“Anything.”
“Swear.”
“I swear.”
“First, you gotta tell her this week.”
“Done.”
“Second, when you tell her, keep my name out of it. She never needs to know I agreed to keep my mouth shut. If she were to find out, she’d be pissed as hell at me.”
“I won’t utter your name. I swear. Thank you.”
“It’s really important, Ryan. Don’t throw me under the bus. I’ve known this girl since second grade and I’ve never lied to her. This past year, she’s felt utterly betrayed—beyond devastated. She’s always been a huge believer in honesty and integrity, but these days, she’s ultra-sensitive about it.”
“I understand. I promise. Your name won’t pass my lips. What’s your third condition?”
“At the end of all this, don’t you dare break my girl’s heart.Don’t you fucking dare. If anyone’s gonna get a broken heart here, or even so much as a splinter in a fingertip, you’d better make double-damn sure it’syou.”
32
Ryan
Charlotte and I hang up our call and Colby immediately pounces on me, wanting to know everything she said, but before I can say much of anything, Josh approaches our lounge chairs and we both clamp our mouths shut.
“Hey, hey, it’s the man of the hour,” I say to Josh. “What’s up, brother?”
“Hey, guys.” Josh looks at me. “Kat asked me to drag you out to sea, Ryan. We’re gonna snorkel with your parents and a bunch of Morgans before we gotta head in for dinner.”
“Cool. You good, Cheese?”
Colby holds up his book and beer. “Have fun, Jacques Cousteau.”
Josh and I amble across the sand toward a thatched hut filled with snorkeling equipment, chatting as we walk about the week’s upcoming activities.
“T-Rod pulled the whole week together for us,” Josh says. “That girl never lets me down. She’s not just my right-hand, she’s my right arm and leg, too.”
I smile and nod, but my stomach is suddenly clenching. “She seems extremely organized,” I say lamely.
Josh continues, “I had a chance to chat with Henn earlier today, right before he boarded his flight.”
“Oh, yeah? How’s he doing?”
“Good. He said you two are still hot on the trail of that flight attendant you met at The Pine Box?”
My stomach seizes.Shit. “Yeah, I, uh, had one last Hail-Mary-idea earlier today. It’s kind of a last-ditch effort type thing.”
“Henn also said something about her being Argentinian? I didn’t know that. I must have been with Kat when that detail came up.” Josh cocks his head. “You got a thing for Argentinians, Captain?”
My stomach flips over. “Nope. Not really. Can’t say that I do.”
“’Cause I noticed you scoping out T-Rod in the lobby when you first got here. Did you know she’s Argentinian?”
“She is? Oh, cool.” Okay, this is getting really uncomfortable. “I wasn’t scoping her out, in particular, I was just being a smart-ass. Sorry if I offended her. Or you.”
“Not at all. No worries. Hey, I think you should put some sunscreen on your face, Rum Cake. You’re getting a little red.” He smirks.
“Thanks. Fucking Seattle, right? I’m gonna burn to a crisp out here this week.”
