The corner of my mouth ticks before my thoughts swarm me, and it only causes me to laugh to myself, almost hysterically, because of a realization. “Of course, we used different names.”
Even though I can’t look away from the woman whose true name has now been revealed, I zone out into memory.
I spot her right away, sitting at the tropical bar. It’s Vieques, Puerto Rico, with the clock almost noon and the sun bright, not a cloud in the sky, and the water a perfect blue. The woman, maybe ten years younger than me, seems content yet bored. A blue wrap covers her bikini-clad body as she stares aimlessly at a drink in a pineapple with a straw and an umbrella. Suddenly, I’m relieved that I didn’t join my cousins for a group scuba diving trip to check out turtles. My win, because now I can casually slide onto the stool next to her, and I do just that.
“Please tell me there isn’t rum in that. It would be too cliché,” I say.
“Please tell me you’re not about to order a fancy bottle of beer with a slice of lime,” she counters and slowly angles my way, only for her to still and her lips to part open. She seems surprised.
I smirk proudly because I have a feeling it has to do with my looks. Today, I’ve skipped a suit and opted for a white, unbuttoned linen shirt with my shorts. I’m a man who keeps himself fit before conquering the office. I don’t consider myself arrogant, but right now I’m playing that card.
“Gosh, you’re gorgeous,” she says.
Bingo.
“And you’re beautiful and alone. I feel like that is a travesty.”
She laughs and shakes her head slightly, amused. “Is that your usual line?”
“Not the travesty part,” I promise.
She turns her attention to the barman who arrives. “Can we create a code word or something in case I need to escape this guy? You can save me.” We all look around to see an empty pool area. “Okay, fine, you’ll notice if I need to be saved.”
“Why aren’t you out on a beach somewhere enjoying the island?” I wonder. In the corner of my eye, I spot the bartender lifting his brows.
She sucks on her straw for a long drink, and I most definitely notice the way her lips move. “I’m here for a bachelorette trip for my cousin… not that I care, but it’s a little awkward since she’s marrying my high school boyfriend.”
I feel my face contort. “Eek.”
She waves me off. “Yeah. But it’s okay, water under the bridge. I just didn’t want to tag along on the cousin's boat excursion; they won’t be back until late. You?”
“What a coincidence, I’m avoiding scuba diving with turtles on a bachelor party with my cousins. A getaway from Texas.”
“You don’t have an accent. What a shame. Those are kind of hot.”
Chuckling, I like her candidness. “I’m only working there. My family is on the east coast. Do you have a name?”
She tilts her head slightly to the side, and her gorgeous blues squint. “Name territory means we might actually have a long conversation.”
Shrugging, I feel my mouth begin to stretch. “I guess so.”
She pauses for a second. “Ellie. You?”
“Hale.”
“That’s not really your name, is it?” she shoots back simply with a wide grin.
“Nope. And Ellie isn’t yours.”
“Nope.”
“We’ll stick to our island names then.”
I’m completely puzzled as I watch her set items on the buffet table.
“You know her?” Julian is trying to catch up.
Confusion hits me hard, and I hiss a whistle to myself. “You can say that again. Kind of a one-night thing about three years ago.”
