Zara

The night dragged on. Maybe because my nerves were shot for several reasons, or maybe because that kiss Lance gave me lit my insides up. The last thing I wanted to do was socialize with a guy who couldn’t take a hint that nothing would ever happen between us and who had an obvious problem with my boyfriend. No, what I really wanted to do was hail a cab and go right back to the hotel. My sister would understand. And while I was admitting things, I’d have liked nothing more than to stay sequestered there with Lance forever.

A tiny, tiny part of me panicked over the thought of this becoming my life. The paranoia, that feeling that you were on display, pinched at my consciousness, along with the little things Rosalani mentioned out of the blue, like this Kaelynn Holt person, or all the other starlets Landon Price was apparently connected to. Not to mention that the way she kept gawking made me feel like an animal in the zoo, and I wasn’t even the famous one.

Meanwhile, Lance sat beside me acting as cool as a cucumber while fake-smiling his way through a torturous evening.

Annia kept throwing me remorseful glances. Kai seemed on edge as well. Really, the only person who was having a gay old time was Rosalani. She was giddy, chattering throughout dinner, giggling at anything Lance said, while rudely punching into her phone the entire time. We weren’t disillusioned enough to think that she wasn’t completely onto us.

“How did you two meet?” Rosalani asked.

“Um…Marshmallow, my dog, kind of got lost and made his way to Lance’s bungalow.”

“So, wait. Let me get this straight,” Elan interrupted. “You’ve been here for eight weeks? Just hanging out in Lanai?”

Annia suddenly stood to clear away dinner plates. Lance immediately stood to help, grabbing a few plates as he did.

Undeterred at Lance’s attempt at an escape, Elan asked, “Lance, what do you do that you can afford to vacation in Hawaii for months at a time?”

I was just about to bark that it was none of his business when Lance said, “I’m an accountant.”

“What kind of taxes?” Elan persisted.

“Corporate,” Lance answered easily before turning to follow Annia and me.

“Sounds boring.” His eyes followed Lance as he walked to the door where I waited for him.

“It can be,” Lance called over his shoulder before slipping into the kitchen and closing the door with his elbow. A very audible sigh was the first sign he showed that this night was exhausting him.

Annia took the plates from his hands. “I’m so sorry, Lance.” She had repeated those words so many times over the course of the night that I’d lost track.

“No worries.” He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. “Would it make you feel less tense if I came clean?”

“No. Don’t give him the satisfaction.”

Kai slid the glass door open and walked in hesitantly. “Hon, can you put on some coffee for my brother?” Annia groaned, forcing Kai to ask, “What?”

She motioned for him to come in. “They’re making Zara uncomfortable.”

Kai’s chocolate-brown eyes landed on mine. “Because of your history?”

My mouth gaped open in shock as Annia said, “Kai!”

“What history?” I shrieked way too loudly.

“Um…never mind. Forget I…” Kai dragged a hand through his thick black hair, looking at Annia sheepishly. “Oops.”

“Don’t tell Zara, I said. It’ll make her feel uncomfortable, I said.” Annia smacked Kai’s arm with the back of her hand. “What part of that didn’t you understand?”

I chanced a peek at Lance, who didn’t look at all amused. “How long have you guys known?”

“We just found out,” Annia said, coming closer to put a hand on my arm. “When we told Elan you were coming with your boyfriend, he kind of let the cat out of the bag. By then it was too late to un-invite him. I tried.” She ended her explanation with a smirk.

Could this night get any worse?

“Do you mind if Lance and I call it a night?”

They exchanged glances before shaking their heads.

“Okay, good.”

I pulled away from Lance and opened the door poking my head out. “Guys, my head is pounding in pain. I’m so sorry, but I need to get to bed. It was great seeing you, Elan. Nice to meet you, Rosalani.” Without giving them a chance to react or respond, I moved aside and waved a hand for Lance to follow suit.

With an obvious grin, he mimicked me, wishing them a good night.

I slammed the door shut again. “See? Easy. We’ll see you in the morning. What are the plans tomorrow?” I asked, knowing they’d both taken the day off to be with us.

“Um…we can do whatever you guys want,” Kai answered eagerly. Glancing at his wife, he swallowed nervously. “Anything…at all. Just name it. Whatever, no matter what. Yep…anything.” The last thing he said, “Your call.”

“Shut up, Kai,” Annia quipped.

“Great. So, hanging by the pool and relaxing it is.” Taking Lance’s hand, I kissed Annia’s cheek as I passed by her and led him upstairs away from the cause of my stress.

On our way up the stairs, Lance chuckled behind me. “What?” I asked, looking back at him.

“You’re hiding.”

“I am. And we should have done this hours ago. I actually hope they stay awhile longer.”

“Why?”

“Because as they’re outside gossiping, we’ll be in our room making love.”

“Oh, I like this plan, Miss Jobert.” Like a bolt of lightning, he passed me by and took the lead, pulling me into our room and slamming the door closed.

Pushing up against me with my back to that door, he kissed me, effectively erasing all thoughts of Elan, Rosalani, and their speculations.