It was. Markus was standing on the beach, interrupting just when she was starting to get answers.
She waved like she was excited to see him. She wasn’t. This is what happened when partners weren’t communicating.
Gabby yelled to shore, “I’m busy! I’ll see you later.”
Markus frowned back, clearly wondering what was going on. She was solving everything on her own—that’s what. And Markus was not giving Glen Powell vibes at the moment. Gabby might not be able to kneel on a paddleboard or have washboard abs, but she was about to take down the president of the United States, if Naomi’s story agreed with Jasmine’s that is. This is what happened when you gave a woman a week to do her job without kids. Or maybe she’d end up in prison. Gabby was rapid-cycling between visions of triumph and despair at this point.
Naomi, apparently done with the distractions, was gliding away looking like some sort of Athleta cover model. Gabby tried her best to keep up, but she was putting a ton of energy into going nowhere, a move she was familiar with in and out of the water.
“Naomi, wait up!” she called. “Geez, how are you going so fast?”
Naomi glanced over her shoulder. Even without seeing her expression, Gabby could tell she was annoyed.
“You know I’m not some vapid girl who will spill everything for love. Love—” She let the word hang in the air, not sounding convinced. Had she been burned? Or maybe she was too practical to be guided by softer emotions.
“Isn’t love worth it?” Gabby said. “Sure, it’s not perfect, butdon’t you want someone you can weather the storm with? We all need a safe harbor.”
Gabby glanced at Markus onshore. A day ago, she would have fantasized about Markus as hers.
“I might love Jasmine, but I’m not silly enough to think this is our ticket to happiness. The timing isn’t great, Gia. She’s still married, and I don’t understand fully what’s going on, but if I need an immunity deal to be with her, that’s not a good sign.”
Gabby didn’t want to hear it. “Maybe it’s right person, wrong time currently, but I’m fixing all that. It’s going to be the right time as soon as you testify.”
Naomi laughed. “What are you, a matchmaker?”
Gabby wanted Naomi to have it all. “Naomi, just testify. Get immunity and run away with Jasmine. You don’t even have kids to worry about.”
“George is waiting. You can go have it all with him.” Naomi smirked. “Or try to, anyway.”
“Maybe I will,” Gabby said.
Gabby’s dream was slipping away. It’s not like she expected an all-you-can-eat buffet-size portion of having it all, just a small slice of everything. A career to be proud of and someone to watch Netflix with after the kids went to bed. Also, how had Naomi twisted this conversation to make it about her? Gabby was supposed to be working Naomi. Instead, Gabby was questioning her love life and choking on salt water, barely staying on a paddleboard. She had lost the upper hand, if she’d ever had it.
Was this what happened when you tried to have it all? You ended up drowning under your own expectations while the men in your life watched from the sidelines?
“Jasmine needs help. If you offer testimony against Genesis, Jasmine could leave without worrying about him.”
Gabby, who had been on all fours, rose to her knees and tried to balance. She wasn’t doing chair pose, but at least she was on her knees. Maybe if she were in a pool instead of the ocean, she could stand up.
“What do you say? Will you talk? Get off this ship before it sinks, Naomi.”
Naomi looked back. Her expression wasn’t hard or defiant anymore. She looked lost and unsure.
“Naomi, if you know what’s going on, tell me. Make sure I get it right,” Gabby called.
Naomi began paddling. Gabby tried to stand to follow her. “I’ll take care of you!” Gabby tried one last plea.
“I’ll be fine, Gia. Have fun with your choices.” And she was off. Conversation over.
Gabby dug into the water with her paddle, but the board went right out from under her, leaving her dog-paddling.
Markus came up behind her. “You’re supposed to use a leash.” He pointed to a curlicue phone cord that was attached to his ankle and clipped to his board. “And a life jacket.”
“I’m never getting on one of these again,” she sputtered.
Markus narrowed his eyes. “We need to talk, Gia.”
Heneeded to talk? That was rich. “Great, because I need to talk to you too.”
