Yes, yes, I do. What I really need is to jump into that ocean right there and go for a long swim until I burn off all this anger, but that’s not an option, is it? And since I’ve already been embarrassed enough for one day, I need to man up and act like my career is riding on what I do next—because it is. Giving her an easy smile, I say, “I’m totally fine. Never better. Ready to race to the top.”
* * *
I’m currently on my third beer with no plans to stop until I’m blotto. I’m sitting oceanside at a table on the hotel’s restaurant patio, watching the sun sink down into the sea. Thankfully, for the first time in days, I’m alone with some time to think, which may or may not be a good thing. I stare down at my phone on the teak tabletop, and reread Arabella’s last text.Will, I’m so sorry about everything. I’m leaving for Vienna around six tomorrow morning, so I’m afraid it will be a few more days before we can talk this out in person. Call me if you want so I can grovel and tell you how much I love you. I’ll be back on Wednesday. I hope you’ll be there when I arrive home. If I’ve thrown away what we have together, I will never forgive myself.
I chew on my lip, my head swirling with everything that’s happened since we left the Caribbean. Honestly, nothing has gone right between us since we got off that plane. It’s like the entire world is trying to pull us apart.
As hurt as I am, I also don’t know if it’s one hundred percent her fault. Arthur pretty much talked her into believing the worst of me, and since he’s been her biggest influence her entire life and I’ve only known her for five months, it’s not a difficult leap for her to trust him over me. The problem is, the longer I’m gone, the more his voice will fill her head. Not to mention the fact that Ididtake off the first chance I got, Ididn’tcome back when I said I would, and Ihaveleft her to deal with the fallout from the show.
“There he is,” Kenneth calls from across the patio.
“Shit,” I mutter before turning and doing my best to look happy to see him. Honestly, I have no desire to be around anyone who was witness to my budding dysfunctional relationship.
He takes a seat at my table and stretches out his legs, eyeing the bottles of Phuket Lager lined up in front of me. “Party for one?”
“More like an evening of self-reflection.”
Is there any chance he’ll take the hint? I don’t think so either.
“Women, eh?” he says, flagging down the waitress, pointing at my drink and holding up four fingers.
“Nah, she’s not like that,” I say. “Anyone would crumble under the pressure.”
“That’s very charitable of you.”
“Where’s Lara?” I ask, hoping to steer the conversation away from my girlfriend to his.
“Back at the room. Her mum called. They’ll be yakking for a good hour.”
I nod as though I have the first clue what it’s like to take a call from your mum or have a girlfriend who has a mum, for that matter.
“Listen, I’ve got something that might cheer you up,” he says with a grin. “I talked to my head of development, and he thinks it’s possible to move up production on the outdoor gear line. So, rather than heading back to Valcourt for a battle royale, what would you say to spending the next few weeks with our design team in London?”
The waitress brings the beers, and he waits while she sets them on the table. I thank her while he has a swig. “Our branding department is already working on the perfect logo for you. I told the team about your idea for making the world’s lightest backpack, and theyloved it. And I don’t want you to feel like this is just something you’re stuck slapping your name on. I want you to beexcited, Will. You pick the colours, you pick the fabrics. If we work fast, we could be ready to roll out next spring.”
He leans back and smiles at me before tipping his bottle back again.
I open my mouth, then close it, not sure whether to be thrilled or filled with dread. I am definitely at a crossroads with Arabella, and the decision I make at this moment will most certainly determine so much more than my financial status. “Well, Kenneth, that is an incredible offer.”
“It’s the offer of a lifetime,” he says, narrowing his eyes a little. “But I can tell by your expression that you’re preoccupied by that business this afternoon. Don’t worry about it, okay? The entire crew is under strict orders not to say a word to anyone. No one will be airing your dirty laundry, or they’ll answer to me.”
My face burns with humiliation. “I appreciate that.”
“I mean, obviously there’s going to be a bit of attention coming your way when the world finds out you two broke up, but you know what they say about publicity…”
“Right, the thing is, we’re not going to break up,” I say. “At least I hope not. She was wrong about what happened, but she’s right that I did abandon her at a bad time, which doesn’t exactly make me good boyfriend material.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Seriously, mate?”
“I know it sounded bad, and it was, but she’s a wonderful person when her life isn’t falling apart.”
He sets his beer down. “Will, I’m a few years older than you, and I’ve been through my share of relationships with high-maintenance women. They’reallwonderful people when things are going their way, but the thing is, that can’t always be the case. Trust me, you’ll be much better off with someone who doesn’t expect quite so much. You don’t have to put up with shit from anyone—not with how rich and famous you’re about to become.”
“Kenneth, as much as I appreciate your advice, trust me when I say Arabella is worth the trouble. Not that there’s trouble usually. Can we just say it’s a very stressful time for both of us and leave it at that?”
“Suit yourself, but I was serious earlier about supermodels. I don’t know whether it’s all the starving they do or what, but generally speaking, they’re surprisingly low-maintenance. Lara has dozens of friends in the industry who I’m sure would be thrilled to date a guy like you.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”
