“Thanks,” Matthew says, in a tone that makes me think he’s anything but grateful. Still, he was right about the view. In the distance, I can see the massive waves rolling over the reef and the jet skis zooming out to tow in the surfers.
“That’s Cloudbreak,” Steven points to the famous surf spot. “Cap said the swell is over fifteen feet today.”
“Peoplesurfthat?” I ask, horrified. Steven nods.
“Guys like Caleb, maybe. It’s a little above my pay grade.”
Ofcoursethe ridiculously hot New Zealander is also a surf champion. Is there anything Captain Caleb can’t do, besides show a shred of human emotion?
“Boys,” Harry announces, “Let’s hit the bar. Can I get you ladies anything?”
“I like the look of those Mai-Tais, babe,” Jules answers. She looks to me next.
“Just an iced tea for me.”
Harry nods, but Steven puts a hand on my shoulder before he goes.
“Sure I can’t get you anything more exciting?”
“I’m good—thanks though,” I tell him.
He flashes me an Ivy-League smile before heading off towards the bar. When I plop onto the lounger, Jules squeezes my thigh.
“Steven’s pretty cute, huh?” She practically shouts over Jimmy Buffet’s “Five O’Clock Somewhere”.
“Jules!”
“What? I’m just observing. Of course, he’s got nothing on Captain Caleb. That man looks like they plucked him off a romance novel cover.”
Certainly doesn’t act like it.Unless, maybe, he’s playing the villain. I decide to ignore her comment and address the more pressing issue of my sister trying to set me up with maritime ken doll.
“Aren’t you supposed to be engaged, Jules? If you want to jump ship for a newer model, I’m an excellent wing-woman.”
I wink at her.
“Very funny. I meant foryou!Steven comes from a good family, you know. And he’s on the board of the LA Humane Society—an animal lover!”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I tell her. “I can’t think of anyonemorecomplicated to get involved with than a Warren family friend. And honestly, I’m not interested in dating anyone for the next hundred years.”
“I get it. But you can’t let one bad egg put you off for good. There are plenty of other proteins out there!”
I grimace.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just make a thinly-disguised man meat joke and go back to my book,” I tell her, pulling out a ratty, second-hand copy ofGreat Expectations. Jules and I have become less close over the past few years than we used to be, probably mostly due to my self-burial in academic service. But she knows how humiliated I was by my breakup. If she knew what I’dreallylost as a result, I doubt she’d be so quick to send me into the arms of yet another inevitable disappointment.
I clench my hands around the spine of my book. I have no doubt that Jules loves Harry, and he’s clearly obsessed with hertoo. But I can’t help but worry that this whirlwind romance is derailing her life. What happens if Jules stops working to fit into Harry’s life and things go south? After our dad died, I put college on hold for two years to make sure Jules made it through high school. God knows I’m in no place to bail her out this time.
“Change of plans, hon,” Harry interrupts from behind us in his million-miles-a-minute cadence. He ambles up, sans-cocktail, and puts his hand on Jules’s shoulder. “I got us appointments for a top-deck massage! Can you wait on the mai-tai?”
She gasps in delight, wrapping her arms around him like a giddy teenager. Somehow, even with all the shitty cards she’s been dealt in her life, Jules has never had any default mode butjoyful.Despite my concerns about Harry’s background, I can’t help but be happy that someone’s finally treating her like the queen she is.
“Oh, Harry! You’re so sweet! You don’t mind, do you Stella?”
I shake my head. While the idea of watching Matthew and Steven hit on nineteen-year-olds is less than appealing, the idea of third-wheeling my sister’s couple’s massage is even worse.
“Of course not. Go, have fun!”
A few minutes later, Matthew and Steven return not with a glass, nor a carafe, but a white ceramicbottleof tequila so fancy, it doesn’t even have a label.
