“I am.” She kept up with me.
I opened the door, and my heart was racing. I’d not been this nervous since getting caught with my motorcycle when I was a teenager. I had no idea how Hope felt.
She headed to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. “So, what are we talking about?”
I love you. It was on the tip of my tongue. However, someone knocked on the door.
Hope shrugged, but I called out, “Don’t get it.”
She’d already opened it.
My skin was all pins and needles. Hope said, “One second, we’re here for a wedding, and it could be something for your family.”
My brother and his bride had no use for us. However, as the door opened, I saw my parents.
Maman said, “Charlie, Hope, get your friends and join us for happy hour downstairs.”
I nodded. “We’ll be right there.”
They left, and Hope closed the door.
I met her gaze. It was time to confess it all. I opened my mouth, but the words were silent.
She motioned with her thumbs to the door. “Okay, let’s change and head there. When everything blows up about us, I'll hate for them to think I was an overall disappointment.”
I wasn’t moving. My heart beat fast.
“What did you want to talk about?”
Maybe now wasn’t the right time. Forcing anything never worked out as well as letting things naturally just come about. I took a deep breath. We were fine. I would have plenty of chances tonight to tell her. I joined her at the closet. “Relax and enjoy ourselves. We’ll figure everything out tonight.”
“Okay.” She slipped on a fresh pink sundress that made her face glow. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever met.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Hope
* * *
Upstairs, I'd been sure Charlie was going to tell me how our life together came to an end. I'd been so sure that I’d rushed him downstairs to the party. My friends were around, so I could avoid the end of everything until we admitted our lies publicly, which should probably be after the wedding.
I would seriously hate anyone who tried to selfishly take the spotlight from the bride and groom, so I had a day. I probably needed to run that by Charlie.
The second we stepped onto the terrace overlooking the Pacific as far as the eye could see, with his family and my friends all scattered around, I breathed easier. We were safe here.
His parents came over to us, and Charlie said, “Maman, Pedar.”
We hugged, and it was like nothing had happened when we were surrounded with great people. I picked up a champagne flute and gazed behind me. Then my entire body froze on the spot. I couldn’t breathe as I met the blue eyes of my ex-boyfriend, who was clearly determined to destroy me.
I whispered to Charlie, “Patterson’s here.”
“What are you talking about?”
I pointed at the glass door to the hotel. “He’s in the lobby.”
“I will send security. I’m sure his reservation can be cancelled fast.” Charlie held me closer. “Let’s not worry about him.”
My heart thumped. Other than me, there was no reason why he would be here. And humiliating me was clearly worth spending all that money to get here. I tried to breathe, though it was shallow as I asked, “Why would he be in Hawaii? We flew thousands of miles away, and the deadline isn’t quite here, unless he means to change that too.”
