I’m an asshole! I have no clue as to why I didn’t talk to Brooke about heading back to the States. I had the perfect opportunity, but the words just wouldn’t come. Even after she told me how she felt, I still couldn’t get the words out for fear that she’d refuse to come with me.

You won’t know unless you ask her…

Opening my eyes and dropping my hand to the bed where I’ve been lying for the past thirty minutes, my hip starts buzzing like crazy.

Reaching out, I grab my cell and smile when I see my cousins name on the screen.

“Alex! I wasn’t expecting you’re call until tomorrow.” I rub at my eyes, trying to stay awake. Last night with Brooke is definitely catching up to me.

“When are you flying home?”

“In a few days. I’ll probably fly back with Sirena and family as Garrett has his plane here. Easier that way.” I yawn.

“Something keeping you awake?” he asks, distracted.

“Someone.” I smile to myself.

I hear mumbling at the other end of the phone and ask, “What’s going on with you?”

“Someone that you want to bring home, or a passing fancy?” He ignores my question and really goes to where I knew he would. He knows me well.

“She’s special, Alex. I’m struggling with when to tell her that I’m leaving for the States.”

“In case she doesn’t want to leave with you?” he guesses correctly.

Sighing, I stare at the ceiling. “What should I do?”

He laughs. “You’re asking me? I don’t have a girlfriend, remember.” He goes quiet and when he next speaks, I hear a tiredness he can’t hide. “But if I did, and she was as important as your girl is to you, then I’d tell her before someone else does.”

“I’ll tell her tonight after dinner.” I pause. “Everything okay with you?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“You don’t sound too sure.”

He laughs without mirth. “I’m fine Michael. Just tired.” He coughs. “I was wondering if you’d mind if I took a few days off when you first got back? We can go over the plans when I’m back in. I just need two days.”

Dropping my legs to the floor, I rub my hand over my face and rest my elbows on my thighs. “We are going to talk when I get back. We’re family and I know there is something going on, so we’re having that chat. I’m on your side.”

Alex sighs down the cell and it just confirms all my thoughts...he’s definitely tired. “We’ll talk. Email me your flight plan once it’s known.”

“I will.”

After a few minutes just discussing the business, I say goodbye and the cell goes silent. I palm the phone and think about him and the call. My cousin and best friend had sounded despondent on the phone, which has me worried—more worried than I was anyway.

Instead of getting some sleep, I need to go for a run and that will either wake me up or send me to sleep.

* * *

The run helped in clearing my head, and it even woke me up. I’d forgotten how much I liked running. It’s been a few weeks. At least I have the energy for whatever happens over dinner tonight.

It should be fun with Carrie and Sinclair being present, and I know Brooke has something to say to the pair of them.

“Surprise!” Brooke suddenly jumps from between two bushes scaring the hell out of me.

I play it cool though, although from the mirth in her eyes, I don’t think I fooled her. “I knew you were there.”

She giggles. “No you didn’t. Your head wasn’t on the island.”

I smile and wrap my arms around her shoulders. “It was back home and then it switched to you. You’re always in there.”

Caressing my face, she breathes a whisper of a kiss against my lips. “That’s good to know.”

“Let’s go eat and then we can be alone,” she suggests, urging me toward the house.

“Is your sister there?”

“Yes. She’s with Sinclair and they’ve both been shooting daggers at me.” She shrugs. “I can handle them, but as long as I have you with me then it will be easier. The two of them together take me back to high school and I hate them for that.”

I sling my arm around her shoulders and lead her to where her family awaits. Ignoring those two, and only greeting Mitchell and Adelaide, we take our seats.

“This looks nice, Mom. Is it new?” Brooke asks, rubbing her fingers on the lace table covering.

“It is. I ordered it the last time we were here. It was finally delivered today. Isn’t it beautiful.”

Adelaide pats Brooke on the hand and from the corner of my eye I catch the look on Carrie’s face, as she tries to look bored but looks like an insolent child instead.

“So, Carrie,” Brooke sits back in her seat as I take her hand into mine, “do you want to explain to me why you’ve been putting all your food and drink in town onto my account? Didn’t you think I’d find out?”

“I did no such thing.” She looks toward her father. Her eyes look sad and just when I think her father is about to fall for her lies, he asks Brooke, “Was anything on it yours?”

“No. You know I’d rather pay at the time, so imagine my shock when I went into the tavern after my swim with Michael and was asked when I intended to pay the balance. I asked them about it and they informed me that you’d been running up tabs all over the island in my name!”

She’d been so angry at the time I thought she’d hunt her sister down and they’d have a full out brawl.

“I think we need to take a look at your accounts, Carrie,” Mitchell says. “Are they still unpaid?”

“Yes, they are,” I add. “Brooke was going to pay them, but I wouldn’t let her. I asked them to transfer everything back over to Carrie’s tab because Brooke could prove that she wasn’t even on the Island when the majority were charged.” I shrug and face Carrie. “She knew what she was doing when she did it, so Brooke isn’t paying anything to get you out of the mess.”

Carrie’s mouth twists into a snarl as she bursts, “You,” she spears a finger toward me, “stay out of this. It doesn’t concern you.”

“You’ve used my girlfriends name for credit around the island, so yes, it does involve me.” I slip my arm around Brooke’s waist and tug her closer.

“Girlfriend, right! And when do you plan on telling Brooke that you’re leaving on the same plane as your sister in a few days?”

Fuck!

“What?” Brooke gasps, moving out of my arms, her complexion suddenly pale.

“Carrie!” Mitchell roars and slams his hands down on the table, rising to his feet. “You have to stop this behavior toward your sister. You’re a grown woman.” His breathing is heavy and anger fills his face as he stares up at the sky before meeting her gaze. “You need to grow up, and stop this vindictive attitude, because if you don’t, then whatever money you have left is all you will have. I will cut off every monetary support I give you and it will not be so easily gained back.”

“Brooke,” he sighs and the exasperation for his eldest child is clearly written on his face, “can you make me a list of monies owed?”

“I already have that.”

“Good…Good.” He sits back down. “We’ll sort this mess out tomorrow.”

We all return to our food and I glance at Brooke beside me. Her smile is gone and it’s clear that she’s ignoring me as she plays around with the food on her plate. She pushes it away before standing up abruptly from the table, “I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.”

Adelaide stares after her daughter while I’m torn as to what to do. I should run after her and explain, or would it be easier to leave her and put it down to the heat of the moment.

You’re an idiot!

“Excuse me, I need to make this right.” Getting to my feet, I nod at Mitchell who smiles, and then I throw a glare toward Carrie, who is still fuming in her seat. I ignore Sinclair completely.