Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“You can have the air fryer,” I offered, which I thought was pretty big of me, considering how often I used it to reheat leftover pizza.
“All right,” she said, pushing it into her pile.
“And the espresso machine?” I asked.
“It’s yours. I gave up coffee weeks ago. I swapped to tea to help with my insomnia.”
Had she?
At the time, I didn’t understand why she was uprooting our life together for no good reason. It’s not as if she was desperate for the next steps, a proposal or children or something, and I was acting as a roadblock. I figured we would get there eventually. I want all of that. We never fought, barely disagreed. She was so easygoing and seemed to want everything I wanted.
I’m still not wholly convinced we’ve done the right thing.
I regret not fighting harder for her, not saying something that compelled her to stay and give me a chance.
For the last year, I’ve imagined a future with Vivienne by my side. Now I’m storming down a hall, angry over a conversation with a woman I barely know. Casey is nothing like Vivienne. Of that much, I’m certain.
Chapter Eight
CASEY
I’ve never seen water as crystal clear as the ocean surrounding the dock in Key West. It’s a tropical paradise, so irresistibly inviting, especially with the late-morning sun bearing down from overhead. I’m almost tempted to shuck off my shoes, toss my bag aside, and take a quick dip. Unfortunately, I’m on the clock.
We’re waiting on the dock for the rest of our group to arrive so we can start our tour of Old Town. There’s a local tour guide, a guy about my age with shaggy brown hair and intricate tattoos along his right arm. He’s a total beach bum, but he pulls it off well. Not my usual type, per se, but I still blush a little when he gives me a quick once-over as we go around the circle and introduce ourselves.
He does a head count as he walks around the group, finding an excuse to stop right beside me. Smooth.
“What did you say your name was again?”
“Casey,” I say, smiling.
“Ricardo.”
I accept his handshake and find it refreshing that he seems eager to be in my company. It’s a far cry from Phillip, that’s for sure.
“Been to the Keys before?”
The way he asks the question, it’s dripping with innuendo.
“Never.”
He grins, flashing a white smile. “You’re in for a treat.”
“I’m here! I’ve arrived!” singsongs a familiar British accent. “Call off the search party!”
It’s Sienna, strolling toward our group without a care in the world. She’s wearing a thin crochet dress that reveals a neon-green bikini underneath. Whereas I’m trying to skirt the line between paradise chic and business casual, she’s able to go full-on vacation mode, and the difference is glaring. She looks gorgeous.
I half expect Ricardo to realize his mistake in chatting me up first and push me off the dock in an attempt to get to her, but he only gives her a smile and a nod. “Our last arrival.”
“Hello, everyone! Apologies. I got turned around on the boat.”
That’s probably a huge lie. If she’s anything like me, she’s nursing a killer hangover and wishing she could lie in bed all day. I’m actually feeling better, though. Breakfast helped.
Ricardo introduces himself to Sienna and then directs us over to the curb where another tour guide gives us a wave. “Now that we’re all together, we can set off. We have two three-row golf carts, big enough for our entire group if we split in two. Joseph will drive the second golf cart, but we’ll be making all the same stops and largely staying together.”
Sienna sidles up next to me, mouthing a complaint about her head aching. I can’t help but laugh, thinking back on our night.
As we all head toward the golf carts, she asks if I’ve eaten. “I didn’t manage to snag anything on my way down here.”
I open my bag and tip it toward her so she can peer in. There’s a to-go box from the dining room, sitting on top of all my stuff. “I brought you food.”
Her jaw drops. “You’re joking.”
I take out the small container and hand it over to her. “It’s a few pastries. They’re probably a little smashed, but they were delicious. Here.”
“Oh my god, where have you been all my life?” She cracks the lid and laughs. “Christ. There’s enough here to feed an army.”
“Casey?”
Ricardo tries to get my attention, and I look over to see he’s waving me toward his golf cart. “There’s room up here.”
He’s indicating the seat beside him.
Sienna titters under her breath. “Ah, a little vacation romance brewing? My, my. You work fast.”
“Don’t even go there.”
“He’s cute. What’s wrong with him?” she asks, taking a huge bite of a croissant.
“I’m working,” I say as if we both weren’t three sheets to the wind and acting like fools in her suite last night.