“Right,” I muttered. “He’s an amazing asshole. That’s what he is.”
She frowned but was too excited for the expression tolast. “Oh, stop it. We live on a tropical island! I think we have an obligation as locals to know how to scuba dive.”
Before I could say anything else, a shadow fell over us as someone walked by. Chase and Eli strolled past our table, their casual talk rising above the lively hum until Eli’s voice stopped suddenly. His gaze sliced through the air like a sharp knife. The moment our eyes met, that familiar irritation surged within me, amplifying the pulse in my temples. His furious glare was completely at odds with his usual expression and took me aback for a moment. Eyes pinned to me and hard enough to wound, he remained silent as he strolled on, completely ignoring Lacey.
“Good evening, ladies,” Chase said, stopping mid-stride. He flashed his easy smile, completely oblivious to the charged atmosphere spiraling around me. “How are my lovely sister and her BFF doing tonight?”
“Fantastic,” Lacey drawled at him.
He turned to me. “Jules?”
“Don’t call me that!” I hissed, panic fluttering in my chest. I craned my neck to look around his large form, where Eli was sliding into a booth on the other side of the room. That made me feel a little better. “Don’t call me Jules around him!”
“Seriously?” Chase rolled his eyes, crossing his arms in disbelief. “You’re making too much of it. You always have. It’s just a nickname.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who’ll have to endure endless taunting from Mr. Comedy over there.” I felt ridiculous pleading with Chase, but there was no way I would allow Eli to turn my nickname into fodder for his relentless teasing. Jules was reserved strictly for friends, not business associates. And absolutely not for enemy dive instructors. “It’s Julianne around Eli, okay?”
“It’s hard to call you Julianne,” he added with a frown. “You don’t even seem like a Julianne.”
I paused, because what was I? A responsible, serious accountant? An uptight librarian-type who only found adventure in books? I had no idea, but I certainly wasn’t ready to embrace any part of me that might make Eli smirk. “You’ve managed it quite well for years, Chase. Keep up the good work.”
“Okay, okay!” Chase held up his hands in mock defeat. “I won’t say a word. Just chill, will you? I’m going to grab a seat before Eli thinks I ditched him.”
“Thanks.” I forced a smile before he turned away. He settled across from Eli, and a wave of frustration crashed over me. I turned back to Lacey, who was sipping her beer with an innocent look on her face.
“There!” I snapped and pointed at their table. “Now do you understand why we need to find another instructor? Did you see that look Eli shot me? It was like I had just set fire to his favorite wetsuit.”
She waved her hand at me casually. “That was nothing. Eli is the obvious choice, and he’ll be flattered to do it, I’m sure. All you need to do is ask him, okay?”
“I’d rather eat a ten-course meal of crushed glass and kerosene.”
Lacey shrugged, her attitude unwavering. “Let me point out that you’re my maid of honor. It’s practically your job to make my wildest dreams come true.”
“Sure, because that’s how weddings work.”
“Exactly! So we’re settled then?”
I leaned forward. “Hell no! Why me? Chase is your brother and Eli’s best friend. Why can’t he ask Eli?”
“Chase isn’t even in the wedding party, silly,” she chirped, unfazed by my irritation. Her enthusiasm was usually infectious, but right now, it felt anything but. “Which leaves you, my dear. And I know you want to help.”
“Right,” I grumbled, shoving a lock of hair behind my ear. As soon as I’d left the resort, I’d unwound my bun to let my hair fall over my shoulders. “This is less about help and more about me being thrown into shark-infested waters. Lacey, we hate each other!”
“Daniel loves the idea of an underwater ceremony,” Lacey continued, her tone sweetly persuasive. “You know how much he adores the ocean. This will make him so happy, and besides, it’s not like you’ll be spending a lot of time with Eli. Just think of it as a fun adventure.”
“Adventure?” I repeated, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “You mean torture?”
“Come on, Jules. Please?” She clasped her hands together, her expression earnest. “We’re talking about my wedding here! It would mean so much to Daniel. And to me.”
I sighed, helpless to resist those puppy-dog eyes and knowing when I was beat. “All right. I’ll ask Eli about the dive certification, but I need to figure out how to approach him without getting into another argument. Maybe I should wear combat gear or something.”
“Yay!” Lacey squealed, her delight ringing like a bell.
I couldn’t help smiling, wondering just how many more surprises awaited us on this journey to her big day. And how I was going to survive Eli as my instructor.
