Not that Theo’s anywhere that someone could pay attention to him. He has totally and completely disappeared.
“Laney?” Addison says.
“I’m so sorry,” I say quickly. “I think I just started my period and I need to find the bathroom.”
Liar, I yell at myself internally.
My mother’s cringing back home, and she doesn’t know why. But I know she is.
I can feel it.
We don’t talk about periods. They areprivatematters and we all pretend for my father’s sake that they don’t exist.
But it’s the perfect excuse to dash away from the lanai and see where Theo went.
Yes. Yes, I’mthat woman, running after a guy who ran away when I told him I thought he was attractive.
Doesn’t take me long to realize it’s futile.
Of course I can’t find him.
It’s Theo.
His brain works in ways I can’t possibly understand.
No matter how much I want to.
But I still look all over. The gift shop. The alcove where I keep pulling him aside to talk. The beach. Our bungalow.
I do it all quickly, fully aware that I’m chasing a man who just disappeared because I awkwardly told him he wasattractive.
And I should just face the fact that this isn’t where I’m supposed to aim my attraction.
Spending time with Theo is giving me the courage to leap out of my box. But I shouldn’t consider it a long-term thing or anything.
That would probably end poorly for me.
How fast would he get bored?
Sofast.
I head back toward the lanai, feeling like a total and complete idiot, andfreaking Theo is waiting for me there.
Not just waiting for me.
Slipping an arm around my waist like we’re dating or something.
“Wherewereyou?” I whisper.God, this feels good to have him holding me against him. And the view under his open shirt—hello, chest tattoos. Oh,look. That’s a mountain lion peeking over the summit of the mountain we can see from Marmot Cliff back home amidst the landscape of his other tattoos. And it’sgorgeous.
Whoever did his ink did an amazing job.
I’m no longer tempted to ask him why he doesn’t button his shirts.
I don’t want to button his shirt.
“Checking the catering,” he replies.
“Catering’s fine. I stopped by the front desk this afternoon and confirmed it myself.”
