Page 19 of Cabin Fever

“I want you to know I pulled the log the second I got in, but there’s no name,” she says. “I already talked to our team member who took the request. I’m so sorry. It has to be a miscommunication⁠—”

“Not your fault,” Finn puts a hand on her shoulder, his dimples on full display.

I roll my eyes on instinct, then hope he doesn’t catch it. The last thing I want to do right now is be more of a jerk to him. Even if he is kind of proving one of my many points from last night.

While he was showering, I texted Pam and told her the rehearsal was still on—there wasn’t a cancellation. Dahlia wasn’t awake when I tried to call, but she would’ve told me last night if there’d been a change of plans. Right?

Pam’s cheeks warm. “Well. I can assure you, we’ll do whatever we can to make this right.” She pushes on the doors in front of us, and⁠—

“Wow.” I exhale as we walk in. This was the backup option? She’d called it a lounge, but it looks more like a chapel. Two stories of glass curving with the stern, the whole back of the ship framing the wide, blue water behind us like a painting. Even at eight in the morning, the light comes in slanted and honeyed.

“It's yours at four if you want it,” Pam says. “It's the only opening on the vessel, and I had to trade the yacht club two hours in the theater to get it.”

“Pam. At this point, I owe you my first-born child.”

“Oh, honey.” She laughs and squeezes my arm, then click-clacks back to the door. “Take your time. Just stop by guest services when you’re done and let me know what you decide. I’ll make the adjustments with the staff.”

The door shuts behind her, and I do a slow turn in the middle of the room. “Chairs in five rows there, aisle down the middle, band tucks behind the pillar.” I point with my chin. “It's better than the ballroom. Whoever canceled may have done us a favor.”

“Hm.” Finn shoves his hands in his pockets. “And you said this is cheaper?”

I nod. “Yeah. By almost $1000.”

His eyebrows lift. “Because, Pam?”

I laugh. “Partially.” Pam felt so bad that they didn’t have a record of who made the cancellation and therefore couldn’t prove that all their processes were followed correctly, she gave us a discount.

I run my hand over the wooden bar. “It’s funny. When we first started planning, I suggested doing the rehearsal at the hotel in Miami before we left because it was so much cheaper, but Dahlia shut it down.”

I was still thinking about what Finn said last night. This morning, with more of a level head, I can see why Finn may not have wanted to say more without it being a personal attack. If he knew something about Dahlia and Theo’s finances that I didn’t know, there was probably a reason for that.

“Do you think one of them canceled to try and save money?” I pin him with a stare, hunting for any change in his expression.

Finn only wets his lips. “Do you think that makes sense?”

“I’m asking you, Finn.”

He raises an eyebrow, and I immediately think of his comment last night. If that nickname bothered you that much, maybe at some point in the last fifteen years, you should’ve asked why I gave it to you.

Heat rises up my neck, and I yelp when something buzzes against my butt. Finn chuckles as I yank my phone from my pocket. I stare at the text, hoping my face will drain from tomato to Dahlia’s favorite shade of blush before I have to look at him.

Dahlia

Sry! Went to sleep late!! All good? pool at 10?? bring priya!!

I shouldn’t be annoyed by the number of exclamation points, but given the morning I’ve had, it all feels a bit pretentious. Would Dahlia do something like this if she thought Theo was stressed about money? Was it coming from our mother? She was definitely weird, obsessing over those sugar packets.

I cross my arms and let out a deep breath. None of those explanations make sense of the slideshow.

“Alright, well. Anything else you need from me?” Finn rocks on his heels. He looks so hot in his shorts and flip-flops.

“No. I think this is great. I can go talk to Pam and get things sorted.” I didn’t technically ask him to come with me, and even though he’s offered to help multiple times, I’m sure he wants some time to enjoy himself. Plus, I want that time with Dahlia to see if I can get anything from her. Find out what the hell is happening with this wedding.

He nods and starts toward the door, but when his hand hits the handle, I somehow grow the spine I should’ve found last night.

“Finn?”

He stops and turns his head.