The Hookup

by Zante, Lily

  He nodded, the tiny movement stabbing her with something she couldn’t define. He’d said ‘we’. Who had he gone with? The question buzzed around her head like a noisy mosquito, hard to ignore and as irritating as hell.

  “I…” He cleared his throat. “I have something of yours still lying around at work.”

  “Something of mine?”

  “I bought you a gift, I just forgot to give it to you that time when I gave you the lingerie. It was still in my jacket pocket.”

  “You don’t have to bother with that,” she said, waving her hand, dismissively.

  “I bought it for you. I’d rather you have it.”

  “It’s not necessary, now. But, if you insist…”

  “If you really don’t want it, I’ll return it.”

  Now she was curious. “You could return it and…” And buy something for your new girlfriend.

  She wondered what this new woman was like. Lucky woman, obviously, to be enjoying the fruits of all that counseling.

  “If you really don’t want it, if you feel that strongly about it, I’ll return it, but I’d like you to have it,” he said.

  “If you feel that strongly about it, if you really want me to have it, then I guess you can send it to me, but you didn’t have to buy me two gifts. You didn’t even have to get me the one.” She was rambling. “I don’t give to—”

  “To get,” he said, finishing her sentence for her. “I know. Truth was, I felt so lousy when you got me the cufflinks, and I got you nothing,” he pulled out one of his shirt cuffs to show her the key-shaped cufflinks he was wearing.

  Her heart opened up like a sunflower. “You must really like them,” she said, feeling suddenly happy.

  “They remind me of you.”

  They were smiling at one another, not the big flirtatious smiles-that-would-lead-to-something, type of smile, but a more relaxed one. As if they were getting used to and enjoying being together again.

  She remembered the Luke she had glimpsed on the island, in the sultry heat of the night, underneath the starry sky, when he’d made her his variation of a cocktail, and she’d told him her fears about men. He’d been a good listener then, and he'd cheered her up. Already there was a shift in how they were around one another, and this felt easy, like the night after the wedding, when they were just talking, nothing too deep, but finding out about one another.

  Seeing him again had brought back all those memories, and it felt new, and pleasant, and touched with a tinge of regret.

  “Also,” he continued, “I didn’t want you to think that I was with you for one thing only. The lingerie was an impulse buy. It’s what most guys buy their girlfriends. I wanted to buy you something meaningful, because by then…” he shrugged, then stared at the chandelier again

  “By then?” she said, softly, her ears straining.

  But he pretended not to hear, and didn’t finish his sentence.

  People walked past, but she couldn’t look away. It was only when she heard the knock, and “Are you decent?” in Millicent’s clipped tones, that she was suddenly jolted into awareness. Her eyes widened and she looked from Luke to beyond him. Millicent had disappeared.

  “I have to go,” she said, rushing off. “I’ll be back...” She wasn’t sure if he heard that last bit.

  She knocked on Savannah’s door and then walked in before Savannah could answer. Her cousin was sitting in the rocking chair, while Millicent paced the room with a crying baby in her arms. “There, there,” she said, as she tried to soothe him. Kay couldn’t tell which of the twins it was. Miraculously, only Savannah seemed to be able to tell the difference between her boys.

  “Oh, hey, Millicent,” Kay said, plastering on a fake smile. “Lovely pearls.” Millicent acknowledged her with a smile that was just as fake, before asking Savannah if she was going to feed the baby.

  Savannah looked as if she was going to explode, prompting Kay to say the first thing that came to her. “Uh…Arnold uh… he was looking for you, Millicent.”

  “Me?” Millicent looked puzzled. “Whatever for?”

  The baby cried even louder and Savannah reached out and took him.

  “He said he found your…your…one of your pearls, I think.”

  Millicent’s hand touched her throat. “I’m not missing any pearls.” She huffed loudly. “I’d better go and see what he’s talking about,” she grumbled.

  “Pearls?” asked Savannah, putting the baby to her breast while her mother-in-law flew off on her broomstick.

  The room was suddenly silent. “I didn’t know what else to say.”

  “You came just in time,” said Savannah.

  “I told you I would. I’ll leave you to it,” she said, anxious to get back to Luke, but when she walked back to the bannister, he’d gone.

  Chapter 46

  He had the gift couriered over a week later. She gingerly undid the packaging and took the delicate bracelet out of the box and examined it.

  Whoa.

  It looked like it was made from platinum, and engraved with the Cartier name, with what looked like tiny diamonds, given the way they sparkled. Tiny diamonds an inch apart all around it.

  This was no ordinary impulse buy.

  She slipped it on straight away, admiring it.

  And then she hugged her hand over it, knowing that he had likely taken one last look at it, or had at least touched it before he’d sent it to her.

  She had been thinking of him ever since the weekend. And now she wondered how much longer they would have carried on talking to that day, had she not put on her Superwoman cape and rescued Savannah from Millicent.

  She stared at the bracelet again, and wondered what would have happened if he’d given her the bracelet instead of the lingerie. Would she have taken it to mean that he thought more of her than just a sex object? Because that had been her initial reaction when she’d opened the bag and found the skimpy lingerie.

  She sent him a quick text, thanking him, and telling him it was lovely, and five minutes later he texted back saying he was glad she liked it.

  Her finger hovered over her cell phone button again, poised with another question, but he had clearly moved on now, and it was time that she did, too.

  ~ ~

  She liked it.

  He knew she would.

  Classy and chic, just like her.

  It had been tough, seeing her again. When she’d gone off with that doctor, it had been easier to forget her, but then she’d showed up at Tobias’s place. He knew she would have, it being a big day for the Stones’ to show off their new twins.

  He almost didn’t go, but Xavier had forced him to. Xavier who was so much calmer and laid back these days, had managed to get it out of him about Kay. He hadn’t told him everything, hadn’t in so many words talked about their arrangement, but just that they’d been together, and she had nursed him through his illness. That had been another thing Xavier hadn’t been too happy about. “You’re like a closed book, dude. It’s bad enough I don’t know who you’re sleeping with, but getting cancer and not telling me?”

  He’d left Tobias’s place quickly, because talking to her, laughing with her, being around her, reminded him of what he had lost. She looked happier. She looked damn good, and he was conscious of the fact that he didn’t. It wasn’t easy getting his medication right. It wasn’t easy recovering from cancer, and it wasn’t easy trying to move on with his life.

  And then Xavier had gone and told him that Kay had never been with Dr. Santini in the first place. And Savannah had casually mentioned that Kay was taking a break before she started her new job.

  It got him thinking—because he also needed a break.

  He could take a chance and risk it—and one of two things would happen. Either he’d piss her off so much that she’d think he was stalking her, or she’d actually listen.

  And if she was on an island, where was she going to go?

  Chapter 47

  “You don’t want to go to the waterfall, do
you?” Jacob asked her.

  Kay opened her mouth, and didn’t want to lie. So she didn’t say anything. She didn’t have the energy, or the inclination to traipse to the other end of the island. And she’d been playing tag with Jacob in the pool for the past hour. “It’s getting late, Jacob.” The sun was starting to set. “I don’t have your energy, sweetie. I need to recharge,” she told him. “Maybe tomorrow. How about we go first thing in the morning?” She’d have more energy then, before the sun beat down.

  “Okay,” he said, easily pleased. “I’m going to check on my bros.”

  She sat up on the sun lounger. “Don’t wake them up, Jacob. Your mommy’s trying to rest.” Savannah was always feeding them, or changing their diapers. And when she wasn’t doing that she was taking a nap with the babies while Tobias was probably taking care of business somewhere in the study. Thinking about it, she’d hardly seen him today.

  From what Kay could tell, this wasn’t much of a vacation for either of them, but they seemed happy. Jacob put his finger to his lips. “I’m in stealth mode,” he whispered. “I’m invisible.” She nodded, not completely understanding, but smiled and let him carry on.

  She lay back, letting the silence swirl all around her. Kawaya was so different now with just the Stones and her on it, give or take the few staff Tobias had who took care of the day-to-day maintenance on the island. They still had someone to cook and clean and take care of food and the pool. Just as well, given that Savannah had still been adamant about taking care of the twins herself.

  At the wedding, almost ten months ago, the place had been packed full of people, and the 24/7 party atmosphere had gone on for days. Now, as Kay turned and stared at the bar, everything stood desolate and empty. She imagined Luke standing there, serving people, being polite. Friendly enough, yet distant. She suddenly missed him being around and touched the bracelet around her wrist.

  Accepting Savannah’s generous offer to join them here, she had decided to come for a week, making the most of her break in between jobs. She envisioned a week of reading and relaxation, but Jacob—as sweet and as understanding as he was given his tender years—was full of energy. She was having trouble keeping up. What he needed was Izzy, or friends his age to keep him company. She was struggling already, and this had only been her second day here.

  Apparently Izzy and Xavier had also been invited, but the two of them had plans to vacation in Mexico this summer. She sighed, wanting to stay out here, but knowing that it would be time for dinner soon enough. The twins’ schedule dictated events, and Savannah preferred to eat after she’d given them their evening bath and feed.

  She quickly showered, and dressed, and joined them all for dinner at the table around the pool area.

  “An early night tonight, I think,” said Tobias.

  “Are you on night duty?” Savannah asked. “I’ve expressed milk for the next feeding time.”

  “What’s sesspressed milk?” Jacob asked, lifting his burger.

  Savannah grinned, and looked at Tobias to reply.

  “It’s…uh…” Tobias was never one to be stumped for words, and even Kay was curious to hear his explanation. “It’s milk that mommies have for the twins.”

  Jacob shrugged, suitably satisfied with this explanation, and bit into his burger.

  “Jacob wants to go to the waterfall in the morning,” Kay told them. “And I promised I’d take him. So don’t get worried if we’ve disappeared. In fact, you two can sleep in.”

  “I don’t know what that is anymore,” Savannah grumbled. Tobias patted her hand. “You can have a sleep in, and I’ll take care of the twins.”

  “They want what you haven’t got,” Savannah replied. “But just give them to me in bed and I’ll feed them while I’m still asleep.”

  “Why don’t you consider having some help?” Kay suggested, “Just so that you can have a bit of a break.”

  “No,” Savannah replied, smiling. “I’m loving every sleep-deprived moment. Besides, Max and Briony are coming out next week.”

  “You said they’d gone skiing.” Kay was sure this was what Briony had told her when she’d seen her at the gathering last week.

  “They’ve compromised. Briony got first choice. They’re skiing in Lake Tahoe this week, and coming here next week. Max wants to babysit.”

  “Ouch,” said Kay, remembering the conversation with Briony. “Is this in order to get more practice before they decide whether they’re going to adopt or not?”

  “Next week will be crunch time, according to Briony,” Tobias said. “She’s going to use that week to decide. I personally think she wants to do whatever makes Max happy but she’s going to get her hands dirty, and see if it’s the right thing for her.”

  “Oh, she’ll get her hands dirty,” quipped Savannah. “She’ll have a pretty good idea after an hour with the twins.”

  “Hmmmm.” Kay eased back into her chair, thinking about it, and what a life-changing decision it would be for those two. Compromise, and change, and going with the flow, wanting what made your partner happy—those seemed to be the basis of a good relationship, along with mutual love and respect, longing and desire. She looked away. Complicated, that’s what relationships were. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for them. She ate silently, lost in her own thoughts as the Stones laughed and talked about the day’s events. She looked around at their beaming faces, and dared to hope. Relationships weren’t impossibly hard, not if you found your soulmate. Tobias and Savannah were living proof of that. They made it look so easy.

  Conflicted, she sat back and looked out at the sea. The light of the moon danced across its surface, and it was eerily silent everywhere.

  “Time for a movie,” declared Tobias.

  “Time for popcorn!” exclaimed Jacob, jumping out of his seat.

  “It’s going to be a Marvel film, isn’t it?” Savannah asked.

  “We can watch Wonder Woman, mommy.”

  “It’s not the same as a rom-com, honey,” said Savannah. “I’m outnumbered already.”

  “We’re going to have to make some girls next time, just to even the numbers,” Tobias declared, rising from his chair while Jacob raced ahead of him.

  “That’s a lot of leveling to do,” Savannah replied.

  “I’m all for it.” He gave her a kiss, and the intimate moment between them made Kay look away.

  “Are you coming?” Savannah asked her, making her turn her attention back.

  “Not yet,” Kay decided. “I want to sit out here for a while. I’ll come in later.”

  “Okay.” Savannah cleared her throat. “You’re sitting out here for a while are you?” she repeated, in a slightly louder-than0-usual voice.

  Kay looked up, puzzled. “If that’s okay with you.” For a moment Kay wondered what was wrong with Savannah. She put it down to lack of sleep and baby overwhelm. “I just want to sit out here,” she said, looking up at that stars, so bright in the inky satin sky. “We can watch a rom-com in the other room, if you want.”

  “Not tonight,” Savannah replied. “I’ll give Wonder Woman a try.”

  When she disappeared into the main villa, Kay walked over and sat on one of the sun loungers. Looking up at the sky, she took a deep breath. This was beautiful, and peaceful, and perfect. She gazed out at the sea, at the lit up beach area with its fairy lights. Savannah had liked them and Tobias had asked that they be put up again.

  It was beyond pretty. Turning her head, she glanced at the bar area again and memories of Luke came flooding back.

  Holy shit.

  She blinked, and her heart almost jolted right out of her rib cage. She blinked again, then jumped up in shock. “You?” she exclaimed, staring at the vision behind the bar.

  This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.

  There, in his signature black t-shirt, was Luke. She battled shock and surprise and a tiny ball of excitement as she walked towards him, still shaking her head, still blinking and expecting the mirage to vanish any minute now. She told he
rself she was suffering the effects of jetlag, and she was overtired, and … losing her mind.

  But he stood there, smiling back at her. The image refused to disintegrate.

  “Luke?” she asked, tentatively, resting her arms on the bar, just short of touching him.

  “Hey,” he replied.

  “What are you doing here? When? How?” It was too much to take in. She stared at him, losing all sense of reason, and logic. Every bone in her body numbed.

  “Sorry to mess up your relaxing evening. I didn’t know when to come out,” he said, as if he hadn’t just upturned her world. Those lips, those eyes, that face—staring back at her, as real and as handsome as ever. A swarm of butterflies fluttered around in her stomach, and in the back of her mind she was still trying to process the information, still trying to get a handle on the shock of him being here. Luke Hunter, cool and undeniably sexy, stared at her with an intensity that shook her to her core.

  “Come out?”

  “I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, in his familiar, understated way.

  She snorted. Her heart beat furiously, and her insides shook as if they were having their very own surprise party. She was pleased, and angry, and excited.

  “Say something,” he said, when she was speechless again.

  “I…I don’t understand…you…here…Savannah never said…” she grappled for words, then took a hold of herself. “What are you doing here?” Max and Briony were coming, and Izzy and Xavier had been asked. She wondered if the stay at the island had turned into a couples vacation, and nobody had told her.

  “Savannah and Tobias asked if I’d like to come out.”

  “With who?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Who did you come with?”

  Her question seemed to confound him. “Just me.”

  Just him. She let out her breath.

  “I made you a cocktail,” he said, sliding the cocktail glass towards her.

  That got her started. “Don’t go getting any ideas—”