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Isabella blinked in surprise, her scarlet lips forming an ‘O’. “But you were single when I saw you in Miami last month.”
Bodhi spoke up, “A lot can change in a month.” He winked at Zoey without anyone else noticing, a silent acknowledgment of our shared secret.
Vivienne joined us by the fire and took a seat next to me.
Zoey eyed us carefully.
With each passing minute, I realized that coming here might have been a bad idea. How could Nate and Trevor possibly think seeing my ex-girlfriend would be a nice surprise? We’d had a tumultuous relationship and an even more tumultuous breakup.
The growing tension in the room was apparent, a medley of past relationships, unsaid words, and the attraction our group seemed to inspire. I needed a moment to breathe, a reprieve from the undercurrents of emotion.
“Hey, guys, I’ll be right back,” I murmured, excusing myself from the group.
I searched for the bathroom, which was down the hall, providing a momentary escape from Vivienne. The cold water from the tap felt refreshing against my skin as I washed my hands and rubbed the back of my neck to collect my thoughts.
As I exited, I was caught off guard by Vivienne, who had seemingly been waiting for me. Before I could react, she closed the gap between us, her fingers tugging at the collar of my shirt, pushing me against the wall. Her lips crashed onto mine, forceful and demanding.
I immediately pushed her away, my heart racing, anger and shock clear on my face.
“Viv,” I spat out, trying to regain my composure, “what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She licked her lips, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Just seeing if there’s still something between us.”
Before I could respond, a movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention. It was Zoey’s retreating form. The worst part was that she’d likely only caught the first part of the encounter and not the part where I’d pushed Viv away.
“Zoey!” I called out, desperate to explain, but she was already gone.
The weight of the situation pressed heavily on my chest, and I realized that without the full context, what she had seen could completely change our budding relationship.
The second I stepped into the main room, the atmosphere had shifted. Zoey was surrounded by Liam and Bodhi, her face drawn and eyes downcast. She was rubbing her temples.
“Yeah, it’s just a headache,” she told Liam and Bodhi. “I think the altitude is getting to me, or maybe I haven’t had enough water today,” she said, her voice soft but with an underlying firmness.
Liam immediately sprang into action. “It’s okay, Zo. We can head back.”
Bodhi nodded in agreement. “Yeah, if you don’t stay hydrated, this altitude can get to you. Let’s get you back.”
“Are you sure you want to leave so soon?” Nate asked, his gaze moving between Zoey and me, sensing that there was more to the story than just a headache. “We have an extra bedroom that’s not being used. You can lie down in there if you want.”
Zoey managed a weak smile. “I’m really sorry, everyone. Thank you for the invite, and I hope to catch up some other time. I really didn’t mean to ruin the evening.”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Bodhi insisted. “If you’re feeling sick, we should leave.”
She gave him a thankful nod.
Murmurs of understanding and well wishes filled the room.
Trevor piped up, “Mason, you want to stay? You can use that extra room, and I can always drop you off in the morning.”
I shook my head, not wanting to leave things unresolved with Zoey. “No, it’s fine. We came together. I should go, too, especially since we only have one car.”
I tried to catch Zoey’s attention as we moved toward the door, but she was focused on the exit. The brisk night air hit us as we exited the cabin. I hoped to have a moment alone with her, but she immediately made her way to the SUV, taking the front passenger seat.
A stifling silence marked our return drive. Zoey’s sudden desire to leave had everything to do with the scene she’d encountered—although her interpretation didn’t align with what had happened.
Logic suggested I didn’t owe Zoey any justifications. We weren’t in a committed relationship. But the idea of causing her pain was unbearable, regardless of our relationship status.
Bodhi finally broke the silence. “All right, what happened back there? One minute, everything’s fine, and the next, we’re leaving in a hurry.”
