“Your ex-fiancée really took out the trash when dumping you, didn’t she?”
My head yanks back.Excuse me?My eyes form slits, and my grip tightens around my paddle. “You're the perfect example of why they say, ‘Less is more.’”
Caroline keeps yelling something, but I’m too livid to hear what she’s saying. I am ending this competition rightnow.
I swing. And miss.
After catching my balance from the rocking, I strike again. Her paddle flies from her hands and hits the water with a splash.
I mock a smile at Victoria’s slack-jawed expression.Bitch.
Suddenly, my paddle gets yanked from my grip. It almost slips away, but I catch the tail end of it. I tug as hard as I can. So does she.
She already has the Blakemans. She can’t have this too.
Our tug-of-war continues. Expletives are flying between us. She seems stronger than me, but I don’t back down. I can only imagine what those drones in the sky are projecting on the massive screen near the finish line. Usually, I’d be embarrassed to lose my composure, but sometimes, you have to take a stand for what you believe in.
“Just let go!” Caroline repeats for the second time. At first I think she’s telling me to give up, then my brain registers why. I trust her.
I let go. Victoria jolts backward, and nature takes over. The incoming wave helps flip their kayak.
Caroline stops paddling, and we scan the water to make sure they’re okay. I’m not a monster; I’d consider rescuing them if needed. Seconds later, the Bellini Babes emerge.
“You and your fake wife can go to hell.” Victoria groans and slams her fist against their upside-down kayak. “I don’t need to tell the Blakemans. They’ll see it. You two don’t even look like a real couple!”
I scoff. We’re beautiful together. Hell, I’ve had more fun with Caroline than I had with someone of seven years. Caroline’samazing. Sometimes I swear I’m falling in love with her—wait. Am I? That’s not possible, is it? In less than three weeks?
I return to reality and watch the couple scramble to get back inside their kayak. I tilt my head toward Victoria as Caroline paddles us away. “Darling, your opinions are like your taste in shoes: outdated and irrelevant.”
Behind us now, Victoria screeches in defeat in that annoying, tantrum way I remember after putting up the anti-bullying billboard—as if she’s realizingwe’regoing to be the Sapphic Olympic champions, not them. I don’t hear what she’s screaming because my mind is too occupied with thoughts of falling in love with the woman next to me.
An explosion of cheers and whistles yanks our attention toward the beach. My jaw drops.
The blue kayak is parked in the sand, and two women are jumping up and down, hugging.
We lost…
And yet, when I remember the sight of Victoria flying into the water, I can't help feeling like a victor.
Caroline and I reach the finish line and graciously accept the fans' appreciation for our performance. With this size of crowd packed with queer women celebrating us, it’s near impossible to not keep my head held high. And I’ll forever savor the memory of watching Victoria march up the shore, drenched like a mad cat getting a bath. At least she’s smart enough to not make a scene in front of the Blakemans. Then again, the only thing more fascinating than her lack of self-awareness is her audacity to share it. We lock eyes briefly, then she redirects her attention to her wife. I guess we’re even now.
I thank the Blakemans, who won’t stop hugging the four of us. According to Mae, she had Sunny pick up Quilliam, and now Sunny is pet-sitting with her ex-girlfriend. Lynn tears up as the crowd chants that silly song Lady Shiba taught us, the one I’m finding myself singing as well. I can imagine that her happy tears aren't due to the competition or the results, but the unity of the community that creates them.
All three teams stand on the championship podium, and the announcer starts to present our rewards. While applauding the third-place team, Caroline meets my gaze with a toothy grin that’s impossible to not adore. She has the most beautiful smile. Us bickering over furniture during round one seems like a lifetime ago.
It’s our turn to get medals placed over our heads. Caroline slides her hand into mine and intertwines our fingers. We share a laugh, and she lifts our hands to the sky while our team name is called.Jousting Joneses. My stomach flutters uncontrollably from her touch combined with the joy surrounding me. I make note to give her a nice, long massage later and to come up with a memorable way to thank her.
What if whatever’s between us is more than the effects of this island paradise? Maybe Iamfalling in love with Caroline King.
I don’t care that we’re in front of what feels like the entire island. I wrap my arms around Caroline’s neck and kiss her passionately. The world fades away as her grip on my waist tightens. She deepens the kiss, sending my brain to another world. At this moment, I don’t feel the pain from Seattle or from the expectation to become what someone else wants me to be. Thoughts about Victoria Miller vanish. With Caroline by my side, Iwon. It’s us against the world.
For the first time, I don’t feel like a spectator on my own damn honeymoon.
CHAPTER 21
CAROLINE
I’m spendingmy lunchtime video chatting with a woman who looks and sounds like Basil—with the exception of a few aging lines, but this isn’t her. Despite working for Juliette Jones for years, this is our first time being face to face. Kaydence and were right: Juliette doesn’t seem like the type of person you want on your bad side. Her composure matches her appearance, demanding respect. She methodically pauses before speaking and talks at a slower pace than Basil does. Each time she leans forward in her chair to write something down, I catch a glimpse of a picture of her standing next to Basil, a bottle of wine in each hand and a vineyard bursting with grapes in the background. Another reminder that she’s my target’s mother.
