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“What the hell are you talking about?” Her auburn hair was beautifully windblown, and her skin glowed beyond her sunglasses. Bright sun and palm trees dotted the landscape behind her.
Why am I jealous?
Our apartment building was directly across the street from sand and palm trees. I could go to the beach anytime I wanted. Even in early December it was seventy-five degrees outside. Yet, I hadn’t been to the beach once since Penelope and Carter left. I didn’t like going out alone.
I flipped my camera around to face in front of me, showing her the tree that had begun turning brown in the last couple of days. “It’s like…dead.”
The sound of shuffling muffled my speakers before Carter’s golden face came on screen. He somehow looked even more Hawaiian than normal. Carter’s forehead creased as he looked it over. “Have you been watering it, Mace?”
I blinked at him. “Was I supposed to be?”
He laughed, and Penny cursed in the background. “It’s a fucking tree. Yes, you have to water it.”
“I didn’t grow up with Christmas trees! I didn’t know that.”
They were both laughing at me earnestly now. Penelope’s face popped up over Carter’s shoulder. “It’s no big deal,” Carter said. “But you’re going to have to get rid of it. It’s actually a fire hazard at this point.”
I gaped at him. “Are you telling me I am going to have to drag this God-forsaken tree down the stairs and through the alley to the dumpster… bymyself?”
Carter shook his head. “Nah, I’ll get the maintenance guy I have on retainer for the building to come by and get it for you.” He handed the phone back to Penelope and pulled out his own before moving offscreen.
I sighed. “So, how was meeting your future mother-in-law?”
“I’ve met Laila before,” Penelope chuckled. “It was nerve-wracking, though. Seeing her this time as Carter’sgirlfriend. But she’s great. And our parents are meeting us here in Hawaii next week so the whole family can spend Christmas together.”
“Carter’s parents get along like that?”
Myparents don’t even get along like that and they’re still married. I knew Carter and Penelope’s parents were close friends, but I didn’t realize they were close enough to cross oceans to spend holidays together as one family.
The stars really did align for those two, I guess.
She nodded. She opened her mouth to say more but Carter suddenly stepped up behind her. “Okay, Mace. Help is on the way.”
“Okay, but I’ve got a date tonight so he better not take too long.”
Penelope’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really? Tell me all about him.”
I shrugged. “Not much to tell yet. I’ll call you afterwards though, okay?”
She nodded, and reminded me to keep my location on so she could track me at all times in case my date turned out to be an ax murderer. I promised her I would.
I spent the next hour getting ready. I brushed some oil through my hair and clipped back the sides in an attempt at taming my frizzy curls. The man in question, Travis, was taking me out to a semi-nice restaurant, so I went with a cropped cream cardigan, a black denim skirt, and sheer tights. I stole a pair of boots out of Penelope’s closet that matched the color of my sweater.
I’d just finished putting on my jewelry when I heard keys jingle outside the front door, and jumped at the sound of it creaking open.What the fuck.Did Carter actually tell this guy to just let himself in?
But it wasn’t a stranger's face that appeared in the kitchen when I raced out of my bedroom and around the corner. Nope. It was a pair of ember eyes, glowing dark skin, and that arrogant, knowing smile.
“Hi, Mace,” Dom said.
“Did you actually just let yourself into my apartment without so much as a knock?” I spit. “I could’ve been naked.”
“Is that supposed to incentivize me to not come inside the apartment?” His tone was a smooth challenge. I couldn’t help but notice the way he licked his lips.
“Fuck you.”
He shot me a devilish grin. “Name the time and place, baby.”
I rolled my eyes.
