Evan immediately gets up and caresses her cheek. “You look a bit flushed, babe. Why don’t we all clear out and let you take a nap?”
“No! I don’t need a nap, Evan.” She starts waving her hands between Antonio and me. “I need… I need… huh.” Her face morphs from annoyed to serene.
“Babe, are you okay? Your smile is giving off the Joker vibes. Super cute and sexy, of course. But yeah, a little creepy,” Evan stutters.
Amelia smiles widely while looking at Antonio and me. “Guys, I love you bothsomuch.”
The three of us groan in unison. This is how she starts when she has a big ask.
“Oh hush. This is more for you two than for me. But I really would appreciate it if you went along with it.”
“Spit it out, Amelia. And just know the answer is probably no if it includes Nikki,” Antonio says.
Amelia sits up higher on the bed. “Antonio, you know you’re my literal lifesaver, my favorite brother—”
“Only brother,” he mutters under his breath.
“Okay, fine.” Amelia drops the sweet act and goes full scary Latina mother in two seconds flat. “Nikki is right. You need something to do now that you have all this free time.”
“Imma stop you right there. The moment you start a sentence withNikki is right, that’s my cue to—”
“Callate la bocaand let me finish!” Amelia shouts.
The rest of us are stunned into silence. And far too terrified to move a muscle.
Amelia clears her throat. “Like I was saying. Tony, you need something to do. Or better yet, you should be rewarded for saving my life, not sulking over a suspension that’s only happening due to ‘optics,’ as your department claims. So I’ll cut to the chase.” She gives Evan a quick look, one that even he, in his love-stricken state, can’t decipher. “Evan and I are sending youbothon an all-expenses paid vacation.”
“And here I thought I was special,” I say as Antonio sputters, “What? Absolutely not.”
Evan’s eyes widen to cartoonish proportions. “Um, babe. How about we discuss this first before—”
Amelia steamrolls Evan and carries on. “You are special, Nikki. Coincidentally, the people in this room are the most important people in my life. Which is why I’m asking… actually, no, scratch that. I’m notifying you that you will be going on a one-week vacation. Together.”
Momentary silence fills the room before Antonio starts laughing uncontrollably. “Good one, sis. You almost had me there.”
Amelia doesn’t crack a smile. In fact, she crosses her arms over her chest and challenges his gaze.
“Sis, c’mon. you’ve got to be joking, right?” He looks at me. “She’s joking. She can’t be serious.” He clears his throat. “Right?”
I roll my eyes and take pity on the man. I zero in on my best friend, who looks like she’s gearing up for a fight. “Amelia.” I smile broadly. “Love you lots. But this is a bit much. Your brother and I can barely tolerate being in the same room. How do you expect us to go on a vacation together, of all things?”
“The same way he’s holding your hand to his chest while your arm is slack. It’s been like that for the past five minutes.” She pointedly looks at where we’re connected and shrugs. “But who’s counting.” I barely register the smug look on her face before Antonio and I both take massive leaps backward to create distance between us.
What the hell?
Did we really have most of that conversation with Amelia and Evan while… touching?
And why is my heart trying to beat out of my chest?
Simmer down, broad.
Amelia laughs and continues. “Look, guys. You’ve both been there for me during this insane time, and I appreciate it so much. No one deserves a vacation more than a woman getting over a breakup and a man who risked his career to save his little sister.” Her eyes start to well with tears. “Antonio, you haven’t taken time off in years.Years. And Nikki, we already offered you this trip, and you said yes. You can’t back out now. Please let Evan and me do this for you guys.”
I chance a glance at Antonio.
Why is his chest rising and falling as rapidly as mine? What kind of weird twilight zone did we enter that has me considering going on vacation with this man?
Evan kisses Amelia’s hand and continues for her. “Look, guys, this might actually be a great thing for you both.” Antonio and I mirror each other by giving Evan a dubious look. “Hear me out first.” He puts his hands up. “You’ll be flown out on my jet, so you’ll have no time to kill each other in an airport security line. Then you’ll get your own rooms on what I’m sure will be a massive resort, and you’ll probably only see each other in passing. Or, if you’re lucky, when the trip is over and you meet up on the plane. Just think of it as carpooling to different vacations happening at the same location.” Evan shrugs.
