I hoped he’d never have to know.
“Ian, you’ve been so secretive.” He’s still talking. Chattering, really. As if he’s the one who stepped out of line. “We all knew you were seeing someone. And, when Mom said you came here, and the villa wasn’t rented,” he shakes his head and grins like it’s a big joke, “we didn’t know how bad Texas might be these days. You know, in Connecticut, we’re open-minded. It’s been a long time since I lived down south. I wasn’t sure. Olivia and I…we had theories. I’m sorry, man. I just wanted you to know—”
“It’s not what it looks like,” Sunny breaks in, her voice high-pitched and unnatural.
A sinking sensation pools with nausea, but somehow, I speak. “Sandra needed a break. We’re here as friends.”
Sandra wraps her arms around herself, and her gaze falls to the ground.
“Oh, well, in that case, come join us for dinner,” Sam says. “Sandra, god, it’s been what, almost twenty years since I’ve seen you?”
I search Sam’s expression for any sign of anger or disappointment. I don’t catch anything other than traces of embarrassment and guilt. Or maybe that’s projection.
Sunny offers a weak smile. Those blue eyes are distant. Probably suffering from shock.
“Actually, we were just stopping here to ask about reservations for tomorrow night. I heard about a place on the island we’re going to tonight. We have a car waiting for us.” All of that is a lie, but I can make it true with a quick chat with the concierge.
Sam winces, and his expression could only be described as apologetic. Olivia seems amused by it all, but my family always amuses her. I give my nieces a hug and toss in the air, and endure awkward goodbyes with Olivia and Sam.
Shit. I don’t think he’s angry. But that had to have been strange for him. I owed him more than that. Surely, that’s a rule somewhere. If you’re going to break bro’ code and date an ex, man-up.
Sunny remains silent on the walk to the concierge, then outside to a car and driver that had been conveniently waiting should a guest need a ride. In the back seat, she crosses one leg over the other and forces a tight smile.
“That was crazy,” I say to break the ice. Her gaze remains fixed on the headrest in front of her. “I swear, I had no idea.”
“There’s no way he believed us.”
“Is that the worst thing?” I have to ask the question. Why does it matter if Sam knows? It’s out now. The world didn’t end. I owe some apologies, but…
“What do you think your parents will say?” Sunny’s timid voice trembles.
“I honestly don’t think they’ll care.” Given Mom’s comment about Sandra also being on vacation, I bet she already suspects. But sharing that insight with Sunny won’t help. “If that’s what’s bothering you, I can ask Sam to not mention anything to Mom and Dad.”
“I don’t want to cause problems in your family.” Those blue eyes glisten.
She’s on the verge of tears.Fuck me.
“Your parents mean so much to me. I don’t want to lose them.”
“Hey, there,” I unbuckle my seatbelt and slide closer to put an arm around her shoulder. “You’re not going to lose them. Why would you think that?”
She sniffs. “They won’t be happy about this.”
“Sam won’t say anything. And even if he did, they wouldn't care. They love you like you’re one of their own.”
At that moment, I’d say anything to keep her from crying, but I’m speaking the truth. She sits up straighter, and I pull my arm away. She doesn’t want me to touch her.
As she stares out the window, her lower lip quivers, and reality hits me.
She’s not afraid of my family learning. The quivering lip and the teary eyes are a byproduct of seeing Sam for the first time in twenty years. And she met his wife and saw his children. Sandra simply isn’t over Sam. Oliver, my mom, and the entire town are correct. She isn’t over my brother.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Ian
February, Paradise Undone
