“Hi, sunshine,” he says with a sweet smile before dropping an even sweeter kiss to my lips.
“Where is she?” I move to sit up and Alex hands me a pile of clothes. He’s already thrown on sweats and a T-shirt. I could really get used to seeing him like this. He looks amazing in his suits and ties, but there’s just something about a pair of low-slung grey sweatpants on a sexy man.
“Out in the living room.”
I nod and pull on the panties, shorts, and tank top.
“I’m going to hang out in here. Watch a movie or something. Give you two some time alone, but I’m nearby if either of you needs me for anything.”
“Okay. There’s no telling where her mind is right now.” After another soft kiss, we separate, and he settles on the bed, flipping on the TV.
Bean is sitting on the couch, staring straight ahead, but inthat ‘not really seeing anything’ way. I drop to the cushion next to her and her head instantly falls to my shoulder, her hand gripping mine.
“We can’t go on a murder spree, right?” she wonders.
“I’d rather not go to prison.”
She sighs. “Yeah, I wouldn’t be able to live my best life there. And then they win. I refuse to let them win, Minnie.”
I squeeze her hand. “Good. They suck.”
We sit like that for a long time before she speaks again.
“I didn’t think he was the best guy in the world, but I never expected he could do something like this to me.”
The anguish in my best friend’s voice breaks my heart. Calvin and Stephanie were smart to leave the resort because if either of them were still around here, I would probably end up spending the night in a jail cell. I’m not usually a violent person. I’d much rather settle things with a good old-fashioned dance-off, Hollywood movie style.
“Are you imagining us challenging them to a dance-off right now?” Bean asks me.
“Yes, yes, I am,” I confirm. “Our group could take on anything or anyone they throw at us.”
“And at the end, Raelynn comes out and does a few moves, then throws hands like ‘take that, bitch.’ And they just slink away while everyone’s cheering for us.”
“I’d watch that movie.”
“Me, too.” She takes a stammered breath. “I didn’t think this was how my movie would end.”
“It’s not, Bean. This is the beginning of your movie. You’re going to get a job on a cruise ship in the Caribbean for the fall, meet some hot musician, have a whirlwind romance, and live happily ever after.”
She sits up, crinkles her nose, and purses her lips at me. “A musician on a cruise ship? That’s a terrible story!”
I shrug. “It’s like five in the morning and I haven’t slept much for the last few days, you get crappy stories from me in this situation.”
“No shit. I need to let you get some more sleep so you can help me decide where the hell I’m going on an adventure. I’m going to call the airline and resort in Cancun tomorrow. Change two tickets to one, pick a totally different place, and spend a week or two or whatever just finding myself or screwing my way through a baseball team or something.”
“That’s a very specific game plan you have there.”
“I know, right? I’m much better at writing stories on very little sleep than you are. But seriously, can we spitball vacation spots at breakfast?”
I yawn and nod. “Yeah, I was going to do that anyway.”
She cocks her head questioningly. Shit, I didn’t mean to say anything, but this lack of sleep is getting to me.
“Your dad said we need a vacation from this vacation, and I’m supposed to pick a destination.”
“He’s right. It’s been a busy two weeks. And Min, you deserve this happiness. Just because my shit’s weird right now doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to enjoy what you two are starting here.”
“I know. A lot’s happened in the last few weeks, so it’s kind of hard to figure out where we all stand on stuff.”
