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“Two-fifty.”

Siani’s jaw dropped. “You don’t think he won’t notice that?”

I took a big sip of wine. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You did, but you didn’t want to use your own money,” Siani said.

She took a beat. “You ever think about Cardez being the one?”

I almost choked on my wine and broke out into a fit of coughs. “What?”

“Like him. The one. End game.”

“Siani—”

“Seriously.” She hugged her knees to her chest. “Because why would you go through all this trouble if you didn’t really like him? Why are you trying to keep this relationship together at the expense of everything you’ve built for yourself? You really care about that man.”

I looked out onto the dark and let out a small laugh. “I can’t believe this nigga made me catch feelings for him. Do you know what he said to me the other day?”

“What?”

“He said I loved him. But I just didn’t know it yet.”

“Well. Do you?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I care for him. A lot. Which is more than I can say for any guy I’ve been with. I’ve enjoyed their company, but that was always a requirement for me dealing with them. But Cardez isn’t impressed by the version of me I've always given men. He likes La’Belle. Not Shontrelle. Not Nadia. Me. Even though we’ve both got our shit, it’s still like we see each other completely.”

“You know I didn’t get with Tariq because I liked him. He was cute and cocky, but I immediately clocked that he was well off. So you know the drill—I let him wine and dine me.” She paused to take a sip of her wine. “But then there were these little things that I noticed he picked up on. Like me mentioning how tired I was from work, so he’d book me a massage. He remembered one of my favorite movies was B.A.P.S and do you know that nigga went and got me the DVD? Riq remembers every little thing I say even when I’m just saying it in passing. I went in playing a game and the man was better than the game. That’s what happened to you.”

“That’s different though, Si. You never stole from Tariq.”

“I didn’t, but I wasn’t being honest with him either. I was performing and he was falling for it. I just made the decision to stop acting.” She reached for my hand. “At some point you’re gonna have to decide what matters more, sis. The money or him.”

She hugged me before going inside. I turned Siani’s question over in my head.

I checked my phone. Cardez still hadn’t responded to my text about making it here safely.

For most women, I was living the dream—a soft life with no bills or worries. But all I kept thinking about was what would happen when Cardez woke up one day and decided that he was done with me. He would take the cards, the accounts, and the whole life he built with me, and leave. I didn’t have a degree to fall back on. I managed bottle girls and had a skill set I couldn’t exactly put on a résumé. I valued my independence, even if I earned it dishonestly.

My phone vibrated on the small table.

He was just now liking my text I’d sent earlier.

I rolled my eyes, grabbed the phone, and headed inside.

The next two days on the island were spent without any real agenda.

We tanned on the beach behind the house in the mornings. Siani read while I lay with my sunglasses on and earbuds in, letting the sun soak into my skin. The noise in my head had started to quiet down. I wasn’t completely silent, but it didn’t feel as loud.

The second afternoon, we wandered into town and ended up at an open air bar on the beach. It was a cute place complete with a straw hut roof and soca music playing over the speakers. It had that chill island energy that made you feel like you were in the middle of the Caribbean and not off the coast of Florida.

I had on a denim backless sundress and Tom Ford sandals. Siani had on a pair of booty shorts and her bikini top.

“You look a bit more rested,” Siani said as she dipped a tortilla chip into some salsa.

“I’m finding it,” I replied with a soft smile. “Not looking forward to dealing with Dez when I get back, but it is what it is.”

I noticed two guys at the end of the bar that had been eyeing us since we sat down. One of them—light skinned, tall, with a Caesar—met my gaze and smiled.