Chapter 27
Kendall
Ashrieking noise jolts me awake.
I sit up in bed and immediately fall back down when my head feels like it’s about to split open. I groan and roll over, pressing my face into the pillow.
It takes a few seconds before I register that the noise is a tropical bird squawking outside my window.
My head throbs. All that tequila last night was a mistake.
My brain slowly claws out of its hangover fog. I remember shots of tequila…dancing on the beach bar…Micah and Jordan cheering me on…
Humiliation roasts me from the inside out. God. I haven’t gotten that wasted since college.
I remember a group of random guys whistling at me…then Liam appeared…
My brain fog clears instantly. It all comes flooding back. There was a guy who tried to get me to do a body shot, but then Liam cussed him out and shoved him away. Then he threw me over his shoulder and carried me to my room.
And even though we argued, Liam told me that he will always look out for me. He will always protect me.
That wall of anger I’ve built up against him starts to soften. I’m still hurt by what he said to the paparazzi guy the other night. But I can’t deny the way his promise made me feel. Like he’d fight anything and anyone to protect me.
A tingling feeling sweeps up my chest. But then his words from the other night echo in my brain.
She’s not anything to me.
My head spins. How can he care enough about me to carry me to my room when I don’t mean anything to him?
My head pounds the harder I try and think about it. I push up off the bed and check the time.
And that’s when I remember that I was so exhausted and drunk last night that I forgot to set my alarm. My flight back to Nashville boards in an hour.
“Shit!”
I jump out of bed and run to the bathroom.
There’s no time for a shower, so I pee and brush my teeth while packing up my toiletries.
I splash water on my face, then spend the next five minutes shoving all of my clothes into my suitcase.
I throw on a t-shirt and jeans, slip on my sneakers, then run to the lobby and ask the concierge for a ride to the airport.
A minute later, a car pulls up, I hop in, and check the status of my flight on my phone as the driver speeds through the Cabo traffic. This is the one time I’m hoping for a delay.
We get stuck in slow-moving traffic for ten minutes. I get a slew of messages in the group chat that Micah and Aidan set up for the wedding. Everyone else had morning flights. Liam and I were the only ones leaving in the afternoon.
Aidan: Liam and Kendall, did you guys make it to the airport okay?
Micah: We just made it to our layover in Dallas, thankfully we beat out the storm.
I glance out the window of the car, just now realizing how gray the clouds look. Thunder cracks in the distance.
Me: On my way to the airport right now. What storm?
Micah: There’s some tropical storm brewing off the coast of Baja California. It could lead to some heavy rains and flooding in Cabo.
Jordan: Glad we all got out of there in time
Jason: Same!
I huff out a breath.
Me: It’s looking pretty stormy here :(
Jordan: Oh no!
Micah: Sending all the good vibes your way, Liam and Kendall!
Me: Thanks. Cross your fingers too. I could use all the luck getting out of here.
Like some cruel joke, the second I send the text, a downpour starts. Rain hammers the car. I quickly roll up the window.
It doesn’t stop the driver though, who speeds through the rain like a Formula One racer. He makes it to the terminal and helps me take out my luggage. I tip him and thank him, then run to security.
While waiting in line, I check the weather on my phone. It’s still pouring like crazy. I notice Liam hasn’t texted in the group chat at all. He’s probably gone already. His flight was scheduled to leave just before mine.
I breeze through security, then run to my gate. I make it with five minutes to spare before boarding.
Just as I catch my breath, the gate agent makes an announcement over the loud speaker.
“Folks, I’m so sorry, but today’s flight has been canceled due to the tropical storm currently brewing outside.”
I bite back a groan. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Around me, people scramble to the gate agent and to the customer service desk.
The thought of standing in line for hours to try and rebook my flight makes me want to scream. I quietly go over my options: stay here and wait in line for hours, or head back to the resort, rebook my room, and try flying out when the storm is over.
Definitely option two.
I head out of the airport and flag down a taxi. An hour later, after fighting traffic in the pouring rain, I make it back to the resort.
The concierge greets me with a warm smile. “Back so soon, senorita?”
I try to smile. “My flight was canceled because of the weather. I figured it would be better just to stay here and try flying home when the storm is over.”
“Excellent idea.”
He tells me to head to the front desk and they’ll take care of me. As I walk, I’m texting everyone to let them know I’m stuck in Cabo for who knows how long.
While looking down at my phone, I bump into someone.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry…” I trail off when I see Liam looking at me.