Chapter 5
KAI
Icouldn’t do it.
I wanted to kiss Sadie senseless—and more—at midnight, but I saw the glint in her eyes before she pressed her lips to mine.
She wanted more.
And I can’t give it to her.
Instead, I acted like an idiot, telling her the truth about bumping into her mother, and sending her mood plummeting.
Her reaction had been stoic, better than I expected.
That’s why I dithered over telling her for years, because I hated seeing her sad.
But she’d been more resigned, and I’m not sure if that’s worse; like she expects to be disappointed by life.
“Thanks for tonight.” West hands me a beer as he joins me on the house’s front verandah. “The guests were impressed with your cocktail-making skills.”
“After the first few, I could’ve served them rocket fuel with a tiny umbrella and they wouldn’t have known the difference.” I snicker. “Not the first wedding where I’ve seen most of the guests smashed, won’t be my last.”
West chuckles. “Are you still flying out with me and Emery tomorrow?”
“Yep.”
Usually, I can’t get away fast enough from this place, but the memory of Sadie’s stoicism when I told her about her mum rankles.
As if reading my mind, West says, “How’s Sadie?”
“Good.”
“The Kai I know never uses monosyllabic answers, so two in a row means something’s up.”
“Nope.”
We laugh together and clink beers. “Seriously, mate, what’s up? I expected you to be holed up with a bridesmaid right now, like our reprobate of a younger brother. Instead, you’re brooding.”
“I’m thinking. There’s a difference.”
“About?”
“Stuff.”
West rolls his eyes. “Fine. Be vague. But you won’t have access to my wisdom much longer, so you might as well take advantage of it while you can.”
“Dickhead,” I mutter. “Besides, you’ll be based in Brisbane, so I can pop in for sage advice whenever I’m in town.”
“Speaking of which, where are you headed after here?”
“Broome, most likely. I can work there for a few months before it’s my turn to run this place.”
The smile playing about West’s mouth fades. “With Vera staying on to fix up the resort, do you think we should consider selling once it’s done?”
Normally, Kai would say ‘hell yeah’, but seeing Sadie so untethered earlier made him wonder how she’d take the news that the only home she’s ever known may be whipped away.
On the upside, it would give her a chance to spread her proverbial wings. He could travel with her for a while, show her around. Then again, if she’d refused his invitation a decade earlier, why would she change her mind now?
“I think that’s a discussion the four of us need to have,” I say, surprised by the sadness clawing at me.
Every time I return to Ceto Island, I can’t wait to escape, so why the sudden sentimentality at the thought of selling?
“I’ll probably fly Em back for Valentine’s Day, so with Linc here, and you starting your annual stint, that leaves Walker to coerce into a family meeting.”
“I’ll make sure the bozo is here.”
Our youngest brother loves snorkelling, and the island is hosting a world association of divers then. He won’t miss it.
“Okay then. Let’s table our discussion until then.” West holds up his beer. “To the Spade brothers moving into the future.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
But as I take a slug of beer, I can’t help but feel nervous about the uncertainty of it all.