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“Maybe Cate could answer the question herself.” Derek straightens, squaring his shoulders to Theo.
“Derek, I think you should go,” I wheeze.
Derek seems disappointed but the emotion on his face is there and gone in a flash. He wraps an arm around my waist and kisses my cheek. “Maybe another time,” he whispers in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He gives Theo one more glance before walking back into the dining room and out of sight.
Theo turns to me and tilts my chin up to meet his gaze. “Are you alright?”
I want to cry. I want to scream. I want to run. But instead, I bob my head slightly. “I’m alright.”
He pulls me to his chest and wraps his arms around me. He whispers in my ear, “If you want me to take you back to our room, I will. Just say the word.”
I shake my head against his body. “I’m alright.” I pull back. “I promise.” I turn to the rest of the table, the heat of embarrassment still painted on my face. “I am really sorry about that.”
I take my seat and exhale. I feel like I need to explain what all that was, but Athena reaches across her husband’s lap and extends her hand to me. I grab it and she squeezes.
“You do not need to explain anything to us, Cate, darling. Whoever he was, he is of no importance now.”
And she is right. Derek isn’t important anymore. I smile and squeeze her hand in response. A thank you without words.
“Can I just say one thing before we move on?” Tess raises her hand, looking buzzed.
“Tess.” Theo shoots her a warning glance, but I know if she doesn’t get it out of her system now, she’ll ask me about it later.
“Fire away, Tess.” I pat Theo’s arm and feel the tension leave his body.
“Your ex-boyfriend looks exactly like Charlie Hunnam.” She giggles and plays with the umbrella that came with her drink.
“The guy fromSons of Anarchy?” Caleb sips his beer and one of his eyebrows lifts.
“I knew he looked familiar!” Sarah claps in excitement before meeting my eyes. “Oh, sorry, Ca -”
I wave my hand. “You are absolutely right. He does look like Charlie Hunnam. But from what I’ve seen on the show, Derek is not nearly as good in bed.”
Jaws are dropping around the table, and I reach for Caleb’s beer, snatch it, and take a swig. “Too much?”
Snickers erupt and before I know it, we are all laughing, drinking, eating, and having an awesome time together. And for a second, I forget Derek is staying in the same hotel as us. But with my luck, I will more than likely bump into him again before the weekend is over.
Chapter Ten
I am three beers, two Mai Tais, and a tequila shot deep, and might have just enough liquid courage to fulfill my karaoke punishment. The karaoke bar is full. It is Friday night in Hawaii after all. So, I’ll have a larger audience than in my nightmares. No big deal, right?
Tess dances back to our table clutching four bottles of beer by their necks. She sets them on the table and distributes them. “One for my love.” She kisses Liam and I’m sure they’re one tongue lick away from making out when Caleb hits them with a dramatic and childish “Ewww!”
“Alright, alright,” Tess throws her hands up in the air and moans. “Here you go, Caleb. And two for the lovebirds.” She slides two beers to Theo and me.
I grab mine and pop off the top. Steven and Athena had turned in about an hour ago, leaving just us three couples. Even though Theo and I aren’t really a couple.
But maybe you could be,I hear Eve’s voice ringing in my head and shoo it away.
Sarah bounds back, a goofy grin on her face.
“What?” I ask., but my voice doesn’t sound like mine.Am I slurring?
Sarah giggles. “I just checked the sign-up list and you’re up next.”
Balls of fire.
“Cate, you don’t have to do this tonight if you don’t want to.” Theo sips his beer.
