When we broke apart, she smiled again, her eyes closed as if she were soaking in the moment.
“Do you think they got their invitations yet? I should’ve warned them they might be coming.”
She shook her head, placing a hand on mine. “We didn’t want to get their hopes up, right? Trips like these only go to the biggest bloggers and influencers—”
“Which you are,” I insisted.
Her cheeks pinkened. “Well, I don’t like to get ahead of myself.”
“So, should I call them? They’re going to be so excited! When is it again?”
“We’ll need to head out on June ninth, and that’ll put us getting to the island on the tenth,” she said, without looking at the invitation. “Maybe you should invite them out to dinner again? We could discuss everything in person. Besides, you’re still taking me to dinner tonight, right? I didn’t get all dressed up for nothing.”
I kissed her lips again, almost interrupting the sentence. My hands wrapped around her waist. When she pulled away, I grinned, resting my forehead on hers. “Yes, duh. You look hot, babe. And dinner is a great idea.” I kissed her again. “You’re brilliant, you know that?”
Her smile was stiff. “You’re just saying that because I get you free stuff.” It was a joke, but a poor one. I’d never felt the way I felt about Emily, about anyone else—at least not in years. There was something so fascinating about her. Aside from being easily the most beautiful woman I’d ever been with, she was so free and fun it was contagious. She made life more interesting, made me more interesting.
I gripped her shoulders. “You know that isn’t true, right?” She had to. “I’d still think you’re amazing even without all of…this.” I gestured toward the phone and invitation in her hand. I’d dated so many women in my life—so many—but no one had ever pushed me the way Emily did. Made me work for their attention. Made me appreciate the chase. I wanted her to know how serious I was about her, and the island was a big step for me. I hadn’t spent the night with a woman since college—I’d refused. So agreeing to stay nearly a week with this woman was a big deal. Didn’t she realize that? God, even my thoughts were irritating. Who am I becoming? What is she doing to me?
“Yes, I know,” she teased, nudging me with her shoulder. Her phone chimed, and she glanced down, her eyes growing wide. “My Insta was just tagged by Chenise Taylor.” She squealed, hugging her phone and walking away from me. “Oh my God!”
She didn’t elaborate on who she was talking about, but she didn’t need to. With Emily’s ever-growing career in travel blogging, she was a huge social media influencer, constantly being tagged or spotlighted by any number of huge names in the industry. I tried my best to keep up and stay supportive of her dream—even when I didn’t fully understand it. She was young—still full of hopes and desires most people my age had long since given up on. Every time I saw her eyes light up, I promised myself I’d never let her give up. She deserved to have everything.
She was across the room by the time I looked at the envelope she’d placed back in my hand.
This was going to be the trip of a lifetime…
My friends would owe me big time.
Chapter Five
Laura
Brad was chattering away on his phone to a client when we arrived at the restaurant. I walked behind him, lost to my own thoughts. He’d been arguing heatedly with a coworker most of the way over, so I was grateful to hear his voice calming now that we were in public. We enjoyed our regular nights out with friends, and I was so thankful we’d all made them a priority. Despite everyone’s busy schedules and lives, we never missed a chance to get together. It was nice that a group with so little in common could enjoy each other’s company so much.
We picked our usual spot as Brad ended his call, sliding around the empty, oversized booth to take the usual place at the far end. If I knew my friends like I thought I did, Nick and Megan would be next, just a few minutes behind us. Natasha and Jaren would follow behind—probably fighting as they walked in the door. Last would, of course, be Andy and whatever girl he was bringing with him this time.
Without asking, the waitress spotted us, bringing over drinks for everyone without having to ask.
“Hello, Lila,” I said as she placed my white wine in front of me. “You’ve gotten your hair cut since we saw you last.”
The girl put a hand to her short, auburn hair self-consciously. “Yes, I did. I wanted a bit of a change, you know?”
“It looks lovely.”
“Thank you,” she said, sliding Brad his mug of beer. She put out an ale for Natasha and a pitcher of beer, placing two empty glasses in front of Jaren and Andy’s seats for them to split. As she set down a glass of Jack and Coke for Nick and the red wine for Megan, I heard their voices.
“Hey, Lila,” Nick said, sliding into the seat next to me as he greeted the waitress. She smiled at him shyly, then lifted the tray.
“Hey, guys. I’ll be back to take your food orders when everyone gets here.”
“Thank you,” we all said at once then laughed.
Nick leaned over me, shaking Brad’s hand and giving me a one armed hug. “Hey, y’all, sorry we’re late.”
I glanced at my watch as I hugged him back before waving at Megan. “You aren’t.”
Megan shook her head. “It was my fault. I had a cake in the oven, and I didn’t time it right. I have a baby shower tomorrow, and it’s come down to baking it at the last minute.”
“Aww,” I cooed. “That’s so sweet. Anyone you know? Or a customer?”
“A customer,” she confirmed. “The store’s been so busy, we’re hardly able to keep enough baked for our customers that shop during the day. Custom orders have started having to be pushed back, and I’m doing them at home quite often.” She grimaced, taking a sip of her wine. “It’s looking like I’m going to have to shell out for an extra oven, but I just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and business to slow down.”
“Which it’s not going to,” Nick told her, nuzzling his nose into her cheek.
I smiled, looking down. “Well, that’s great. That…you’re having so many orders. Not a bad problem to have, right?”
She chuckled. “Not at all.”
“How did cake tasting go? Did you guys decide on a flavor?” I asked. It shocked me that Nick had convinced his fiancée, the baker, to let someone else make their wedding cake, but if she was so busy, it made sense. Not everyone was as obsessive about control as I was, I guessed.
Megan looked at Nick, her cheeks flushing pink. “We’re torn between two, I think. Lemon and carrot. But I also really loved the double fudge.” She laughed. “Or the red velvet.”
“Well, you have time to think it over, right?”
“Definitely. A few weeks, at least, before they need our decision,” she said, taking a sip of her wine.
“How’s business, Brad? Glad tax season’s over?” Nick asked, glancing across the table at my husband.