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The elevator doors slide open, and I start to walk off, but Theo’s hand grasps mine and pulls me back toward him. I whip around to look at him, thinking he is going to try to kiss me, but he’s still leaning against the back wall. He points out the doors as they begin to close.
“Third floor.”
“Right.” I did push that button. When he releases me, I scratch my other arm, shifting from one foot to the other.
The elevator doors open once more, and I know for sure this is our stop. We step out of the lift and make our way to the hotel’s seafood restaurant. We approach the hostess stand.
“Welcome, do you two have a reservation?” The hostess smiles brightly at us, and I try to stifle a laugh.
Do we have a reservation? Hopefully. Maybe they lost this one too.
Theo nods. “It should be under Bennett.”
“Oh, right, you must be the happy couple! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Mr. and future Mrs. Bennett.”
I go to correct her but just shut my mouth and summon a smile to match her energy.
“Right this way, I believe your family is already here.”
She leads us to a round table on the terrace where there is a beautiful, unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean. There are string lights hanging all around the outdoor patio and the table is set with a white linen tablecloth and the finest plates I have ever seen. One of these plates probably costs more than my phone.
The last two seats at the table are clearly for us and after greeting everyone, Theo holds my chair out for me to sit.
“What took you two so long?” Tess’s eyebrows wiggle furiously as she takes a long sip of her Mai Tai.
“Contessa Alexandria,” Athena tsks. “If they want to have the sex, who are you to bring it up at the dinner table?”
I cough and the water I just drank is spewing on the table. Theo pats my back gently and hands me a linen napkin.
“Are you alright?” Sarah has a hand to her chest and looks like she is just about ready to hop up and hug me.
I hold my hand up and nod. I finally catch my breath. “I’m fine. Sorry. Apparently, I’ve forgotten how to drink.”
“So, I guess it’s safe to assume you did have “the sex” as Mama so fondly calls it.” Tess is on the verge of tears she is laughing so hard.
“How many of those have you had?” Theo points at Tess’s glass.
“Just one.”
“Try four.” Liam corrects her. “You had three in the room before we came downstairs.”
“That’s what I said. Just the one here at the dinner table.” She sticks her tongue at him.
By the furrow in his brows, I can tell Theo’s upset with her. I reach under the table and place my hand on his thigh. He breaks eye contact with Tess across the table and glances at me. Slowly the scowl turns into a smile.
“You two do make a good-looking couple.” Steven chimes in, fiddling with his glasses as he scans the menu.
“You really do.” Sarah quickly agrees and reaches for Caleb’s hand and their fingers intertwine.
“Thank. You.” I grab the menu off my plate, wipe the water I spit on it, and peruse my options. Hopefully, nothing else happens that makes me want to dive off the balcony.
“Cate?”
My eyes dart up. My heart races. I know that voice. But it’s not possible. It can’t be possible.
“Cate?”
Hell to the tenth power.
