Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Naomi
A tiny blue and black bird perches on the railing of my deck and lifts its little head to the sky, letting out a high, sweet sound.
I lunge for my phone to capture the video for my followers.
But then I freeze.
Is it even worth taking the video?
For so long I’ve had one focus—capturing my life and turning it into marketable content. Now I’m a bit unsure of what to do with myself. I guess I could just be storing up content to share when all of this blows over and I’m back online.
Yeah. That’s what I’ll do. Perfect plan.
Way easier than trying to find a new purpose in life.
I snag my phone and head to the sliding door that leads to my deck, but the bird is gone.
And with it, my entire life comes crashing down.
“It’s just a stupid bird!” I yell at myself as I collapse back onto the sofa, tears brimming in my eyes.
But I can’t help it. It’s not just the bird. It’s everything.
My morose thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door.
I’m on my feet in an instant, running my fingers under my eyes to fix any smeared makeup and checking my hair in the mirror beside the door.
Perfect as usual.
Figuring it’s probably someone to scold me for yelling, I swing the door open with a sweet smile on my face, apology and silly story about a bird on the tip of my tongue.
But it’s Dom.
My eyes drop to my feet, and I take a step back without offering him a greeting. I leave the door open and cross back to the sofa, tossing myself on it with arms folded.
What is it about my family that turns me back into a sullen teenager?
Maybe it’s because you actually did something wrong this time and you know he’s going to lay into you for it?
“Not even a hello?” he asks, walking into the room and closing the door behind him like he owns the place.
Oh, right. He does.
“Yeah, well. I’m not feeling very friendly.”
I should be. This guy just offered me refuge from the big, bad world. I should be thanking him and offering to help in whatever way I can. But somehow, that seems too vulnerable. I’ve had a lot of hits to my soft underbelly in the last few days and I’m not sure I can survive many more.
Dom is notorious for hitting you where it hurts.
He crosses the room and sits on the coffee table, facing me on the sofa so that our knees touch. He leans forward and clasps his hands, elbows resting on his knees. “I know you’ve got a lot going on right now. I don’t fully understand it, but you’re in my home now.” He holds up a hand as my mouth shoots open to protest.
I flop back and glower at him, steeling my mind against the lecture I know is coming. The same one I got from my father.
But Dom surprises me.
“And you will be treated as our guest of honor for as long as you need to stay.”
My eyes narrow suspiciously, waiting for the trick. “But…” I offer.
He stands. “No buts. I’m happy to have you here. Happy to be able to help you out. When you’re ready, have someone at the front desk get you a ride up to my house. Reina is looking forward to meeting you.”
“Okay,” I say softly, not meeting his eyes. I feel even more like a stupid teenager now, faced with his calm, gracious words. Why on earth did I think he was going to be mad at me?
I look up then and my own question is answered. The guy could be our father, twenty years younger. He’s got the same dark hair and olive skin. The eyes that seem to pierce right through to your soul.
I look back down at my hands. “It’s been a long week.”
“Well, when you’re ready to talk about it, we’ll be happy to listen.”
The “we” in his sentence is not lost on me. I knew that my brother found love, but I wasn’t prepared for how fully it seems to have transformed him. For the better, it would appear.
“Thanks.”
“In the meantime, most people around here find talking to Sam much easier. And since you’re in the hotel for another few days, you might seek him out. He’s easy to find. Office next to the front desk. He’s not there twenty-four hours a day, but almost.”
Just the name Sam from Dom’s lips is enough to get my heart racing. He doesn’t know, of course. Sam made it clear that he wasn’t telling anyone. And I’ve kept up my end of the bargain as well.
“I might just do that.”
“I’m going to put a reservation for you on the books at Raft for dinner tonight.”
I look up in surprise at another small kindness coming from the lips of my formerly cold, absent brother.
And then an idea begins to form.
I saw the look on Sam’s face when he settled me into my room. The guy is nervous about me being here. This could be the perfect opportunity to get him alone for a chat and set things right between us.
And it will give me a chance to come clean about something else as well.
Something I should have told him back in Austin.
It’s going to suck, but this has already been the worst week of my adult life. What’s one more painfully awkward conversation?
Besides, if I want even a glimmer of hope for something more between Sam and me, I have to get this off my chest. I’ve learned my lesson about keeping big secrets and assuming no one will ever find out. When they inevitably do, and it’s not you who told them, it’s much worse than it would have been to have fessed up in the first place.
Ask my career how I know.
“Can you make it for two? I wonder if Sam would want to join me. I think you’re right about needing someone to talk to.”
Dom runs his hand through his hair as he considers. “I know damn well he doesn’t have any plans tonight, and that would get him out of his office for a few hours. I’ll message you and let you know what time.”
“Sounds good. Thanks. ”
Dom leaves, and I’m once again in the last place in the world I want to be—alone with my thoughts.
I pull on my swimsuit with a cover up and toss my phone and a hat into a pink canvas bag. I decided when I got on that plane in Houston that I wasn’t running away to hide. I was just taking a vacation. I guess it’s time I start acting like it.
The huge crystal blue pool sits surrounded by a tan and cream tiled patio in the space between the two buildings of the resort. It’s flanked on either side by rows of colorful blue and sea-green canvas cabanas, filled with lounging pool goers. The sandy beach is a few short steps away, the cerulean ocean visible just beyond.
A girl could get used to this.
I’m just settling into a padded chaise lounge and tipping my wide brimmed hat down against the sun when a waiter in black shorts and blue resort polo sets a menu down on the little table next to me.
“Can I bring you a drink, Miss?”
I tip my hat to glance up at him, grateful for my enormous dark glasses when I lay eyes on the tall drink of water.
I can see why Dom was worried if all the male employees around here look like this.
Luckily, I’m still recovering from one scandal and not about to jump right into another.
Unless it’s with a certain handsome GM. I’d burn my whole life down for one more night with that guy.
Or what’s left of my life anyway.
Girl, get it together.
“I’d love a gin and tonic. Extra lime.”
“Coming right up.”
I tip my hat back down and settle into the chair. All in all, this isn’t so bad.
Sure, the social channel I’ve been working to build for the last ten years is burning to the ground with what I thought was my online community—my friends—fanning the flames.
But I landed here in paradise with a one-way ticket and an open invitation.
I may be officially gaga over a guy who will probably never want me.
And who begged me to keep our tryst a secret.
And who looked like he was going to pass out when I suggested sending him my number.
But it could be worse, right?
Actually, yes. It’s going to be a lot worse when you tell him the truth.