Chapter 13
Dom tosses sheets of plastic aside. Then he roots through a giant soft-sided tool bag he must have dropped on the living room floor before joining us outside.
“That was kind of brutal,” he says through a faint smile. Then he pulls out a long window shade from one of the boxes, and starts to examine the instruction manual. “I can come back later if you want, but I’m guessing you’ll want these installed ASAP. The last thing you need is that asshat walking around where you can see him. And he can see you.”
He shoots me a side-eye. I respond by blowing my nose into a tissue and grabbing another from the box. Then I toss my bucket hat and ugly glasses onto the coffee table. No point in keeping them on now. I blow my nose more forcefully for good measure.
Dom does a double-take in my direction, then sets the blinds down, like he can’t focus on anything but my face.
“What, you’ve never seen a girl passionately blow her nose before?” I ask, giving him a weak smile. I can feel myself turning red, but it’s like the dam has burst. All the pent-up feelings I’ve kept buried over the last month are now spilling out — at the most unfortunate time.
I toss the second tissue onto the coffee table and lean back, crossing my arms at him.
He continues studying my face like he’s not sure what to say.
“What?” I ask. I wish he’d speak up, not just stare.
“It’s you.”
I look away and sink deeper into the couch, not saying a word. Bracing myself for whatever quip is about to come next.
“You’re that news anchor from the proposal video. And all the memes. That . . . GIF, too?”
My anonymity on this island has lasted less than twenty-four hours. First Rex. Now this.
“In the flesh.” I splay out my arms, then grab another tissue.
“Shit.” He sits back on the floor, pulling his legs up toward his chest. “You didn’t mention that detail on the phone.”
I cross my ankles and push my big toe against the coffee table between us. “I’m not here to be recognized.” My voice sounds bitter, which I don’t love, but I can’t seem to rein it in.
“Is that why you’re here? To get away from all that viral stuff?”
I nod.
“I’m so sorry you’re going through that.” There’s genuine kindness in his voice, softening my reserve a little. Usually people laugh, or tell me I shouldn’t have tried to propose at all. A little show of compassion is rare.
“And you had no idea that he was here, too?” He points a thumb to the shared wall beside us.
“Of course not.” I sigh.
“I’ll install these, but, if I were you, I’d keep these windows wide open and let him see me walk around here like I own the place. After what he did to you? Shit. He doesn’t get to steal this view too, or your vacation.”
“It’s not really a vacation,” I clarify, scrunching my nose. “I’m here to work. I’m writing a film script.” If I start thinking of this like a vacation, I’m never going to finish it. Then everything really will be a waste. “My story is based in Hawaii, so I figured immersing myself in this place would help me make the script more realistic. You know, get me in the mood .”
“You write film scripts?” He sets his tools down to give me his full attention, looking instantly focused, and a bit sharp, though I’m not sure why. “Since when did UBN get into film scripts? I thought you were a news anchor for the network?”
It’s amazing what complete strangers know about me from working a job in the public spotlight.
“I am now, yes, but I have plans to be a scriptwriter. Movies, if I can swing it. I have an eight-week break from work while things cool off at the station. I want to get my script finished while I’m here. It can take a while to get one picked up by a production house, so the sooner I can finish it, the better.” I lie back across the couch, throwing both arms over my eyes.
“Why did you pick this rental?” His voice has turned to gravel, and his jaw’s locked in place, like I hit a nerve, or something worse.
“Because it was cheap. And available. And I thought it was a single-family unit, not a shared townhouse.”
“Is that all?” He leans in, studying my face as if he’s a human lie detector. His green eyes narrow into slits.
“Is there another reason besides that to pick this place?” I tilt my face and study him back, confused about why this conversation seems to have taken a sudden turn.