Chapter 11
Chapter eleven
Yosh
It’s strange how something as simple as letting the sun warm your skin can feel almost unfamiliar. I’m outside every day, running at dawn, walking the Arcadia grounds, teaching yoga and meditation in the garden. Always moving, always thinking about the next task.
Letting the sun sit on my skin like this? It feels like a reminder that warmth still exists, and that it isn’t only tied to what I’ve lost.
A shadow falls over the table.
“Can I get another Pinot Grigio, please? And you?”
I look up from the menu I’m not really reading. “Just water, please.”
Tiffy sways her microbraids over her shoulder and drains the last sip from her glass. A different waiter takes it from her, replaces it with a new one, and leaves a basket of warm bread between us.
We used to grab lunch all the time between shifts, sharing sweet potato fries, gossiping about coworkers and whatever new disaster her brother Shaylon got himself into. But lately I’ve been practically living in Arcadia. And when I’m not there, I’m knee-deep in construction at my new place.
That needs to change. I need to change.
“We should do this more often.”
“Good to hear,” Tiffy says, tearing off a piece of warm rosemary bread. “Because I genuinely thought you forgot I existed.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I just really want to lead my department, so I have to go that extra mile now. Things will change once I get there.”
“Mmh. Famous last words. ‘Once I finish this project, I’ll totally relax.’ You’ve been saying that since you arrived on Avalon four years ago.”
I laugh. “That hurts.”
“I’m serious. Every time you take on 'one more thing,’ you develop a new obsession. First it was getting your chiropractic papers, then psychology. Now it’s the alternative healing department. Next it’ll be that house of yours.”
“It’ll be fine,” I insist. “Once my place is finished, I won’t have any reason to spend my weekends there.”
“Sure.” She lifts her glass in a toast. “To my workaholic bestie, who definitely knows how to take a break.”
I roll my eyes, but I raise my glass too.
“To a fresh start.”
That’s what I want. Maybe I’ll invite people over once the house is finished. Have brunch or something. Nothing big, just a simple way to reconnect. Let people in. Stop being so fucking lonely.
It all sounds good in my head, for a single second.
Forget it. My home is my safe space. The last thing I need is people coming over, asking questions, pointing at my crystals. I’m not down for that. Absolutely not.
“Earth to Yosh.” Tiffy snaps her fingers. “Tell me what crisis you’re having. Your face is doing that thing again where it talks before you do.”
My face apparently agrees, because it gets even warmer. “It’s nothing, sweetheart.”
“Please, enlighten me.” She pins me with those gleaming eyes that won’t let go until I give her something. So I give her something.
“Don’t judge me, please.”
That’s all it takes for her to lean in closer, grinning as she folds her hands under her chin.
“Okay. You have to understand this has never, ever happened to me before, but…” I let out a sigh, already regretting this big time. “I think I’m developing feelings for a resort guest.”
I close my eyes to avoid her reaction.
I hear her gasp. “Oh my god, Yosh. That’s so scandalous.”
I rub my eyes, thinking about all the ways Tom McKenna has shaken the ground under my feet these past few days. Another very scandalous detail is that Tom is her ex’s best friend, and I can’t tell her that.
“I know it’s wrong, but… oh god. This guy pisses me off so much. He pushes me, gets under my skin. He makes me want to throw things. And he knows exactly what he’s doing when he smirks at me, snaring me with those irresistible blue eyes.”
“Sounds like a walking red flag to me.”
“Yeah, I know, right? But he’s insanely hot, intriguing, and—”
“I’m talking about you, sweetie. You’re the red flag.”
I shoot her a look.
As much as I want to deny it, I can’t. I’m not allowed to let this feeling in my stomach take over. But being called a walking red flag by my best friend? That’s a first. Then again, in retrospect, maybe it isn’t.
“Besides, what happened to that dive buddy of yours?”
Another look from me.
“Sorry,” she snorts, “that joke was too easy.”
“I kind of ended things with him the day before yesterday.”
“Why? Because of your patient?”
“What? God, no. He started asking me over more often than the occasional twice a week. Then he suggested we go to that new restaurant near Playa Tortuga, wanted me to try the lionfish he catches for them. That’s going way too fast for me.”
“Dude. The man wants to feed you his hunt. I would’ve fainted on the spot.”
“I get the whole primeval-man-attraction thing, but no.”
Apparently being hunted gets me hard.
She hums. “And how long did you guys…?”
“Almost two years, I think. On and off, nothing exclusive. I mean, we both saw other guys.”
“And you call two years ‘too fast’?”
I shrug. “We agreed on friends with benefits, he broke the deal by wanting more. And I didn’t want to give him false hope, so…”
“How noble of you.”
“You keep firing shots at me, huh? You know what? Maybe I will stay in Arcadia. At least the only ones attacking me over there are the mosquitoes.”
She bursts out laughing. “I’m sorry. It’s the wine. I swear.”
I blow her a kiss. Next to me, my phone lights up with a notification from Erin: Call me ASAP.
“Seems like they need me at Arcadia.”
“Ahh, your pretty blue-eyed troublemaker needs you?”
I roll my eyes. “No. And forget I even brought it up.”
I finish what’s left in my glass and add, “Besides, there’s nothing to talk about. The guy is as straight as a rabbit in spring. Flirting at the front desk, checking out the waitresses.”
Tiffy chuckles. “It’s hilarious to see how much it bothers you.”
I curse under my breath. I’m not in the mood to talk about it anymore, and I need to get back to Arcadia if I want to make it before sunset, so I raise my hand for the check.
I wasn’t planning on calling Erin back until I’d dropped Tiffy off at her place, but my phone won’t stop buzzing in the cup holder.
Fourth call in a row. Erin’s name keeps flashing on the screen, each vibration rattling annoyingly against the plastic.
I try to ignore it, but it’s getting on my nerves.
Tiffy smirks. “She’s not giving up until you pick up the phone.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right. Can you answer and put it on speaker?”
She grabs the phone, swipes to accept. Before I can even say a word, Erin’s voice fills the car.
“Finally! Where the hell are you? We have a problem.”
“I’m still in Saint Luna, what’s going on?”
“Tom’s in isolation. You need to get here. Now.”
My foot slams on the brake pedal, jerking the car to a stop just before the intersection. My heart skips a couple of beats. Tiffy’s almost plastered against the windshield. I catch my breath, sweeping my hair from my face.
“Yosh? Are you still there?”
“What happened!?”
“I don’t know. I just got here, haven’t read the log yet. Apparently he’s been in isolation since last night.”
“Last night!?” The words leave my mouth like a growl, heat shooting up my spine. “Why the hell did no one call me? He’s my guest!”
Erin snaps. “I know. They left me in the dark too!”
My grip on the wheel turns iron-tight. “Who had the night shift?”
A pause. I hear the soft clicks of her mouse. “Terrence.”
Of course.
That rat has been trying to undermine me for months and I heard from colleagues he’s after managing the department as well. Locking Tom in isolation and ‘forgetting’ to report it is exactly the kind of shit he would pull to make me look incompetent.
“I’m on my way,” I say, ending the call.
My hands tremble. I don’t have time to waste on Terrence, karma will catch up with him soon enough. My priority is Tom.
24 hours. He’s been locked up for almost a full day. Why? Tom isn’t someone you throw into isolation without a damn good reason. What the hell could have happened? Did he lash out? Did something trigger him? And if it did, why didn’t I see it coming?
Tiffy watches me. “Are you okay?”
“No.” I pull the wheel, making a sharp turn. “But I need you to keep this to yourself. You shouldn’t have heard any of that. This stays between us.”
“Of course. I won’t say anything.”
I drop Tiffy off at her place and race back to West Cove. My thoughts are all over the place. Did I miss something during our last conversation? Could I have done more? If I’d just stayed at Arcadia instead of going home last night…
Fuck. I need to see him. I just need to know he’s okay.