Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
The choice is out of my hands, though. At this point, either Misty goes or I go.
Because I’m not staying if she does, no matter what Brett wants. I love Brett. He’s my closest friend in the world, but I feel like I don’t even know him anymore. How could I have been so blind? I know Brett better than anyone, and I never even suspected he had feelings for Jake. Maybe it’s because Brett’s always been such a ladies’ man, or maybe it’s because I’m a totally straight man and Brett doesn’t fit my idea of what a gay or bi man is.
But now that I know, I remember. I remember all the little things. How Brett had a soft spot for Jake. How he hardly ever talks about him anymore, even when we go to the Larson property. All of this makes me even more certain about my decision.
I’m leaving unless someone gives me a damned good reason to stay.
I dress in board shorts and a dark-blue muscle shirt and head down to the kitchen for a strong cup of coffee. I find Sienna sitting at the large table nursing a glass of OJ.
“Hey,” I say.
She looks up at me, her nose red and puffy.
“Oh my God, are you all right?” I sit next to her.
She sniffles. “I need to find Evangeline. There’s an emergency, and I need to go home.”
I grab her hand. “What happened?”
“A...friend was in an automobile accident, and it’s touch and go. I should be there, holding her hand. Going through it with her.”
“Yeah, of course,” I say. “Is there anything we can do for you?”
“Just be understanding. That’s all I ask.”
“Absolutely. I hope everything turns out okay. And if you can, I hope you’ll return to the island.”
Though I’ll be gone.
She smiles, but it’s forced. Her pretty brown eyes are swollen and bloodshot. She’s obviously been bawling. If we lose Sienna, that will be three down.
On the other hand...
This is my chance to get the hell out of here. I can escort Sienna at least to the mainland, or maybe all the way home. It’ll get me off this godforsaken island and give me a few days to think about whether I want to stay gone. “Let’s go see Evangeline,” I say, standing.
A staff member enters, looking flustered. “Mr. Barrett, I’m sorry. Did you need something?”
“A cup of strong black coffee, but make it to go.”
“Right away.” She fills a paper cup with coffee, pops on a plastic lid, and hands it to me.
“You need anything, Sienna?” I ask.
She shakes her head, so I grab her hand and we head out of the kitchen to the double staircase and up to Evangeline’s suite.
I knock on the door.
No response.
I knock harder, and then harder still.
Sienna sighs. “I guess she’s not there.”
“Don’t worry,” I say. “We’ll find her.” I knock first on Brett’s door and then on Alex’s. Neither respond. Next, we go to Sebastian.
He answers wearing silk pajama pants—very Seb—and no shirt. Behind him stands a very pale Evangeline. She’s always been a little goth and gaunt, but right now she looks almost like a ghost.
“Just the person we’re looking for,” I say to her, entering.
“Come on in, Riv,” Seb says sarcastically. “And as usual, your timing is impeccable. Evie here was just about to tell me how she sabotaged Rachel yesterday.”
Sienna freezes next to me.
My blood runs cold. “I’m sure I must have heard that wrong,” I grit out.
“That’s what you just said, isn’t it?” Sebastian glares at Evangeline. “You said Misty didn’t have anything to do with Rachel and Ginger leaving. You did.”
Rage curls at the back of my neck. “You bitch.”
“No, no, no,” Evangeline blurts out. “You’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t sabotage anything! All I said was that Misty didn’t have anything to do with Rachel and Ginger choosing not to come back. That was me.”
“I should go.” Sienna backs out the door.
I grab her arm. “No, you stay. I’m going to take care of your situation in a minute, but first, Evangeline, you’d better explain yourself.”
“Can I please sit down?” she asks.
“Sure.” Sebastian leads her to the couch in his sitting room and sits next to her.
Without being asked, I bring Sienna over and we sit down on the loveseat adjacent to them. “Start talking,” I say.
“I found out that Ginger and Rachel had...hooked up our first night.”
“And just how’d you find that out?” Seb asks. “A little blond bird whispering in your ear?”
Of course. Misty. The only other blonde here is Emily, and she wouldn’t be any part of this.
“Does it matter?” Evangeline asks. “I found out and told them they were going to have to leave if they continued hooking up, and that I was inclined to charge them for the time and resources they wasted. They agreed to leave after the catamaran ride. That’s it. I had nothing to do with what happened to Rachel. Maybe she had too much to drink or something. Or her snorkel malfunctioned.”