Chapter 32
Karim was busy emptying saucepans out of the cupboard when Dan entered the kitchen the next morning, but it was Libby who really caught his eye. The lush curve of her rounded behind peeked out from under the hem of her shorts as she bent over the counter, reading something on her phone.
“Good morning,” he said. Reaching for a mug in the cupboard above her head, he nestled himself against her. “Excuse me,” he added, all innocence.
“You could’ve gone around the other way,” she chuckled.
“Yeah, I could’ve.” Dan kissed her cheek and then poured himself some coffee, feeling great. Last night was great. He and Libby were great. Everything was great.
Then he caught sight of Libby’s screen. A snapshot of Alicia Hunter and her kids stepping into a black London cab. His heart sank a little.
“Trust me, it’s positive news,” she said quickly, like she’d read his mind.
“Rick messaged me this morning. It turns out that Alicia Hunter really is in London now, but she’s got the kids and their nanny in tow.
They’ve come to check out the vibe and some schools for next year.
Alicia has some big film coming up. Shooting in London starts in January for six months.
That’s why she’s gone there, not for some big showdown with Isabella. ”
“That’s all settled, then.” Relieved that Isabella wasn’t heading toward a big scandal, Dan took Libby’s phone out of her hand and leaned into her.
Today was time for celebrating the start of his new life, not getting bogged down with the hangovers from his old one.
“You still haven’t watched my Part Five clips. ”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. You’re partly to blame, though.” She slipped her hands to his backside and gave him a commanding little squeeze. “You distracted me last night. Let’s do a Part Five session when Karim naps this afternoon.”
“We can have lunch at the bungalow. It’s nearer to the beach.”
“Great idea.”
He kissed her but then had to reluctantly let her go when Karim wedged himself between their legs, wanting attention. Dan ruffled his hair and smiled at him. “Have your mum back, kiddo.” Then he winked at Libby. “I get the night shift.”
They spent the morning at Muri Lagoon. While Libby took photographs and shot what he called her “arty” footage—for other content ideas she had in the pipeline—Dan played in the shallow water with Karim.
This time, they were pretending to be crocodiles, half submerged in the water, waiting for their prey.
The child’s squeals and huge, completely unguarded grin were heartwarming, as was having Libby close by, watching her work.
He could practically hear all the creativity soaring through her brain right now, and he loved how chilled things were between them again.
And she’d stayed all night in his bed too, leaving only when Karim had called out at dawn.
“The clouds look great behind that little island,” Libby was saying.
Dan glanced to where her camera was pointing. “That’s the same island in the photo my mum still has on her kitchen wall.”
“I know.” Libby’s smile was sweet and full of understanding.
Dan quietly gazed at the island. “I hope my sisters make it out here one day. I’m happy my mum made it back, even though it wasn’t with my dad.”
“He’s still with you in spirit.”
“Yeah.” He leaned over and kissed her. But their moment didn’t last long. Karim was on the move again, heading toward the trees. “I’ll go,” Dan said. “You finish taking your photos.”
At lunchtime, after the three of them had mooched around a bit in the shady parts of the beach, Libby shook out their towels and packed them into her Bag of Everything.
Dan picked up Karim’s ball and bucket, and as Karim ambled—very, very slowly—back to the bungalow, he and Libby exchanged glances that said, Thank god it’s only a short walk back!
They were halfway up the private path to the bungalow when Karim thought it would be a good idea to collect stones in his bucket.
“You go on ahead,” Libby said.
“I’ll start making lunch,” Dan told her and left them behind to make his way to the bungalow.
His stride was getting longer—not quite like it used to be, but at least he was surpassing two-year-old walking speed now, even with the limp.
The grin felt good on his face as he pushed open the little gate.
Serita stood by the bungalow’s back door, talking to someone.
A familiar voice. Dan’s heart stopped beating.
“I’m telling you, he does know me! I’m his fiancée. I was supposed to be staying here too!”
Sheer shock kept his blood pumping.
“Isabella?”
“Dan! Babe!” She moved past Serita.
And ran straight into his arms.
The slim, white, blonde woman in jeans and a creased Armani T-shirt was unmistakable.
And Dan caught her in his open arms, just like Libby always knew he would.
To his credit, he’d attempted to look back, but Isabella had put her hands on his face, commanding his attention back to her as she’d pulled him into the bungalow. Not that he’d put up much of a fight.
Serita walked over, concern shadowing her kind smile, as if she understood the awkward situation. “You okay, hon?”
“I’m good, thanks,” Libby lied. She was numb. Embarrassed, even. Cast aside. “You mind if I call a cab to pick us up?”
“Sure. Let’s walk this way.”
As they made their way around the bungalow to the main house, the door clicked shut and someone pulled the drapes across. The two lovebirds were now installed in their private honeymoon bungalow, and Libby didn’t want to imagine what they would be getting up to inside.
She picked up Karim.
“We’ll go home for lunch, sweet cheeks. We’ll see Dan later.”
After all, his entire belongings in the southern hemisphere were at the hut. He had to come back for those, at least, after he… After he’d finished doing whatever he was doing with Isabella.
Using reserves she didn’t know she had, Libby chatted happily to Serita in the reception area about the nonexistent New Year’s plans she’d made as she waited for her cab, half expecting Dan to appear in the doorway.
But he didn’t, and the day his mom and Malek arrived sharpened in Libby’s mind.
Dan’s heartbroken face. Left out in the cold.
What was that he’d said about his belief that love lasted forever?
I will always love you, Isabella…
But last night, he’d said he wasn’t in love with her. Had he meant it?
The cab pulled up outside.
“Thanks, Serita.” Libby pushed up a smile and waved goodbye. “Give my best to Mr. Hehu.”
“I will. You take care, hon. See you sometime before you leave the island?”
“That would be nice.”
But not very likely.
Libby couldn’t imagine what reason she’d have to come back to Are Moana now that Isabella was here. It wasn’t like she’d be invited around for tea and cakes, nor that she’d accept the invitation either.
Desperately lacking air, Libby quickly strapped Karim into the cab and told the driver to go.
She had to get away. She couldn’t compete with the history Dan and Isabella had together, and she didn’t want to mess with Dan’s head or ask him to choose.
Where his heart lay was totally up to him, and deep down, Libby had always known that the future Dan and Isabella had once planned together hadn’t gone anywhere.
They could easily be the Nation’s Favorite Couple again—and the British public would welcome it.
Dan still hadn’t officially declined his BBC offer, and once he’d gotten his head out of vacation mode, he’d soon see the solid gold path ahead.
Which was a far more robust path than the one Libby had very loosely spoken about last night as they’d drifted off to sleep.
Traveling Australia in a camper van? For god’s sake, Libby.
Daniel “the Lightning Strike” Jones was Britain’s national hero, a sporting legend. The other half of a showbiz couple. Not some eighteen-year-old on spring break, who’d leave his life behind to travel with her and Karim.
In a freaking camper van!
“Here we are.”
Libby blinked. The cab had already pulled up at Tia Rosa’s.
She paid the driver and got Karim out, singing to him about what they were going to eat, sprinkling sunshine and rainbows over the crappy ending to what had been such a lovely morning.
“Nibble, gobble, munch, it’s time for lunch.” Her voice cracked, and her eyes watered.
As she got into the hut, Karim darted off to his toys, and she headed to the kitchen. The sight of food didn’t help the sick feeling in her stomach, but she pulled a few items out of the fridge and called Karim to the table to eat. Her phone rang in her bag. Her heart leaped.
But it wasn’t Dan. It was Rick.
“Libs, hey!”
“Hi. You okay?” She switched the phone to her other ear as she helped Karim onto the chair.
“I’m fine,” Rick said quickly, “but listen. That Isabella? She’s on her way to Rarotonga.”
“Yeah, I know.” Libby sighed. “She’s already here.”
“You’re kidding me? Well, well, well. That sneaky…” Rick cleared his throat. “She gave me the slip in LA, but I didn’t think she’d get to you so fast.”
“You followed her to the States?”
“I had to. She was in a mess and completely alone—I got at least ten paps off her trail, and to thank me, she told me to fuck off.”
“Oh! What’s going on?” Then the bell of an announcement chimed in Rick’s background. “Where are you now?”
“Auckland.”
“What?” Helping Isabella was one thing, but why hadn’t he flown back to London? “What’s up with you, Rick?”
“It’s a long story.”
Libby remembered the sirens. “Rick, are you—”
“Yeah, I’m okay, but—” The line crackled.
“Rick? Rick? You dropped out. Can you hear me?”
The call disconnected.
“Great.” Libby sighed.
Then a message buzzed through. It was Rick.
Should be with you by dinnertime. Mind if I crash on your couch?