Captivating You (How to Marry a Billionaire #2)

Episode 67

EPISODE 67

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

River

I shower in my suite with thoughts of Emily weighing heavily on my mind.

She’s beautiful, no doubt—all the women are. But she’s not the one I imagined myself falling for. Rachel was the first one who caught my eye, of course, but she’s gone now, and I wish her well. If I had to choose someone I thought I might have a chance with, it might have been Ariel or June. Maybe even Sienna.

But Emily?

I’ve never gone for blonds, which is why I wasn’t initially drawn to Misty either. Now, knowing what I do, I have to make a choice. Stay and get to know Emily, or leave and risk walking away from exactly what I came here to find.

The choice is out of my hands, though. At this point, either Misty goes or I go.

Because I’m not staying if she does, no matter what Brett wants. I love Brett. He’s my closest friend in the world, but I feel like I don’t even know him anymore. How could I have been so blind? I know Brett better than anyone, and I never even suspected he had feelings for Jake. Maybe it’s because Brett’s always been such a ladies’ man, or maybe it’s because I’m a totally straight man and Brett doesn’t fit my idea of what a gay or bi man is.

But now that I know, I remember. I remember all the little things. How Brett had a soft spot for Jake. How he hardly ever talks about him anymore, even when we go to the Larson property. All of this makes me even more certain about my decision.

I’m leaving unless someone gives me a damned good reason to stay.

I dress in board shorts and a dark-blue muscle shirt and head down to the kitchen for a strong cup of coffee. I find Sienna sitting at the large table nursing a glass of OJ.

“Hey,” I say.

She looks up at me, her nose red and puffy.

“Oh my God, are you all right?” I sit next to her.

She sniffles. “I need to find Evangeline. There’s an emergency, and I need to go home.”

I grab her hand. “What happened?”

“A...friend was in an automobile accident, and it’s touch and go. I should be there, holding her hand. Going through it with her.”

“Yeah, of course,” I say. “Is there anything we can do for you?”

“Just be understanding. That’s all I ask.”

“Absolutely. I hope everything turns out okay. And if you can, I hope you’ll return to the island.”

Though I’ll be gone.

She smiles, but it’s forced. Her pretty brown eyes are swollen and bloodshot. She’s obviously been bawling. If we lose Sienna, that will be three down.

On the other hand...

This is my chance to get the hell out of here. I can escort Sienna at least to the mainland, or maybe all the way home. It’ll get me off this godforsaken island and give me a few days to think about whether I want to stay gone. “Let’s go see Evangeline,” I say, standing.

A staff member enters, looking flustered. “Mr. Barrett, I’m sorry. Did you need something?”

“A cup of strong black coffee, but make it to go.”

“Right away.” She fills a paper cup with coffee, pops on a plastic lid, and hands it to me.

“You need anything, Sienna?” I ask.

She shakes her head, so I grab her hand and we head out of the kitchen to the double staircase and up to Evangeline’s suite.

I knock on the door.

No response.

I knock harder, and then harder still.

Sienna sighs. “I guess she’s not there.”

“Don’t worry,” I say. “We’ll find her.” I knock first on Brett’s door and then on Alex’s. Neither respond. Next, we go to Sebastian.

He answers wearing silk pajama pants—very Seb—and no shirt. Behind him stands a very pale Evangeline. She’s always been a little goth and gaunt, but right now she looks almost like a ghost.

“Just the person we’re looking for,” I say to her, entering.

“Come on in, Riv,” Seb says sarcastically. “And as usual, your timing is impeccable. Evie here was just about to tell me how she sabotaged Rachel yesterday.”

Sienna freezes next to me.

My blood runs cold. “I’m sure I must have heard that wrong,” I grit out.

“That’s what you just said, isn’t it?” Sebastian glares at Evangeline. “You said Misty didn’t have anything to do with Rachel and Ginger leaving. You did.”

Rage curls at the back of my neck. “You bitch .”

“No, no, no,” Evangeline blurts out. “You’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t sabotage anything! All I said was that Misty didn’t have anything to do with Rachel and Ginger choosing not to come back. That was me .”

“I should go.” Sienna backs out the door.

I grab her arm. “No, you stay. I’m going to take care of your situation in a minute, but first, Evangeline, you’d better explain yourself.”

“Can I please sit down?” she asks.

“Sure.” Sebastian leads her to the couch in his sitting room and sits next to her.

Without being asked, I bring Sienna over and we sit down on the loveseat adjacent to them. “Start talking,” I say.

“I found out that Ginger and Rachel had...hooked up our first night.”

“And just how’d you find that out?” Seb asks. “A little blond bird whispering in your ear?”

Of course. Misty. The only other blonde here is Emily, and she wouldn’t be any part of this.

“Does it matter?” Evangeline asks. “I found out and told them they were going to have to leave if they continued hooking up, and that I was inclined to charge them for the time and resources they wasted. They agreed to leave after the catamaran ride. That’s it. I had nothing to do with what happened to Rachel. Maybe she had too much to drink or something. Or her snorkel malfunctioned.”

“Just exactly how does a snorkel malfunction?” I demand.

“I don’t know! But my God, do you really think I could do such a thing?”

At the moment, Evangeline looks like a good stiff wind could knock her down, so probably not. I’m still not letting Misty off the hook.

“Sienna has a family emergency and needs to leave,” I say to Evangeline, “but she’s not in any condition to travel alone. I’ll take her.”

Sienna drops her jaw. “No, River. I mean, I don’t need you to... I’m fine to travel. I?—”

“I insist,” I say.

“Riv...” Sebastian begins.

“You know the deal, and since you’re here”—I gesture to Evangeline—“let me make this clear. If Misty stays, I leave. I’m done. Out. Finished.”

Sebastian glares at me. “River, we need you here . Evangeline can make the arrangements for Sienna. You have to stay.”

“Then you know what you need to do.” I stand. “I think we’re done here.”

Seb stands then and he gets a little too in my face for my liking. “No, Riv. The four of us have an agreement.”

Yeah, he’s asking for it. I don’t want to smash in the pretty face of one of my oldest and dearest friends, but I’m well on my way. If I don’t smash him, I’ve got to smash something, and I’d rather not do it in front of these two women.

“Evangeline,” I say, taking care to keep my voice even, “please take Sienna to your suite and make the arrangements. Then come back and tell me when the ferry will be here to take her to the mainland for a flight.”

Evangeline stands, looking frailer than ever, and nods. “Come on, Sienna. We’ll figure things out.”

Once they’re gone, I turn on Seb. “God fucking damn it! Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that? And in front of them! I ought to fuck up that pretty face of yours so none of your fans will recognize you.”

“Easy...” Seb backs away. “Let me explain.”

“Explain what? That all of a sudden you can tell me what to do? What has this place done to us? First Brett, and now you?”

He cocks his head. “What about Brett?”

I shake my head. “Never mind.” My word is gold, a lesson from my old man. While Brett didn’t tell me his feelings for Jake were a secret, I’ll take them to the grave unless I hear otherwise from him. “Just know this. Either Misty’s going to be on that ferry to Jamaica...or I am. You choose.”

“I’m sorry, Riv. I am. But we’ve got to see this through. We’ve got to keep Misty here and find out exactly what she knows...and you’re the best person for that job.”

“I don’t fucking want that job.”

“But you’re the only one who can do it.” He takes a step toward me, grips my shoulder.

I scowl at him. “She may no longer have the hots for me. I told her to leave.”

He nods. “I heard all about it. She showed up in Heather’s room last night. Claimed you did something to her.”

“She’s got a lot of fucking nerve. All I did was tell her to leave.”

“I believe you. She cried to Heather, and I left, so I didn’t hear everything. I haven’t seen either of them yet this morning.”

“You’re better off for it.”

“Hey, leave Heather out of your wrath. She’s a wonderful woman. She and I had a great time last night.”

I should be happy for my friend—happy that he may be making a connection.

But I’m still pissed.

“Look, we’re in this together,” Seb continues. “We came together, and we leave together. It’s the only way, Riv. Tell me you understand that.”

“Fuck off.”

Seb shakes his head, his long hair like a fucking lion’s mane and the muscles in his shoulders rippling. He’s tough. I went against him at football practice back in the day. He’s not quite as tough as I am, but he’s meaner. He always has been.

I can handle mean. One rock star is nothing compared to an angry bull out to stud.

I draw in a breath and I stomp out of Sebastian’s room, slamming the door behind me.