I scowl. Echo almost sounds like… No. She can’t possibly speak from experience. Who the hell would she be in love with that I don’t know about?
Then I remember she’s “talking” with Xavian.
I freeze.
Anyone who called me a player would label Xavian Costa a man whore. She can’t have real feelings for him.
Can she?
If I confront Echo head-on about how stupid falling for Xavian is, she’ll bristle. So I try to be sneaky. “I haven’t talked to X much lately. What’s up with him?”
“Besides finals, nothing new. But he’s stoked that we’ll all be boarding the plane for Maui on Saturday. He was thrilled that, despite being an intern, he was included in the bonus trip for top performers.”
Xavian is killing it in the office. He’s got a natural gift for making money, so I’m not surprised. But she sounds almost proud of him, like a girlfriend.
“And thanks again for taking me along as your plus one. I’m so excited I bought two new bikinis!”
For Xavian to look at? The thought makes me frown even more. But I act casual.
“Of course. Hey…” I bump shoulders with her. “You’re my bestie. I had to give you a graduation trip worth remembering.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. The plane ticket alone must have cost a fortune. But I promise, I won’t keep you awake at night snoring.” She winks.
“You don’t snore, shortcake.” I’ve been camping with her about a million times, so I know. But by now, she’s usually found half a dozen activities for us to appreciate the scenery and make memories—a nature reserve, a challenging hike, a sunrise picnic on the beach—something. But we’re six days away from the biggest vacation of our lives, and not a word. “Tell me what you have planned for paradise.”
“Sun and water!” She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, like she can already smell the ocean.
“I meant for us.”
Echo turns to me with a shrug. “I thought we’d chill. Besides, I wasn’t sure how much you’d have to work.”
“I only have two mixers all week. We’ll have tons of time for other stuff.”
“Oh. Good.”
But her voice suggests that isn’t good at all. What the hell is up? Does she have some surprise for me and doesn’t want me guessing, like Christmas before last?
“So we’ll think of some things,” I prod her. “Right?”
“Sure.”
Her easy reply should make me feel better. Instead, I’m wondering if she’s planning to enjoy paradise with someone else.
Like Xavian.
Fuck, I know I’ve been busy lately and spending a lot of my free time with Jayci—mostly because she’ll try anything in bed and could suck the brass off a doorknob—but the thought of Echo and me drifting apart fills me with something like panic.
“What do you say we have a pre-trip graduation party on Friday night? We don’t leave until two in the afternoon on Saturday, so—”
“I can’t.” Echo tears her gaze away. “I’ve got…something else.”
Like? Her vague refusal fills me with dread. “A date?”
“Not exactly.”
Shifting closer, I take her chin in my hand. “Then what? Talk to me. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Nothing. I just need to, um…take care of something before we go.”
Something? If it’s really nothing, why won’t she look at me? “I’m getting that you don’t want me to pry, but I’m your best friend. Is something wrong? Are your sisters all right?”
“They’re fantastic,” she assures quickly. “Ella and Carson bought a new house, and they’re trying to have a baby.”
“Good for them.” They seem happy together—at least for now. Hopefully, when Ella has spit out a couple of kids in a few years, Carson won’t be tempted by some hot new thing in the office. My dad always was…
“And Eryn is finishing her first semester of college next week. Then she swears she’s going to spend the summer redoing the penthouse West bought in Vegas.”
“That place was sweet.” When Echo asked me to come with her to her middle sister’s wedding last fall and we crashed at West’s giant-ass bachelor pad at the top of a casino, I never wanted to leave.
But while I’m glad my bestie isn’t worried about her older sisters, I’m seriously concerned about her. “Great. Maybe we can visit again when they’re done.”
“Yeah.” She gives me a half-smile. “Sure.”
I sigh. “C’mon, shortcake. What’s going on Friday night?”
“Just something I need to do.” She tries to brighten her smile…but it falls short. “It’ll be fine. And once it’s done, I’ll be ready to spend a week in paradise.”
* * * *
“Hey,” Xavian calls out to me the next morning as we head for the conference room at the end of the hall with steaming mugs of java.
“I want to talk to you after this meeting,” I snarl.
Yeah, I’m in a shitty mood. I didn’t sleep much last night. Too much on my mind. Echo’s refusal to confide in me chafes. The last time she didn’t want to tell me what was bugging her she’d just gotten her first period and was too embarrassed to talk about it. I have no clue what’s troubling her now…but I’ll bet it has something to do with Xavian.
Does she think she’s in love with him?
Yesterday’s movie bugged me, too. It was about rethinking preconceived notions of the people you know. Was Echo sending me some message? While the credits were rolling, she tried to talk to me, since we usually discuss the film we’ve just seen. The movie was better than expected, but I didn’t say much else. I was pretty focused on figuring out what she’s up to Friday night…and having seconds of her French toast.
Jayci called about nine, wanting a repeat of the previous night. Yeah, she’s hot, but I was too preoccupied by Echo and her strangely secretive behavior to have another drunken fuckfest.
And now I’m just annoyed.
Xavian, the good-looking, green-eyed bastard, blinks at me as he takes his seat. “Sure. You all right, man?”
My boss starts the meeting before I can lay into him, so I have a couple of hours to stew. And for my mood to sour. But as soon as the talk about new financial products and market projections are done, I motion to Xavian to follow me to the stairwell. Thankfully, he falls in line, empty coffee cup in hand.
“What’s going on?” he asks once we’re behind closed doors. “You look pissed.”
“What do you have going on with Echo?”
“Nothing.” His denial comes too fast. His expression looks too blank.
“Bullshit. She says you two have been talking.”
He shrugs. “Some.”
Since Xavian never talks to a woman unless he wants something more, I growl. “Why? You’d better not be trying to get with her.”
“She’s just a friend.”
“Then what’s with the phone calls? I know you two have something planned this Friday night.”