the patio, Zara and Alistair are still sitting at the table, both engrossed in their phones.
“Everything okay?” she asks immediately, noticing the serious expression on my face.
“Yep,” I lie.
I should leave. I know that now. I should leave with them right now, and I won’t have to face my humiliation anymore. I can run from this easily too. I found myself wanting Ellis so desperately after such a short time, and not in the same way I’ve wanted other men. I wanted him because with him I feel safe and wanted, but apparently that was one-sided because not only is he interested in someone else, but that person is Nash.
Nash.
I really don’t need to be around him anymore either. That strange encounter the other day is branded into my brain, and it’s not exactly a memory of him I’d like to keep. The moment Zara stepped foot on the island, guilt stained my mind. How could I look at her, laugh with her, pretend everything was fine when just a few days ago, her Nash had his head buried between my thighs.
“Sure you’re okay? You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind?”
“I’m really fine,” I say. “I just—”
At that moment, Nash steps outside, slamming the door with a little too much force. His eyes meet mine instantly, and the eye contact feels like an attack. I know what he did. He knows I know, and instead of looking embarrassed or ashamed, he looks furious.
“I have to get back to work.” Without so much as a goodbye, he marches over to the office, leaving us all sitting there in confusion.
“Nash,” Alistair calls.
“I’ll go talk to him,” Zara says, and I don’t know why, but for the first time in our friendship, I feel the hot sting of jealousy.
“Let me,” I bark, standing up too quickly.
The look she gives me is a mix of shock and hurt. To her, Nash and I have always been barely friends, only really related through her, and now I’m taking her place, pushing her aside to have him to myself.
I have never felt a sense of protectiveness simmer to the surface the way it is right now.
“I’ll be right back,” I say carefully, trying to force on a fake smile.
“We should probably get going,” Alistair replies. “If he’s in a mood, there’s nothing she can say to get him to come back out. In fact, I think he’s been in a shitty mood all day.”
Zara won’t take her eyes off me, but when her husband puts his hand on her leg, she relaxes. “He’s still working too hard,” she whispers.
“None of us are going to be able to talk him out of that,” Alistair replies. “I was the same way when I was his age.”
I can still see Zara’s urge to go to him, so I quickly distract the conversation. “I’m so glad you came out. It was nice to see someone else for once. All these boys do is work, so I’ve gotten a lot of alone time.”
“That’s good. I hope they’re not bothering you too much,” Alistair adds.
“Not at all.”
As they stand up, Zara comes to me first, wrapping me up in a hug. A moment later, Ellis emerges from the house. “Sorry about that. I got caught up on a call. Are you leaving?”
“Yeah, we have to get back to the baby.”
The men shake hands with a clap on the shoulder, and I sense the tension between them. I know it’s because of the awkward conversation at lunch, but I can’t help but wonder if Alistair has any idea about Ellis or what Ellis has been up to with Nash? Did everyone know about this but me?
“Thank you again for everything,” I tell the couple as they walk out to the helicopter. The men walk ahead as Zara pulls me back.
“Do you know what’s gotten into him?” she asks, and I know she’s referring to Nash. I don’t want to lie, but it’s not exactly my secret to tell. So, I swallow everything down and try to answer as honestly as I can without giving too much away.
“I think he’s having a hard time collaborating with Ellis,” I say, doing my best to sell it. Her mouth twists in concern, but then she levels her gaze on me.
“Speaking of…” she whispers. “What’s going on there?” Her eyes dance over to where the men are talking, and I’m sure this question was inspired by the intimacy between us at lunch, a reminder