More than a little. I don’t get to play much these days, so my game has slipped. But there was a time when my handicap was in the low single digits. Warren’s a pretty good player himself. The same can’t be said for Julian, which begs the question of why we’re here. Although if I had to guess, it was Emily’s decision. Her father, Ross, and Warren apparently play together every week. No doubt Emily wants Julian in on that action.
The upshot of all this is I beat every last one of them. By several shots. Despite their handicaps. And Warren is not happy. He’s what I’d call a sore loser. Shocker.
“Well, I suppose you have plenty of time on your hands for practicing. More than if you had a challenging career.”
I must have really dented his ego for that one to slip through. Either that or he’s already getting tired of his plan to kill my relationship with Lilavati with kindness. Either way, I’m not letting this complete tosser get under my skin.
“Yeah, that’s probably it. Imagine how my game will improve when I retire.” I meet his gaze head-on and grin. Leaving him unsure whether that was the comment of a clueless idiot or asnide dig. His already flushed face goes a little darker, but he doesn’t respond.
I busy myself with eating the ahi salad I ordered and ignore the pretentious conversation going on around me. There’s not a single soul in this group of men I’d piss on if they were on fire, much less choose to go on holiday with. But at least the food is good.
I keep my phone face down on the table, hoping for a message from Lil.
I primed Warren earlier, saying she’d woken with a headache, and I thought the jet lag might be catching up with her.
In truth, for someone who works the hours she does, I can’t believe she didn’t crash and burn earlier last night. But I’m grateful she didn’t. Because it was hands down the best night of my life. And not just the skinny dipping or the sex. Lil has, for the most part, dropped her prickly persona with me. And what I see now is a smart, funny, generous and loving soul. And I’m honoured that she feels safe enough with me to show her soft underbelly.
The clear blue Hawaiian skies are only marred by the knowledge that I have to tell her—sooner rather than later—about my business interests. Our relationship is developing at warp speed, and it’s not okay to be lying, even if it is only by omission. I have tried, but circumstances have conspired against me, as they say. I’m enjoying her company so much that I’m finding it hard to ruin the mood. We also haven’t had a lot of time—at least the right kind of time—to talk. I don’t want to just blurt it out late at night, or when we’re on our way to another torturous event. I have to pick the right moment.
I can only hope that when I do tell her, which I plan to do this afternoon, she understands. And in reality, as long as nobody else knows, the family will still think I’m not the man for her, so we should be golden. I hope.
I’m about to order myself a second beer when the phone chimes.
Lil:In a cab on my way back to the room. ETA 45
I send a thumbs-up emoji and arrange a frown on my face.
“Oh, no. That was Lilavati. Her headache is worse. She’s on her way back to the resort.” I wipe my mouth with the napkin and stand. “Thanks for an enjoyable game, everyone.”
“You’re leaving?” Julian says in surprise, as though my partner being ill doesn’t equate with me being needed. Emily’s getting a real gem with this one. I suspect they deserve each other.
“Well, yeah. Lil’s not well. I’ll head back and take care of her, make sure she has what she needs.”
“She’s a grown woman. You don’t need to be there to hold her hand for a headache,” Julian’s father says with a shake of his head that indicates I’m under the thumb.
“You’re right. She is a grown woman who can take care of herself. But she’s my woman, and I intend to be there for her in whatever way she needs. Have a nice afternoon.” I flip them a wave, and it takes everything in me not to turn it into a bird.
The golf course is only a couple of minutes from the resort, so I have time to peel off my sweaty golf clothes, throw on boardies and a rashie and gather towels, sunscreen and snorkel gear before Lilavati appears. She’s followed by a bellboy laden down with more bags than I’d have thought possible to fill in one morning.
Lil sees my look and laughs.
“I may have got carried away.”
She disappears into the bedroom and returns two minutes later in a different, but no less appealing, bikini and sarong than yesterday, face clear of make-up, hat in hand.
I pass her the shopping bag I picked up in the hotel gift shop on my way back to the room.
“What’s this?” Her face has broken into a mile-wide smile.
I nod towards the bag, and her hand dives in, coming out with a cute floral zip-up rashie.
“I didn’t want your back getting burnt again.” I pull a pair of scissors out of the knife block in the kitchen and hand them over for her to cut off the tags.
“Aww. Thank you.” She snips the strings and puts the rashie in the mesh bag I’m holding open for her. “Let’s go. If we’re lucky, we’ll have time for a nap before tonight’s entertainment. Because you’re going to need to be in top form. Grandie has sat us next to her.”
Great.
In the end, we do have time for a nap. Although not much sleeping gets done.
