Page 61 of Break Out

“Did you know about Clara’s feelings toward the wedding?” I ask her.

“Not all of it. I knew she wasn’t happy, but I figured it was because Mom was taking over.”

Clara calls us over before I can ask any more questions, and we head to the limo.

“Well,” Clara says once we’re all seated, “We’re going to meet the guys for lunch. After lunch, we’re heading to the Southernmost Bar. We rented out the back room there.”

The group cheers. I pull out my phone for the first time in a few hours and see I have a couple of missed calls from a number in Hawaii. My heart starts pounding as I unlock my phone and navigate to my voicemail. Thank goodness for the automatic transcription because there’s no way I could hear the message with how loud it is.

My heart is in my throat as I read, Hi, Dr. Fairchild. This is Angie from the Observatory. I wanted to call and let you know that you passed the background check. Welcome to the team. I’ll be sending over some paperwork and information about what you can expect in the next week via email.

I let out a little squeal that’s drowned out by the noise in the limo.

As we drive toward downtown, it starts to sink in that I really am moving to Hawaii in a few months. That Brody and I really are going to have to end things when this trip ends.

Chapter twenty-three

Brody

The limo pulls up to the restaurant downtown where we’re meeting the bachelorette party for lunch. I was relieved when Chet announced that this was our next stop. Golf was fine. It’s just not my thing. I hung out with Devon, Thad, and Arthur, all of whom looked as excited about golf as I felt. We played six holes before deciding we’d had enough and headed to the clubhouse.

While we waited for the rest of the bachelor party, I enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee while staring out at the ocean. Really social, I know, but it’s not like there was much conversation happening. Thad and Devon both had their noses buried in their phones, and Arthur fell asleep.

As we pile out of the limo, I spot Aubrey off to the side leaning against the wall of the restaurant.

“Hey, Brod,” she says when I walk up to her.

“Hey beautiful.” I tug her into me and give her a quick kiss. “Have fun at the spa?”

“Yeah. I actually did. Got my nails done.” She wiggles her fingers at me. “Had a nice massage. It was really relaxing.”

“Good.” I take her hand and we walk toward the entrance.

“How was golf?”

“Eh. We played six holes and then some of us went up to the clubhouse until everyone else was done. It’s right on the ocean, though, so the views were magnificent.”

“Everyone was nice to you?” Aubrey asks, tilting her head toward me.

I huff out a laugh. “Yes, everyone was nice to me.”

“Good. Because otherwise we would have had a problem.”

I shake my head at her. It’s sweet and kind of a turn on that she asked if everyone was nice to me. The thought of her defending me makes my heart swell, although I’m not sure what she’d do or say, but it’s the thought that counts.

I hold the door open for her. The hostess shows us to the private room, where we slip into two of the three empty chairs around a large, long table. Who’s missing?

“It’s my mother,” Aubrey whispers. “I still don’t know why she didn’t come today.”

I wait silently for her to elaborate but she just shrugs before handing me a menu. Two waitresses arrive to take our drink orders.

Aubrey gets pulled into a conversation with Bri and one of Clara’s friends, and I sit back, watching everyone talking and enjoying themselves. Once we place our food orders, we don’t have long to wait before we’re being served.

“Everybody ready?” Chet asks twenty minutes later, chugging the rest of his drink as he stands up. “The limos should be outside waiting to take us to the Southernmost Bar.”

Everyone gets to their feet slowly. Some have sobered up during the meal, and others have gotten more drunk. And here we are heading to a bar in the middle of the afternoon. I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to witness whatever wildness is bound to happen.

“Want to go back to the hotel?” Aubrey whispers, as if she can sense my discomfort.