I didn’t know what time Lee was going to be leaving this morning, and I was a bit too buzzed to think to check with anyone, so I spent the early morning hours pacing around the pool trying to sober up. All I could think about was Charlotte’s face. She looked fraught with worry, and there was a part of me that wanted to yell at her about it. Does she think I’m so thoughtless that I’d make the most half-assed attempt possible to contact her and let her know what’s going on? Does she think I’m so self-absorbed that the only things on my mind are my job, my money, and looking important in everyone else’s eyes?

Does she have any idea how spot on she’d be on both of those counts?

The roar of the beach and the waves soothes me a little bit. I mean, I’m so dehydrated I’m about ready to get on my knees and lap out of the pool, but that seems like something a man of the world doesn’t do. Unless he’s had a fifth of whiskey, and then he’s about ready to get down with chlorine.

Finally, as the sun begins to appear over the rim of the ocean, I head back inside and sit by the concierge, waiting for someone to show. A fresh-faced kid comes over, yawning; she must be new, taking the worst possible shifts. That’s what happens when you’re the new meat.

“Can I help you?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.

I tell her my name and my business, and in a minute she has me outside Lee’s office. I’m lucky; apparently it’s his habit to come in and do a last minute sweep of the place before he leaves on international affairs. He’s headed to Singapore a few days early, and then I’ll join him. The trip’s mine for the taking, the trip and the job and the world it’ll open up to my company. To my pride.

Except that I can’t get Charlotte out of my mind.

“Justin. What are you doing here?” Sure enough, Lee arrives looking as business casual as he likely ever gets. He’s wearing a sports jacket over a polo shirt, and some reading glasses are perched on his nose. I shake hands with him, mentally rehearsing. “Can this wait? I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

“I’m afraid you won’t,” I say, trying to keep the regret out of my voice. I almost succeed. Lee chuckles.

“Well, good point. Accounting for change in time zones, it’ll be more like—”

“I’m sorry. I truly am. But.” I take a last breath where I still have this job and this path open before me. “I have to respectfully and regretfully decline.”

There’s a solid thirty seconds of silence. His eyebrows rise. “Oh?” is all he says.

“My wife…that is, there was a mix up last night. A bad one. I sort of abandoned her on our big romantic dinner to seal the deal with you. I could have bowed out early, but I wanted to stay. I wanted to feel important, and I left her when the whole point of this trip was to finally take our honeymoon. To make her special. To put her first.” I close my eyes. “I failed that test.”

“That’s a single marriage issue.” Lee doesn’t sound angry, only thoughtful. “Surely your wife can overlook it.”

“She could, but I think there’s a bigger problem there. I’ve shut her out before. I’ve left her to handle things all on her own. This was supposed to be a change, and I didn’t make it.” There’s Sawyer to think of, and Sage, and Sebastian. They can’t have a dad who’s absent, always chasing big things to make himself feel bigger. They know enough kids like that, and half of them are at remedial boarding school. I don’t want that for my children. “I want this job, don’t get me wrong. It’s perfect. But I can’t take it if it means no time at home, no time helping my wife or dealing with our children. Providing for them is important, but if I don’t focus on my family, I’m not much of a man.”

“I see.” He doesn’t smile or frown. He still sounds thoughtful, almost too quiet.

“I apologize for this situation. I hope you find the lawyer and the firm that you need.”

“Well.” Lee holds out his hand, and we shake. “It was a pleasure speaking with you, Justin. I can’t say I don’t regret this.”

He’s not the only one, but it’s the right choice. “Thank you for understanding.”

“My pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your visit.”

With that, Lee’s gone, and the job with him. I’m left to wander the hotel lobby like an aimless spirit in Crocs. Damn, but these are comfortable.

Hell. I can’t go back up to the room right now. I don’t want to wake Charlotte up, and anything I say in apology is just going to sound whiny and trite. I need to do something. I need to stop talking and explaining and just fucking do something.

So the first thing I do is call the only family member I have who can fix any relationship problem. Emma.

“Blello?” She groans as she picks up the phone, and then makes some hurking noises. Jesus.

“Em? You okay?” I sit down by the pool outside.

“Yeah, sorry. I sent Fraser to grab me a Pellegrino from the fridge. I made tacos last night, you know my special recipe?”

“The one with sriracha and marshmallows?” My stomach ripples at the thought. “My kids, are they all right?”

“Oh, ha ha. Yeah, everyone’s fine but me. I swear, my cooking is usually so excellent, and lately it’s been making me gag.”

Finally, her stomach caught up with everyone else’s. “Listen. I need your advice on something.”

“If I say nothing, know I’m either listening intently or hworfing all over your bedroom.”

I’m…going to let that one slide. I tell her everything while she’s quiet. I hear no gagging, so I take it as a good sign. When I’m done, Emma sighs into the phone.

“Wow. You’re busy on vacation. When I went on my honeymoon, all I could think about was eating and ridiculous photo ops. Oh, and banging my husband.”

Okay, get that picture out of my mind. “Again. What should I do?”

“Hmm.” I can practically imagine the thought bubbles forming over her head. I’m sure half of them will be about chocolate pudding, if I know my sister. “Okay, we’re about to get old fashioned and romantical. How’s your handwriting these days?”

It surprises me, but then again, it is Emma.