mean, for all she knows we’re in love! Didn’t she listen to everything Stephanie said at breakfast? She probably did, and unfortunately, it probably only made Aiden seem more interesting in her eyes.
“I’m going to go refill my drink,” I say, though neither of them responds.
I swim over to the other side of the pool and climb out. Elliot and Dante set up a bar on a folding table. There’s every type of alcohol under the sun, plus mixers, and ice.
Dante’s there now, and I aim a winning smile his way.
“Is there any way I could tempt you into making me the grapefruit drink from the other night? It was so good.”
He winks. “Sure thing. I was about to make one for myself anyway.”
I hand him my cup and he tells me to grab a cold can of Sprite for him out of the cooler.
As I hand it over, he glances at me out of the corner of his eye.
“So should we talk about what Stephanie said at breakfast?”
“Let’s not and say we did.”
He laughs. “I know it was probably a little embarrassing, but what’s the big deal? You and Aiden are dating, so he must know you’re into him. I thought it was sweet.”
I respond with a noncommittal hum.
“I guess those early months can be tough though,” he continues, mulling over our perceived situation. “You two are still probably figuring everything out. You don’t want to seem too into him.”
“Definitely not.”
Dante pauses mid-pour and looks over at me. “Did he freak out when you two went back to your bungalow?”
“Oh…yeah…”
“He did?!”
I shake my head vehemently, realizing I’ve lost track of the truth. “Wait…no!” I’m flustered now and trying to backtrack. “He didn’t freak out,” I insist. “I freaked out.”
“Because you really like him,” he concludes.
It feels good to nod. With Dante, at least, I can confirm the truth.
I glance back at Cadence and Aiden just in time to see him swim over to the side of the pool and climb out so he can answer his phone. He hurries to pick it up and nods as he starts to speak. I can’t hear what he says as he heads back to the bungalow, apparently wanting some privacy.
“Wonder what that was about,” Dante murmurs.
“Work, probably.”
Half an hour later, Aiden’s still not back at the pool.
People start to ask where he went, and at first, I shrug, but then I decide to head back to check on him, just in case something’s wrong.
I walk down the concrete path, around the side of the main building, and then I spot our private bungalow up ahead. The door is slightly ajar as if Aiden didn’t think to push it closed all the way, or maybe he was just in too much of a hurry. I reach my hand up to knock on the door and alert him to my presence, but then I hear him on the phone.
“Obviously it’s my dream. It’s everybody’s dream.”
He laughs at something the person on the other end of the line says, and then there’s more silence. I glance behind me, down the path, wondering if I should go back to the pool. But then, everyone will ask me what’s keeping Aiden, and I still don’t have an answer.
“I understand,” he continues. “My schedule is actually clear this week. I was taking some personal time, so there’s no reason I couldn’t be there tomorrow.”
My gut clenches.
There’s no reason I couldn’t be there tomorrow.
No reason.
“Okay, yeah sounds good. I’ll confirm flight options after I get off the phone. Once I know what time I’ll get into New York, I’ll be in touch.”
He laughs again, thanks the person profusely, and then the call ends.
I hear him shuffling around now, unzipping his bag, presumably getting his laptop out so he can check on those flights.
I clear my throat and knock on the door. “Aiden?” I call out, acting as if I just arrived at the bungalow.
“Hey, yeah, you can come in.”
“You left the door open,” I point out as I enter. He’s sitting in one of the lounge chairs, fingers already flying on his keyboard.
“Oh, sorry.” He doesn’t even look up from his computer. “I rushed back to take a call, must not have closed it all the way.”
“Oh? Was it important?”
He looks up at me as if just now realizing who I am and what I’m asking him. Then he nods slowly. “Yeah, you could say that.”