prerogative. However, I’m going to order this bottle of wine that I know Annabelle likes when she can drink. It’s one Jacob bought for her for their six-month anniversary, of all things.”
My eyes widened. “Wow, being a lawyer must pay well.”
“Apparently, it does. And I can afford it, don’t worry. So, either we split the check, or you let me pay for it all. Either way, we’re enjoying ourselves tonight.”
I knew I was being touchy and needed to stop. I was going to ruin a perfectly nice night if I didn’t get over myself and my issues. “Okay, fine, but I’m getting the grouper.”
He laughed, and I blushed. It felt weird not to worry about money because I always did. I saved, scrimped, and my art paid well, but what if it didn’t in the future? I needed to save. I didn’t indulge in things. I rarely could when Marshall was around because he didn’t like spending money at all. And I hadn’t been the one to encourage it.
I didn’t need to compare Beckett to Marshall. That was wrong.
The waiter came and mentioned the specials. There was indeed a grouper dish, and swordfish that sounded fantastic. We each ordered one, as well as the bottle of wine and some sparkling water.
“We’re going to split our meals, right?” Beckett asked as we sipped our wine and ate bread.
“Of course. You didn’t think I was going to let you walk out of here without me eating off your plate, did you?”
“I just wanted to make sure,” he said, shaking his head.
“Do you feel more relaxed?” I asked softly.
He looked at me then, studying my face. I tried not to duck, attempted not to blush. “You know what? I probably could have relaxed at home if I had stayed once everybody knew my secret. Then again, maybe I did need a vacation.” He paused and looked down at the wine in his glass. “Maybe I just needed the beach and the company of a friend I really like.”
I blinked and looked up at him. “That’s…that’s nice.”
“I enjoy spending time with you, Eliza. I always have.”
“We rarely spend time alone, though,” I countered. “We’re usually surrounded by Montgomerys and Brenna. And Lee. And Jacob. And all the other boyfriends.”
“True. Brenna’s my best friend. I think I sometimes spend more time alone with her or Lee than I do Benjamin, and Benjamin’s my twin.”
I smiled at that. “I love that you and Brenna are so close.”
“We were friends before I introduced her to Annabelle. Now, we’re all this conglomerate where we say we’re all each other’s best friends, and it works.”
“Do you know how you’re going to make it up to her? Keeping that secret? I know you needed to, but you should also make it up to her. She’s one of my best friends, too.”
He winced and downed more of his wine. “No, I have no idea what I’m going to do. She knows that I’m here, though not at this resort.”
I winced. “Speaking of keeping secrets…” My voice trailed off. I met his gaze. Thankfully, he seemed to understand.
“We’ll tell them. Though it’s kind of nice having this time and space between the two of us. Does that sound like I’m a horrible person after just talking about not keeping secrets from Brenna?”
“No, I don’t think we’re going to keep secrets. I am enjoying this. It’s just a little awkward telling them over the phone what happened. Maybe on our way back when we’re driving home? We can send them a selfie of us on the beach and be like ‘look who I ran into,’” I said.
“That works. I don’t want to waste what little vacation we have left trying to explain to them something they might already know.”
I frowned. “What?”
“Don’t you think it’s odd that we’re at the same resort out of all the places in the world we could have gone? That Eli and Lee just happened to know the same person?”
I shook my head. “I thought it was odd. However, you’re Montgomerys. You know everybody.”
“It wasn’t a Montgomery who sent us here. Either of us. Not that we know of, anyway. Unless they orchestrated it all.”
“Now you’re making me think of like a spider and the Montgomerys just making their own little web to put people where they need them.”
“I wouldn’t put it past Paige. She does like organizing things.”
I snorted, and when the food arrived, we split it and shared. It was wonderful. It felt right. As if Beckett