“I’ll be okay. No need to worry or look so concerned. I’m upset, yes, but I’m not crushed or anything. It’s not like we ever dated and …” My voice trails off as I see Luke scrolling through something on his iPad and frowning. “Um, Houston, are you there? What’s going on? Are you even listening to me?”
“Sorry, Mia.” He sounds aggravated, and it’s at that moment that doubt creeps in. Maybe he no longer wants us to pretend to be dating. “I was looking through my work calendar. I can’t believe that he thinks I can just take off two weeks to come and spend time in Coconut Beach, partying with him and his fiancée, who I’ve never even heard of before.”
“That’s why you’re upset?” Understanding courses through me, followed by slight disappointment. It was nice, momentarily thinking that Luke was that hurt for me, but I should have known that work always comes first for Luke. Always. “Can’t you take a vacation or something? It’s not like you’ve been to Coconut Beach or anywhere foryears. If I made your sort of money, I’d be taking epic vacations every couple of months.”
“I make epic money because I’m here, brokering deals and investing, not because I’m jet-setting around the world.” He sighs, and I watch as he runs his fingers through his slightly overgrown, dark hair. “And I seem to remember that you like the fact that I make epic money”
“I do?”
“Isn’t that why you wanted to marry me at forty?” He chuckles, and I watch as his face comes closer to the screen. His blue eyes are twinkling as his lips twitch. “Or was it because of my devastating good looks?”
“You’re hardly Ben Affleck.” I scoff, and he bursts out laughing.
“I thought you preferred Matt Damon?”
“Have you seen Ben lately?” I lick my lips and picture the handsome actor. “He is looking absolutely scrumptious.”
“I didn’t realize you’d met him in real life.” Luke leans back on the couch, and I watch as he picks up a glass of something and takes a sip. “Are you holding out on me, Mia?”
“Yeah, he came to Coconut Beach, and we had two very hot and steamy nights, and I just never told you about it.” Sarcasm drips off of my tongue. “Seriously, Luke, like Ben Affleck would ever come to Coconut Beach.” I laugh loudly and derisively. I like our small, close-knit, and highly gossipy town. “The busy Bees would be all over me if any movie star came to town and gave me the time of day.”
“How are our grandmas?” Luke asks curiously. “And the rest of the Bees?”
“Grandma is fine. She is loving the new book club they started. She told me your nana Bitsy wanted to start a poker night, but she was nervous because, supposedly, Gale has been spending too much money, and the bed-and-breakfast isn’t doing well, and Grandma is nervous Gale will spend every last penny she has, and Wendy and Josie will have a hard time keeping the business afloat. January did a psychic reading on her though and said not to worry ’cause Wendy will save the day and fall in love with some rich, blond-haired dude, though Gale didn’t tell Wendy that because Wendy is not into psychics.” I pause and take a breath. “Bored yet?”
“Could I ever be bored of hearing about all the island gossip?” He winks at me. “You want to watch a movie tonight? I’ve got some work to do, but maybe around eight? We can also discuss our plan.”
“No can do.” I grin at him. “I’m going dancing with the girls at Cocktails & Chaos. I’m hoping Cal will hook us up with some drink specials. And maybe some hot guys as well. Kill two birds with one stone, you know? Help me forget my pain.”
“Hoping to find a date for the wedding that isn’t me?” He stands up and starts walking down a corridor. “Just remember that you want a good guy. Not someone who’s going to steal your wallet.”
“Shut up, Luke.” I glare into the phone as he reminds me of a tourist I met the previous summer and went on two dates with. Only for him to steal my wallet as we took a moonlit stroll on the beach. Cal and Benny, one of the bartenders, had to chase him down for me to retrieve it. That was embarrassing. “I have more discerning taste now.”
“I hope so. A crush on my idiot brother and a thief aren’t exactly great indicators.”
“And who are you seeing? Miss Universe? Why don’t you bring her?”
“I’ll have you know, I go on dates.” He smirks. “Plenty of them, in fact.”
“Uh-huh. So, why don’t you take one of them to the wedding?”
“I think not.” He shakes his head vehemently. “The last thing I need is for some woman to think I’m trying to get serious with her just because I invited her to my brother’s wedding.”
“That would be awkward, indeed.” I laugh. “What you need is someone who just gets it. Like me.” I stretch out on my bed. “So, I guess we are doing this then?”
“I think it’s the best idea for both of us.” Luke’s expression changes to one of deep concentration, then ponderance, and then he grins widely. “Pity we can’t seal it with a kiss.”
“Yeah, right.” I stick my tongue out at him, and he bursts out laughing. “Neither one of us would want that.”
My heart skips a beat as my eyes flicker to his lips. For a brief second, I wonder what it would be like, kissing Luke, but I immediately banish the thought from my mind.
chapter four
Mia
The sky looks like a painting with its purple, pink, and orange hues. The sand tickles my toes as I make my way down the sandy white beach toward my grandparents’ house for our weekly dinner. I stop to pick up a perfect pearlescent-hued shell and brush the granules of sand off of it. I drop my flip-flops to the ground and make my way to the water, so I can dip my toes in for just a few moments before I continue on my way. The cool water makes me shiver for a few seconds as I watch the sun make its final descent on the horizon. A couple of plops in the water to the right of me makes me swivel my head, and I’m happy to see two dolphins swimming.
Coconut Beach has always felt magical to me, which is one of the reasons why I’ve never even thought of leaving the island to live elsewhere. Though there is a part of me that would like to explore other parts of the world. Just to see what’s out there. Maybe one day. When I’ve got money. Maybe Juniper and I can take a trip somewhere. Or maybe even me and Luke, if he ever takes time off of work.
