Chapter 18
Remi is killing me softly in that dress. The song is no joke.
She’s sitting across from me at dinner. I want to tell her how beautiful she looks, to compliment her and see the shy way she smiles, but I can’t. I’ve got a gag order issued by Tessa.
Our stares meet for a second. I see all the shades of brown and yellow rimming the edges of her eyes, and it’s like coming home. She glances away, and my focus drops to her collarbone. What is it about collarbones that are so attractive? All those straight lines.
I stab my fork into a red potato on my plate and shove it into my mouth before I break my rule and talk to her.
Dalton smiles through his thick brown beard. “So, what did we miss this afternoon?”
He and Peter arrived in Key West right before dinner.
“Nothing really.” I shrug. “We went out sailing on catamarans. That’s about it.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Reece says, leaning into our conversation. “You did miss something.”
My brows drop as I twist to face him.
“You missed our boy, Matt, completely tipping over his boat.” Reece slaps me on the shoulder. “I looked behind me, and Matt”s body was flying through the air.”
“Dude, you”re a rocket scientist,” Peter says, brushing his shoulder-length hair back from his face. I still haven’t gotten used to the hippy look that he’s trying out. “You should be able to work a small sailboat.”
“It really wasn’t that big of a deal.” I steal a glance at Remi, hoping she’s not listening to our conversation, but of course, she’s turned her attention toward us. It’s not like she doesn’t know about my embarrassing sailing display. She was there. But I don’t need her listening in as my friends make fun of me for it.
This weekend is all about not looking pathetic.
The sailing incident is not helping.
“Not a big deal?” Reece laughs. “It took, like, thirty minutes for us to get the boat flipped back over. The hotel crew had to paddle out and show us what to do.”
“I can see the news headlines now.” Dalton lowers his voice, impersonating a newscaster. “Florida man tips over a sailboat, trying to show off for a woman.”
“I was not showing off for a woman.” My gaze goes to Remi. Her expression is neutral, but I can see the amusement flowing through her eyes.
Jana tilts her head past Reece. “Florida man?”
Great, let’s get everyone involved in this. At least all the parents are at their own table and won’t have a chance to comment.
Peter laughs. “Yeah, haven”t you seen the memes about all the stupid things people from Florida do?”
I hold my finger up to Peter, trying to stop him right there. “I”m from Houston.”
“No, you”re from Florida. You live in Houston,” Dalton says.
“Florida man.” Reece smiles. “I like it. That”s what I”m going to start calling you.”
“Perfect.” I shake my head. “That’s just perfect.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Remi’s slight smile.
I’m sure she loves this.
“You guys have the Garth Brooks concert next week, don’t you?” Peter asks, looking between Remi and me, but his focus stays on her. “Were you so excited when Matt gave you the tickets for your birthday?”
“I…uh…” She glances at me.
“Oh.” Peter’s hand goes to his head. “Sorry! I forgot that you guys aren’t together anymore.”
“It’s fine,” Remi says, trying to make Peter feel better about the huge foot that is currently wedged in his mouth.
Six months ago, when I thought Remi and I were a forever thing, I purchased front row tickets to the concert. I had planned on giving them to her for her twenty-seventh birthday two weeks ago. But it’s kind of hard to give someone a present when they tell you that they don’t want you in their life anymore.
I hold her stare. “The concert tickets are yours if you want them.”
“No, you should keep them.”
I don’t love country music. Remi knows that. I bought them because she loves country music.
“Rem, I bought them for you.”
Why am I calling her Rem? I do not have clearance to call her that anymore.
“I can pay for them,” she offers.
“It’s a gift.”
“Well, thank you.” Her lips drift into a smile. “That’s really thoughtful of you. I love Garth Brooks.”
“I know.”
And just like that, my heart breaks all over again.