“Move,” I shout at the girls. They just giggle and laugh hysterically, their fingers darting across their phone screens quickly. I realize they might be texting Saint, so I pull my own phone out and shoot him a quick message.
9:32 PM: If you’re getting pictures from Laurel’s bitch friends, don’t freak out. I can explain later. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, I guess I have to tell you later now.
That should do the trick.
Stepping into my building, I dial up Carley and hope she’s not too irritated with me for ignoring her call earlier.
She answers on the second ring. “Hey, baby girl! I’ve been getting worried. I got your message earlier that you needed to talk, and I tried calling you back.”
“I know, sorry,” I reply with a wince. “I got sidetracked with homework.”
“Alright, well, what’s up?”
I make my way into the elevator and wait until the doors close before answering.
“I actually had a question for you about spring break.”
“Titus had mentioned flying you to Atlanta with Loni.”
“Oh.” Well, shit. That’s a surprise. “Look, Carley, I’d love to but a friend of mine just invited me to join them on their trip and I was hoping it’d be okay if I went.”
There’s a beat of silence before she asks, “Who’s the friend?”
Fuck. If I tell her Saint invited me, no way will she let me go.
“Mal? Did I lose you?”
I realize I’m staring straight ahead at my reflection in the elevator doors, mouth ajar and silent. My mind scrambles to think of someone.
The elevator comes to a stop and the doors slide open. At that moment, as though dictated by fate, Loni steps out of her room.
“Loni!” I declare into my phone.
Startled, Loni turns to stare at me. “What?”
Stepping out of the elevator, I shake my head at her and point at my phone.
“But Loni’s coming to Atlanta.” Carley sounds confused and skeptical, and I cringe.
Shit, I’m getting horrible at this.
“Uh … yeah. We kind of decided we wanted to spend the break together.” The lie falls from my lips as if I’d rehearsed it. “Also, we thought you and Titus would like some alone time?”
“Oh.” Carley releases a low hum from the back of her throat. “I see.”
Loni is walking up to me and staring at me in confusion, so I hold up a finger to ask her to give me a minute.
“Well, I guess that’s okay then,” Carley says with a sigh. “Where are you going?”
“Hawaii.” It’s the first truth I’ve told this whole conversation, and it makes me feel a little sick.
“That’s not so far.” Carley sounds like she’s warming up to the idea. “Alright. I suppose it’d be okay. You just have to let me know what your exact plans are, okay? I want full itinerary with flights and everything.”
“Okay,” I say, a little breathlessly. “Deal.”
“Good. I’m happy to sign off on said trip then.”
“Thanks, Carley,” I grin, relieved. “I appreciate it.”
I make an excuse so I can end the call because Loni is still standing in front of me, one brow arched and her hands on her hips.
“What did you just do?” she asks.
“I told Carley you and I are going to Hawaii for spring break.”
“Mallory,” she groans. “Why?”
When I’m done explaining, I expect Loni to explode on me. Instead, she shrugs. “I’m in.”
I blink, stunned. “What? Really? Just like that?”
She nods with a grin. “Don’t get this confused. I’m only partially doing this for you. I’m mostly doing it because I’m fascinated by the weird relationship you have with Saint and I want to see more of it firsthand.”
“Whatever your reason, I’m just glad you’re not furious with me.”
“Of course not,” she assures me. Then, with a wink, she adds, “Just let Hot Draco know I’d prefer first class since he’s paying.”
29
“Oh, my God.”
I feel like I’m dreaming because this can’t be real. I stare up at our resort in awe, in complete disbelief that I’m going to stay in a place like this. It’s a fucking Four Seasons, on Lanai, which has essentially been turned into a rich person’s playground with its giant golf-course and tropical terrain.
We’ve just arrived at the resort, which took my breath away as we were driving up to it in the luxury cars that were rented for our group. Loni, Saint and I had rolled up in a red Ferrari, and Liam, Gabe, and Rosalind—who had invited themselves—had gotten a blue Lamborghini.
What the hell was happening to my life?
Loni comes to stand next to me and bumps my shoulder with a smile.
“Pick your jaw up off the ground,” she teases. “You deserve to be here as much as anyone else.”
It’s as if she can see into my mind and read all the insecure thoughts bombarding me right now. My first instinct was to believe that I don’t belong here, especially in my discount summer dress and sandals. Everyone else is sporting designer labels, whereas I visited the clearance racks in preparation for this trip.
“You’re right,” I nod, forcing a confident smile. “It’ll be great.”
I hope. I glance toward Saint, who’s giving his keys to the valet parking attendant. When he turns back around, his eyes meet mine, but then immediately look away again. He’s been doing that the whole trip so far, though I’m fairly certain I know it’s about those photos with Ghost. He hasn’t said a word to me about them, and I haven’t had the chance to explain.
Things feel awkward and tense, and I know I need to talk to him about the incident before it ruins our spring break. I just need to get him alone…
“Let’s check in,” he growls to the other half of our group as they wander up next to us.
“Yes, sir,” Gabe says with a sarcastic salute, making Rosalind giggle behind her hand. When I’d found out she was coming with us, I hadn’t known how to feel. When I’d discovered that Liam was the one who’d invited her, the reason behind her presence became a little clearer. So far, though, having her around was proving to be alright. She was as friendly and soft-spoken as ever.
Saint narrows his eyes at Gabe but doesn’t say a word as he stalks toward the resort’s entrance. I try not to gape as we walk into the gorgeous lobby, but it’s not easy. Saint goes to the reception desk and checks us all in, then returns with keys to our private cottages. When he hands me my key, our fingertips brush and a bolt of heat shoots through my body. If he felt it as well, I’ve no idea. The guy is a stonewall, moving away from me to continue handing out the rest of the keys.
I release a deep breath and try to calm my body down. It’s pathetic that a simple touch from him can set me off like this, but I blame the weeks of forced abstinence he’s submitted me to for my extra level of sensitivity. Thankfully, I’m able to get myself under control before Loni grabs my hand to slip it around her arm.