by Marta Brown
“Hey, Lacy,” I call out, pushing my way to where she is, and not surprisingly finding Trevor Garrison with her. With the quick way he eyes her as she smiles at my approach, I get the feeling he knows exactly how it feels to be in the friend zone.
“Hey, yourself,” Lacy purrs, either ignoring the way Trevor’s face falls, or being as oblivious to it as Katie is to me. “It’s about time. I was hoping you were gonna come tonight. Katie said she wasn’t sure. You know,” Lacy drops her voice, “after today and all.”
I suck in a deep breath. She told Lacy, too?
“Speaking of,” I grind out while trying to keep my jaw from shattering under the pressure I’m applying. “Do you know where Katie is?”
Or better yet… do you know who she is? Because the girl who would go around telling people she barely knows—or even really likes—about what happened to me out there today is not the same girl I know. Not my best friend.
Lacy drops her shoulders in a huff. “Ugh. You, too? I just don’t get it. At. All.” She shakes her head before jutting her chin in the direction of Sunset Key Island. “But, whatever. Last I saw, her and Brad were headed to the ferry dock.”
The ferry dock? But, why?
As if she can read my mind—or she just wants to rub it in—she takes a sip of her drink before giving me a sickly sweet smile. “They’re going to the suite.”
Oh, yeah. The suite. I’d almost forgotten.
As if a thousand dollars each and bragging rights wasn’t enough, two nights in the hotel’s exclusive honeymoon bungalow, which typically runs no less than thirteen hundred dollars a night, was also part of the prize package.
“Brad has tonight, and I get it tomorrow.” Lacy winks. “If you know what I mean.”
Oh, I know exactly what she means.
What I can’t believe is Katie would go there knowing that, too. Then again, I’m not sure I know Katie quite as well as I thought I did these days.
Either way, I rush to the dock and manage to catch them before the passenger ferry that runs to the island and back every half hour starts to load. “Katie,” I say half out of breath, but fully furious. “I need to talk to you. Now.”
Giving Brad an unsure smile, which he doesn’t bother to return because he’s too busy eyeing me up and down, she steps out of line. “Is everything okay?” Katie asks, her brows furrowed with worry.
I take a few steps back so we’re just out of earshot of Brad and the rest of the passengers awaiting the ferry’s arrival. “Actually, no. Nothing is okay,” I spit, unable to keep the anger from my voice. “I can’t believe you told him. And Lacy, too. I thought we were friends, best friends, remember? I guess I didn’t think I needed to start adding a disclaimer to keep everything I tell you in private to yourself.”
Katie crosses her arms. “Ollie, what are you talking about?”
“I know you told Brad I panicked out there. I trusted you, and you told him—of all people. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You did say you’d give anything to have an epic summer romance.” I throw my arms out in the direction of Sunset Key’s private hotel suites lining the tiny island just across the water, my blood racing.
“So, congratulations. You’re getting exactly what you wanted—your big storybook ending. I just didn’t know the book was more Fifty Shades of Grey and less Sense and Sensibility, that’s all.”
Chapter 29
Katie
More Fifty Shades of Grey? And less Sense and Sensibility?
When the words hit, I stumble back, unsure what’s wider—my eyes or my jaw. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” I ask with as much venom as Oliver just spewed at me, despite understanding his insinuation perfectly.
“You know exactly what I mean,” he says between clenched teeth, his voice softer now, but still angry. “You’ve changed. And I’m not just talking about your clothes.” He waves his hands at the slim-fitted hot pink dress I’m wearing to drive home his point, but it only makes me madder.
Pulling in a deep breath, I narrow my eyes at my best friend. I know he’s had a bad day, and frankly, between his mom’s engagement, losing the race, and having a panic attack, he’s having a pretty bad week. But regardless, I don’t deserve to have it taken out on me, especially since he’s the one who encouraged me to change in the first place.
“That’s real convenient, Oliver. So, you can talk to your mom, Megan, and my grandparents about me, but I can’t talk to my boyfriend about you? And for your information, I didn’t tell him anything about what you told me. All I said was that I was worried about you. So, if he knows anything else, it didn’t come from me.”
“But—”
I hold up my hand and stop him. “I’m not finished yet. Let’s not forget you’re the one who told me to be more like my sister, remember? At our first kite-surfing lesson? And now that I’ve taken your advice and I’ve let loose a little, you’re accusing me of changing too much? Well, I’m sorry if you don’t like the person I’ve become.”
“You’re sorry if I don’t like the person you’ve become?” Oliver lets out a humorless laugh before dragging his hands through his hair, looking as exasperated as I feel. “I’m not even sure I know the person you’ve become. Because the girl I do know sure as hell wouldn’t be headed off to a hotel to sleep with a guy she barely knows.”
Pursing my lips, I try to bite back the hurt and embarrassment I feel bubbling up, but I fail. Is that what this is really about? He thinks I’m going to sleep with Brad? Oh, that’s rich. “So, let me get this straight. You don’t want me, but no one else can have me either?”
Oliver furrows his brows as a look of confusion washes over his face. “What… what do you mean by that?”
“Oh, come on. You don’t have to pretend anymore.” I glance over my shoulder at Brad watching us impatiently, before turning back to Oliver and lowering my voice, “I might have had a little too much to drink that night, but I remember enough to know you didn’t want me, even after I practically begged. So, no—you don’t get to shame me now that I’ve got a guy who does want me back. And honestly, Ollie, I don’t get why in the hell you even care!”
Oliver pulls in a tight breath, takes a beat as he rakes his eyes over my face, and then blurts out the very last thing I expect.
“Because I fucking love you, Katie, that’s why.”
“You what?” I manage to choke out, unsure if I’m more shocked by Ollie’s declaration, or by the way it makes my heart feel, until he starts to stutter.
“Um… I mean… you’re my best friend and…”
I drop my eyes to the ground, embarrassed I let myself, even for a moment, believe he meant it in any other way. Of course he doesn’t mean ‘he loves me’ loves me. No. He loves me the same way he loves Megan or his mom—like family—like a best friend. And that’s all.
Hoping my face hasn’t betrayed the small part of my heart that for a split second thought he was serious, I reach out to take his hand. “I love you too, Ollie, but—”
“Don’t,” he says, jerking it away. “Just don’t. I shouldn’t have said anything. Just forget it all.” Shoving his hands into the back pockets of his cargo shorts, he nods his chin in the direction of the ferry that’s begun boarding “Go be with your boyfriend, and I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Ollie—”
“No. It’s fine. Just go.”
I dart my eyes from Brad to Oliver and despite everything in my body screaming it’s not fine, considering this is the first fight Ollie and I have ever had, I also know when he wants to be alone. And right now, I can tell he really doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Fine. But I’m going to call you later because I still have some things I’d like to say.” Like how sorry I am for throwing myself at him and then acting like I didn’t remember only to throw it back in his face when all he was trying to do was make sure I didn’t do something I might regret.
“Fine, we’ll talk later,” he breathes out, deflating like a kite whose
emergency ripcord just got yanked, before stalking off and disappearing into the crowd.
“It’s about time,” Brad says, tossing his arm over my shoulder and guiding me onto the ferry when I make my way back in line. “What was that all about?”
With my stomach in knots, I shake my head. “It was nothing,” I say as we pull away from the shore, despite feeling the complete opposite. “Just best friend stuff. You know?”
“No. Not really. I don’t actually believe guys and girls can be best friends—unless you’re friends with benefits—so I guess I don’t really get the whole you and Oliver thing. But, whatever.” He shrugs. “I don’t really care as long as I’m the only one getting the benefits. If you know what I mean,” he says, wagging his eyebrows as he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me tight against his body, his intention quite clear.
When we finally reach Sunset Key, I’m fairly certain any amount of blush I had is gone. No longer am I a sun-kissed shade of pink, but rather a seaweed shade of green thanks to the waves rocking the tiny ferry. “It’s getting pretty bad out. Are you sure it’s a good idea we’re here?” I ask Brad as I glance back at the dark, angry ocean, the wind whipping my hair across my face.
“And give up a thirteen-hundred-dollar room for the night because of a little wind? Not a chance.” Brad takes my hand and pulls me along the palm tree-lined walkway towards the other side of the island to an adorable yellow and white beachfront bungalow overlooking nothing but ocean as far as the eye can see. Which—in this weather—isn’t very far.
“And even if the storm does bear down on us, I’m sure there are plenty of things we can think to do in the dark.” Brad winks, which I think is supposed to be flirty, but like the storm, it only seems to set me more on edge. Much like the room when he pushes open the door, flips on the light, and pulls me in after him.
I turn around, alarmed. “Uh… it only has one bed,” I say, despite that being obvious since the bedroom, kitchenette, and living room all share one large, open space, and we’re standing smack dab in the middle of the room.
Brad shuts the door, slips the small, brass chain into its locked position, and then saunters towards me wearing a confident smirk. “Exactly.”
“But—” I start to say before his hands wrap around my waist and he cuts me off with a kiss. I try to settle into the moment, here in this beautiful place with Brad Garrison of all people, but I can’t stop my mind from racing. If there’s only one bed, where is everyone going to sleep? And why aren’t they here yet? And did the lights just flicker?
Pulling away, I let out a tentative laugh, trying to keep my voice light despite my growing unease. “So, is everyone just going to crash on the floor, or is there another room or two hiding behind one of these doors?” I say, swinging open the nearest door to find nothing but a small bathroom tucked behind it. Unless… I give a quick glance around the room to check on possible future fort potential and realize one big room might be fun, like a giant sleepover of sorts. Not to mention taking some of the pressure off being alone with Brad all night.
“You know what?” I smile, even though a tinge of disappointment runs through me that Ollie isn’t here to share in the fun. “There are definitely enough cushions and pillows to make sure everyone is comfy.”
“Oh, we’re going to be plenty comfy,” Brad says, taking my hand and guiding me towards the large, white bed, “because we have the room all to ourselves.”
Wait. What did he just say?
I stop short, my eyes darting around the room as the lights flicker again. “Um, what about Lacy and Trevor? I thought you said we were all going to get together and share the room this weekend. You know, hang, like we did at your apartment?”
Brad lets out an incredulous laugh. “No, I said we were all going to share the hotel room for the weekend—that way we could have time to get together. And then Lacy and Trev, or whoever she wants, can have it tomorrow night,” he says, staring at me like the idea of us all just hanging out in this luxury hotel suite together is a crazy idea. Which, in hindsight, makes way more sense, but unfortunately, it doesn’t help ease my nerves. At. All. Especially considering I never would have come if I thought it was just going to be Brad and me alone all night.
I mean, it’s barely our third date. And as the lights flicker one last time before zapping out completely, I finally see—now that it’s pitch black—exactly what Ollie was trying to warn me about.
Stepping out of Brad’s hold, half startled by the sudden loss of light, and half at the fact I’m on a secluded island in the complete dark with a guy I hardly know, I fumble for my phone and its handy flashlight app.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I manage to find it at the bottom of my clutch, the small screen casting a cool blue light into the room and allowing me to see my surroundings again. “It looks like the storm is getting really bad. Maybe we should head back,” I say, peering out the window at the rain and wind pelting the palms outside.
“Why would we want to leave now?” Brad smiles, moving towards me. “It’s not like we need the lights on anyway. I mean, unless you’re into that kind of thing.”
As he drops his head to kiss me again, I stumble backwards until my back is pressed against the latched door and my stomach feels like it’s in my throat.
I’m not really into anything. Except maybe books. But I’m pretty sure that wasn’t his way of asking what my hobbies are—since he’s never really asked me anything about myself before.
“I’m not sure… we’re on the same page,” I stutter, trying to find the right words. “I… uh… thought we were just going to hang out tonight. So, you know, we could talk and get to know one another better. I mean, it’s only our third date.”
“Exactly,” Brad says, blowing out a long, exasperated breath. “It’s our third date.”
Oh, good. He does get it. A small smile creeps across my face as I let the tension I’m holding in my shoulders go, feeling stupid for assuming all Brad would want to do in the dark is hookup.
Apparently, Ollie and I were both wrong. Brad just wants to talk, too.
Feeling better about the whole situation, despite the intensifying storm and our lack of power, I move across the room and flop onto the bed. I guess we can hang out for a little bit longer. “So, what do you want to talk about?”
“How about we talk about you…?” he says, crossing the room and joining me on the bed, the mattress caving in the middle under our combined weight and forcing us closer together. “And me.”
I gulp at the low cadence of his tone as my phone’s tiny light casts a dark shadow over his face. “What… about us?”
He runs his finger down my cheek and then across my lips. “How about this?” He leans down and kisses me, coaxing my mouth open with the flick of his tongue as he moves his body on top of mine.
Okay. This isn’t exactly what I meant when I said talk.
Squirming out from underneath him, I sit up and draw in a deep breath, an uneasy giggle escaping my throat. “Forget about the same page—I’m not sure we’re even reading the same book,” I joke to ease my growing discomfort.
“Ugh. What now?” Brad almost growls, dragging his hands through his hair, clearly frustrated. “You already said it—it’s our third freaking date. How much harder am I gonna have to work to get laid around here? You’re into me. I’m into you. So, what’s the problem?”
What’s the problem? Besides the brass assumption a third date somehow dictates a girl should give it up, I don’t know. Isn’t this what I wanted? An epic summer romance?
And what’s more romantic than finally losing my V-card in the honeymoon suite on a secluded island with the rain pouring outside? Nothing. Except maybe some candles, some soft music, and…
“Oliver.” The second his name leaves my lips, the butterflies I felt the night of our fake date when he kissed me in the fort hits me full force, making my stomach feel like the inside of the Butterfly Conservatory. In an instant, I know exactly what the pro
blem is. Brad Garrison is no Oliver Hayes.
Pushing off the bed, I’m hit with the realization that everything I’ve ever wished for has been right in front of my face the whole time. I’ve just been too wrapped up in trying to be more like my sister that I’ve forgotten who I am.
I’m Katie Quinn. The kind of girl who dreams of getting kissed in the rain by the hero at the end of the book—not the girl who loses her virginity to a practical stranger because the room was free and it’s their third freaking date.
Chapter 30
Oliver
Still upset about my fight with Katie, I pace my tiny bedroom as the storm outside grows almost as loud as the one inside my head. How could I be so stupid? Blurting out I love you right before she’s about to go and hookup with that jackass. Smooth, Ollie. Real smooth.
At least I had enough sense to stop her before she could give me the “I love you too, but…’ speech. I don’t think I could take it right now. My nerves are raw enough, and I’m afraid my confession might just ruin what we already have. That is, if accusing her of changing into someone I don’t even know doesn’t do it first.
Who’s the jackass now?
“Hey, Ollie?” Megan calls from the living room, the tinge of worry in her voice pulling me out of my head for a brief moment.
“Yeah?” I reply, opening my bedroom door as the lights flicker for about the hundredth time. Surprisingly, they stay on, but by the sound of it outside, not for much longer.
“The stormed turned.”
“I figured as much.” I walk into the living room and flop onto the couch next to her, the television tuned to CNN. “Big Pop’s joints don’t lie.”
Megan pulls her attention from the weather reporter getting pummeled by hurricane-force wind and rain on the TV and scrunches her brows. “Come again?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head and manage to smile for the first time since stalking off the beach after watching Katie and Brad board the ferry to Sunset Key. “Just something Gerald said earlier. And speaking of…” I start as a tattered piece of awning with the Griddle’s logo whizzes past the reporter’s head, “I better give him a call and see if he or Betty needs anything before the cell towers go out.” And selfishly, make sure Katie made it back okay, too.