Chapter 9
ISLA
The sun is shining, and it’s another beautiful day in paradise by the time I make it to Priest’s bungalow the next morning for the wedding-party brunch they planned.
My missing luggage finally arrived yesterday, meaning that I was reunited with my vibrator last night.
It wasn’t my finest moment, but I made good use of it with a certain arrogant Mafia kingpin in mind.
This morning, I slept in longer than I intended but thankfully jolted awake with enough time to quickly shower, throw on some makeup and a dress, and head out. As I approach the bungalow, I see that Luna’s outside alone, on the phone.
“No, I totally understand,” she’s saying. “Thank you for letting me know. We can arrange something. Please don’t worry.”
She’s quiet, listening to the person on the other end, and then she nods.
“Okay, you too. Talk to you later.”
She ends the call, pacing until she catches sight of me and perks up. But even though she’s smiling, I know something’s wrong. Luna always wears what she’s feeling on her face. She can’t help it.
“What’s up?” I ask.
Her smile fades, and she waves a hand in a dismissive gesture. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. I know you too well. Spill it.”
She gives me a look. “Don’t tell me I have an expressive face.”
“You have an expressive face,” I say at the same time.
We both laugh.
“But you do. I can always read your mind. So. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
She sighs. “Cid’s cat sitter has a family emergency, and she’s got to fly home. The boys said they’ll take care of him for me, but I’m not sure I’d trust them with a Chia Pet, let alone my baby.”
I’m guessing that by the boys, she means Priest’s brothers. One hot, arrogant jerk included. They’re all six foot plus, dark, and lethal, and the furthest I can imagine from boys. But I keep that to myself.
“I don’t know, Scorpion seems like the type who might be able to manage a Chia Pet,” I tease, trying to lighten her mood. “Or at the very least, a Bonsai tree.”
She flashes me a wry smile. “Maybe an artificial Bonsai tree.”
I wince. “That bad?”
“I love them, but they’re not exactly the nurturing type. Cid needs love. And a cuddle buddy. And love.”
I’ve yet to meet Luna’s rescue kitty, but I regularly coo over the pics she sends of him. He’s a gray-and-white tuxedo with big green eyes that stare directly into your soul, daring you not to love him.
Luna shakes her head. “I think Priest and I may have to cut the honeymoon short. We can always do this again some other time.”
“No.” My response is instant and adamant. “You are not canceling your honeymoon. As your maid of honor, I refuse to allow it.”
“It’s not a big deal. Priest has to come back to check on the hotel periodically anyway. Maybe in a few months, we can make it work.”
“I’ll watch Cid for you,” I blurt.
Because it’s the obvious answer to her problems. She trusts me.
I’m not a gun-toting, testosterone-oozing mobster.
I’m a nerdy girl with comfy pj’s, a stash of books, a love of tea, and a definite need to cuddle with a soft, purring cat.
Not to mention, I’m currently unemployed and drifting as aimlessly as an unmoored boat in the ocean. I literally have nothing better to do.
Luna shakes her head. “As much as I’d love to take you up on that, you have your own life to worry about. We wouldn’t be back before spring break is over, and you have classes to teach. This is just a honeymoon, and it can easily be rescheduled.”
“Just a honeymoon? Nice try, woman. There is no such thing as just a honeymoon. This is your honeymoon, and you’re not missing it.
” I take a deep breath and prepare to reveal the embarrassing other part of the story that I neglected to tell her before.
“Besides, I don’t have classes to get back to when spring break is over. ”
She frowns. “What do you mean, you don’t have classes to get back to?”
“I quit.”
“Is!” Luna shouts.
I wince. My girl’s got a set of pipes on her.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before now?” she demands when I don’t say anything quickly enough.
“Because I didn’t want to unload all my baggage right before your wedding day.”
“You should have. We are best friends. Is, you can come to me with anything. Please know that.”
She puts a hand on my arm.
I pat it, feeling the awkward sting of tears. “I know. But you only have one wedding day.”
“Technically, I had two.”
“The mulligan is the only one that counts.”
She laughs. “Seriously, though. Please don’t keep secrets from me.”
Guilt burns through me. There’s a much bigger secret I’m keeping from her.
A six-foot-two-muscled-mobster-maniac secret.
But that’s for her own good. Plus, I’ve been threatened.
I don’t need to test the waters and find out what Alessio meant when he said he’d make sure I couldn’t cause any trouble for him ever again.
“I won’t,” I tell her, hating myself for lying. “But don’t make me pinkie swear.”
“So you quit your position?”
“I did. After everything went down with Christian, I couldn’t stay there on campus with him. I decided I needed a clean break. So, I quit. I’ve been taking the spring semester as a kind of unofficial sabbatical.”
“You don’t have a new position lined up?”
“Nope.” I try to shrug it off, but we both know that for me, this is big.
And telling. I plan everything, and I’m generally more organized than Marie Kondo.
It’s how I deal with trauma. “I’m still finding my way, figuring out where I want to be.
The time off has been really good for me.
And it also means that I’m free to watch Cid while you enjoy your honeymoon. ”
“I don’t know,” Luna hedges. “You have enough going on without having to step in as a kitty mom.”
“I have nothing going on, which is why I’m the perfect standby cat mom. It’ll give me practice for when I get a kitty of my own.”
The thought has infinite appeal. An adorable face looking at me every morning, a furry companion curled up in my lap? Unconditional love? Sign me up.
“You’re getting a cat?”
“I love cats, and Christian didn’t like them.” In fact, he had made it clear that I wasn’t welcome to bring any animals into our house. I had chalked it up to his inner neat freak, but now I’m pretty sure it was a red flag I overlooked.
“More proof that he sucks.” Luna nods.
“As if we needed more.”
“You’re so right.” She wrinkles her nose. “Harlow.”
Then she makes a fake gagging sound. I grin, so glad I have Luna in my life.
I’d be lost without her. She’s the only family I have left. Yes, I have a handful of cousins scattered over the country, some aunts and uncles on both sides. But I’ve never been close to any of them.
“Why couldn’t her name have been Susan?” I ask, grateful for the chance to make light of a situation that pulverized my heart. “Or Bethany?”
“Even a Nancy would have been better.”
We’re both laughing now. Coming to St. Thomas has done me a world of good.
Yes, it caused problems that will not be thought about in case Luna’s bestie Spidey-senses start tingling.
But it also reconnected me with my best friend.
It’s been so good to hang out together, to laugh and reminisce like the old days in grad school, which feel like they were a lifetime away.
Distance from Christian, sunshine, sand, gorgeous waters, amazing people and food, and spectacular orgasms didn’t hurt either.
“You’re serious about looking after Cid for me?” Luna asks.
I don’t hesitate. “Completely. Just tell me where I need to be, when I need to be there, and what I need to do. It’ll be done.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” She throws her arms around me, squeezing me tightly. “I know I say it all the time, but I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Same.” I hug her back.
She pulls away, searching my face. “You’re completely sure? Like 110%? I really feel like I’m taking advantage.”
“Not at all. Let me do this for you. It would make me happy.”
“Okay. You’ve got yourself a deal.” She releases me. “But I’ll be paying for your time, the same way I would for any cat sitter. And I’ll cover all your expenses, from travel to food.”
“I don’t expect you to do that, Luna,” I protest.
“I know you don’t. But I won’t take no for an answer.” She waves a hand in the air. “I’ll talk to Saint. He’s going to be handling the business while Priest and I are on our honeymoon. I’ll make sure he gets you set up at the penthouse with everything you need.”
My stomach flips.
The last thing I want is to have to deal with Alessio any more than I already have. I was planning to board my flight and never see him again. And now, Luna wants to throw me back into his orbit like a rabbit tossed into a lion enclosure.
I clear my throat, striving for a nonchalant tone. “That’s really not necessary. Just text me the details, and I’ll figure it all out when my plane lands.”
“As if I would let you fly home commercial when we have a private jet here,” she scoffs.
They have a private jet? I don’t know why I’m surprised by this information, but I am. It’s clear that Priest and his family are incredibly well-to-do. All that investing has really paid off.
I’m sure my mouth is still hanging open in shock because Luna continues.
“I would have sent it to you in Iowa for your trip here if I didn’t suspect you’d refuse me.”
“You’re right. I would have. And it’s super unnecessary. I have a flight to head back already booked. I’ll just change my destination and call it good.”
“You’re not going to change my mind on this.” Luna’s expression turns stubborn. “Altering your destination this close to flying is going to cost you big-time, and you’ll be much more comfortable on the private jet.”