But she’s not, and we both know it. We also know a conversation about Shane is off the table. Their highlight reel is all I’m allowed, and I understand. I don’t know that I want more than that, but Iwantto want more. I want to be there for her.
Wren gets my attention by saying, “I bet Klein is laying Paisley out every night. And every morning too, probably, right Paisley? Is Klein a morning guy?” Excitement widens her eyes. “I bet that’s why you were late arriving!”
If only that was the reason. “More like taking care of Klein’s jellyfish sting.”
They groan collectively. Farhana asks, “Is he okay?”
“A typical reaction, thankfully. Not severe.”
“Paisley’s going to have to give him the good loving tonight,” Wren quips. “The guy took a plane, car, and ferry to spend the week with your ex, and ends up stung by a jellyfish.”
I keep my eyes off my sister on purpose. I don’t want to see whatever look is on her face, and I don’t want her to feel like she has to plaster on a certain expression formy benefit. I hadn’t thought about how this might feel for her, having Shane around his ex all week. In my head, he’s my ex. I never think of myself as his.
To be fair, it’s not as if I invited myself here. And it’s true that none of us would be in this position if my sister weren’t marrying him. But this is the first time we’ve all three been in the same room. And it’s not just one room, one time. It’s a weeklong party. There’s anitinerary.
Is Sienna, now that she is in the thick of it, regretting any of this?
The conversation moves on. We finish assembling gifts.
By the time I’m climbing back on my golf cart, my sister and Shane are far from my mind.
But Klein? He’s at the forefront.
And I have an idea.
CHAPTER 30
Klein
I liedto Paisley about how much the sting hurt. It killed me the ride back to the house, and going up the stairs was agony. But leaning on her small frame, watching her prepare the hot water, and offer to help me undress? There were anesthetic properties in her care.
I’m on the bed in the towel I’d wrapped around myself when I got out of the bathtub and shucked my wet shorts. The sting looks mean, red and angry, but on the bright side it’s not keeping me from lying down. The pain when it happened was shocking, almost like electricity at first, and then a hot throbbing. It has dulled now, thanks to Paisley nursing me.
I wonder how much longer Paisley will be gone? I should probably get dressed. Looking out the window though, at the glimmering blue ocean, it’s not easy to make myself get up. I won’t have this view forever. I’ll spend a few more minutes savoring it, then I’ll dress.
We’ve been on the island for three days, and I haven’t been able to figure out Paisley’s family yet. It’s hard to putmy finger on it, but they’re missing something. A cohesion, perhaps? They seem like satellites, existing in the same orbit, but never touching. I’ve always understood that people can be rich in a variety of ways, and now I’m seeing firsthand what it means to have monetary wealth, but be lacking in love and belonging and acceptance.
It’s not a topic I like to think about, but even with my dad?—
“Hey,” comes a soft, tentative voice.
I’m smiling before my eyes meet hers.
Paisley hovers in the open doorway. Her hair is tied on the top of her head, messy, still windblown and beach matted from earlier. She hadn’t cleaned up before going to meet her sister. She’d only taken care of me.
“How are you feeling?” Paisley closes the door softly behind her. She bites the corner of her lower lip nervously, but her eyes dance, mischievous.
“You didn’t get dressed?” she asks, coming closer.
I look down at the towel. “I thought I had a little more time before you came back. If you want to bring me my clothes, I’ll get dressed.”
Instead of walking to the bathroom for my things, Paisley comes closer to the bed. She settles down at the end, sitting the same way I sat yesterday morning when I brought her coffee.
“May I?” she reaches for me, fingers brushing my ankle. “Just want to check on the patient.”
I turn my right leg over, just enough so she can see the red line. She sucks air through her teeth at the sight. “My grandma left that cream, if you want it.” Paisley pats her shorts pocket. “I picked it up before I came in here.”
“Maybe later,” I answer, because at this precise moment I’d rather not smell medicinal.
