Like have sex?
“I wanted to finish the day totally embracing the life I’m going to have. Graduation was a big part of that, for sure. I had a plan to work on some of the other stuff. I even have an interview at three o’clock with a firm I think could be a great fit for me, so I’m excited…” Echo shrugs. “But the rest of my plan fell through. It can wait a few days, I guess.”
Yes, she means having sex. Clearly, she’s not going to tell me—I have a few theories about why—and I can’t confront her with what I know.
I have to tread carefully.
“There’s no rush on anything, Echo. You are an adult. It’s clear you’re a woman and—”
“Is it? Really?” She thrusts a hand on her hip.
I don’t think she means to, but her pose shows off her curves and makes it abundantly clear that she’s all woman.
Seriously, I have to stop looking at her like that.
“Of course. You’ll get a good job, I’m sure. You won’t be able to avoid taxes, trust me. And car payments are overrated. The more adult decision might be to drive your paid-off clunker a bit longer. Anything else you feel like you’re missing out on will come in good time.”
“But I’ve already waited, probably too long because I stupidly want something that will never happen…” Her face closes up, and she shakes her head. “Never mind. Not your problem. I’ll figure it out.”
What is she saying? That she wishes she’d lost her virginity sooner? That she regrets holding out for a fairy tale?
“Don’t give up, huh?” She may not find Prince Charming, but someday she’ll meet someone. He’ll have to be close to perfect to deserve Echo. And before I let him near her, I’ll have to trust that he won’t break my best friend’s heart. If he does, I’ll break every bone in his body. “You got this. I believe in you.”
She gives me a wry smile. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but one of the hallmarks of being an adult is realizing when it’s time to be realistic. So I’ll reschedule what I’d planned for tonight another time.”
Like hell. She had something more meaningful in mind than a one-night stand with Xavian. She’s entitled to at least that much, and she shouldn’t settle for less. “Echo—”
“It’s fine,” she assures. “You heading back to the office?”
With a sigh, I glance at my phone. Three voice mails, half a dozen texts, and a meeting that starts in under an hour. Fuck. “Yeah. You want to hit Pescada Fresca tonight, just the two of us, to celebrate?”
She flashes me a dismissive smile. “It’s really sweet of you, but I’ve got lots to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
After lifting a hand in a half-hearted wave, she heads to her bike. It takes everything in me not to call her back. But what the hell would I do then, ask if I can help with her “problem”? That would be not merely crossing the friend line; that would be stomping it into dust before I bulldozed what was left of it. Besides, I’m no better for her than Xavian. The difference is, I know it. No clue what he’s thinking, but I need to keep those two apart, make sure Echo doesn’t do anything she’ll ultimately regret, and encourage her not to give up on her dreams.
* * * *
Time drags by until Echo, Xavian, and I meet up at the bar in the airport the next day to wait before we board our flight. I order a vodka cranberry. X starts with a spiked coffee since he was at the office until nearly four this morning finishing up the project I had my boss dump in his lap so he couldn’t rub his uglies against Echo last night. Except for another eye-poppingly short skirt, she seems like her usual sunny self again as she orders a piña colada.
“Here’s to our adventure in paradise.” I hold up my glass.
“Amen, brother.” Xavian lifts his mug, then swallows back half of the brew.
“I can’t wait!” Echo looks giddy. “My sisters are really jealous. Eryn assures me I’m going to love Maui and that I’m never going to want to come home. She told me to at least do a drive-by of the Sunshine Coast Bed-and-Breakfast where she and West honeymooned.”
“Then we will,” I promise her. I want to take a drive around the island anyway to see as much of it as I can.
X sucks back the last of his spiked java, then motions for another. “And I should know no later than Wednesday if I have a long-lost family, so we might have that to celebrate soon.”
“You submitted a DNA sample?”
“Yeah. Why not? If we’re not family, no harm, no foul.” He shrugs.
“Do you know anything about them?” Echo asks.
“Nothing except that they’re well aware Daddy couldn’t keep it in his pants.”
“Oh, maybe he and my dad were pals,” I quip. “They had that in common.”
And given Xavian’s track record with women, I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns out to be this womanizing bastard’s son. After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“Right?” X shrugs. “If this pans out, I guess the family will tell me more. Until then, I’m waiting.”
“Whatever happens, I hope you’re happy with the outcome,” Echo murmurs.
“Thanks.”
“Hey,” I call to her as she sips more of her fruity drink. “How did the interview go?”
“Oh, really good. If I get the job, I’ll be working as the social media manager for a nonprofit that helps solicit gently used play equipment and other donations for at-risk kids. It’s a little organization and it probably doesn’t pay shit.” She gives me a self-deprecating grin. “But you know me.”
I do. “It’s meaningful work that sounds right up your alley.”
“Exactly. It won’t be like work at all. I think there’s a good chance I got the job. Bruce Henderson, the guy who runs the place with his wife, Fay, said an organization like this helped him stay off the streets and out of gangs as a teenager growing up in one of the rougher parts of LA. They’re both retired lawyers now, and they’re dedicating their lives to making the city a better place.”
“That’s fantastic.” Xavian hugs her before I can.
The second he pulls away, I toss him a glare. How the hell is Echo supposed to stop thinking about having sex with him if he won’t stay out of her grill?
X shrugs, then reaches for his second cup of spiked coffee as the bartender slides it his way.
I turn back to Echo, who’s peeling off a familiar oversize beige cardigan to reveal a gauzy blue dress that ties around her neck—and a V that plunges to her waist.
My eyes go wide. Echo has cleavage? Yeah, lots of it. I knew she had boobs. I just hadn’t really looked at them before.
Kind of hard not to now. Her curves are so…curvy, it’s hard to look away.
Slam the brakes on that train of thought, buddy. Quick.
“Congratulations,” I finally manage, giving her the briefest hug possible. “Will they call you this coming week?”
“Probably. I mean, I’m not taking anything for granted, but they’re in a hurry to fill the vacancy left by a woman who just had her second baby and decided to stay home with her kids. And”—she sends me a stilted smile—“I’m hoping it doesn’t become an issue, but Fay liked me so much, she tried to persuade me to go out with her son. I didn’t want to insult her, but I was eager to end any expectation that I would date where I work, so…I told them you’re my boyfriend. Sorry. It happened so fast. I didn’t know what else to do.”