Our gazes clash across the room, and I drop back into the sofa as tears sprout behind my eyes, my throat squeezing tight. I put my hands over my face.God. I never want to feel this anxiety again. The relief is slow to seep into my muscles—this was too real, too close a call, tooeverything.
“Things didn’t pan out as we expected,” I begin, dragging my hands down my face. I’m so tired, but I owe Evan an explanation.
By the time I’m done reliving the whole clusterfuck that was our last day on Ne’emba Island, we’ve had coffee, and now he’s pouring me a stiff whiskey. It’s a bit early in the day, but who the hell cares. My body isn’t on any clock right now.
“But that’s not the whole story, is it?” Evan hands me the tumbler with raised eyebrows.
There’s no being skittish about it now—not after he prodded into details that probably gave everything away. “I’m a goner, Ev. I’m in love with her. I’ve never thought—knew or imagined…Godammit, Evan, she’s the only thing I can think of, and it aches, itachesnot to be with her.”
“Excellent,” he says, clinking his glass with mine. “Things panned out exactly as I expected.”
Jesus Christ.“You’re a real asshole sometimes, you know that?” But I’m not complaining.
“You can thank me later. Let me book you a flight to Anchorage.”
Right on cue, something scrapes upstairs, and I look up to the ceiling. “Entertaining, are you?” Evan is the most private guy I’ve ever known. He likes his business to be his business only.
“If you want to call it that,” he says with smirk. He’s back on his phone, typing away. “You’re good to keep going? You made it all the way from Ne’emba to here. Why stop now?”
“Yep. I’m good to go. I need… I just need to get to her. You get it?” I want to laugh now that the adrenaline spike is fading.
“Nope. I don’t.” He doesn’t look up, confirming that whatever is going on upstairs is a hook-up. “Anyway. Via Denver in two hours? Shortest layover, and with the four-hour time difference, hell, you might be able to tuck her in tonight.”
The notion is so sweet, but things may not be smooth sailing. Still, I smile. “Best get cracking.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“No need to?—”
“She’ll be here when I get back.” With that, he disappears up the stairs again.
I take a blitz shower and toss some clothes into a carry-on bag. I grab my warmest jacket, and by the time I’m done, Evan is showered too and ready to go.
“Thanks, bro,” I say as we get into his car. “I owe you.”
“Yep. Big time.”
I laugh. “Mind if I check my email on your phone while we drive?”
“Sure. You’re such a fucking Neanderthal.” Evan hands me his phone. “Jeez, no phone for how many days now?”
“Four and counting. I’ll sort it out in Anchorage. It’s weird. I got weaned while on Ne’emba. You should try it.”
“Uh…nope. Thanks.”
I open the internet and log on to my email, scrolling for anything important. Nothing from Lexi. More than one email from my agent, Nick Mallet. He’s going to be pissed. Too bad, so sad.
Then there’s an email from Dad. I open it and scan. Bottom line, it will take time, probably months, but after initial contact with St Chalamet, the hotel group has agreed to settle out of court. At issue is the amount they’ll pay Mia Reed, and that’s something the lawyers will negotiate. Reed would like to sue them for every last bedsheet, but this case is never going to see the light of day if St Chalamet has a say in it.
I lean back with a groan and close my eyes.Idiots. The truth will come out, sooner or later. It’s sitting there like a time bomb, except nobody knows when it’s going to explode. Paying Mia Reed won’t stop anything, but St Chalamet will probably settle as soon as possible, hoping it will all go away.
“All good?” Evan asks.
“Mostly.” I look over at him. “What’s your take on Lexi’s part in that video that’s trending?”
“Old news already.” Evan shrugs. “I’ve seen fewer of those popping up, and in six months it will be buried under all the new crap that keeps being piled on.”
“Yeah. Probably.”