“Maeve,” I repeat. “I?—”
What am I going to say? I can’t say shit with Noah here. He’s my assurance that I won’t turn into something I’m not. That I won’t change the goals I’ve been trying to reach all my life. One week on an island wouldn’t change that. It shouldn’t.
“See you in two hours,” she says, turning away and disappearing inside of her room.
“Fuck.” I cover my face with my hands and walk back inside.
“Fuck indeed. I like Maeve,” Noah starts, earning an angry glare from me. “Not like that,” he adds, throwing his hands in the air. “Just like a person. She seems very genuine and caring.”
“She is,” I sigh. This is something I’ve learned about her so far. She can be prickly, but she always cares.
“And you like her.”
I grunt, not exactly agreeing with him.
“It was just the circumstances. The mainland and real life will change everything.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Then he adds, changing the subject. “When will he transfer the shares?”
“When the marriage is sealed.”
“You mean after you fuck?” he asks with amusement.
“No, asshole. When we sign the certificate.”
“Works for us. Did you get the ring?”
“Martin ordered it. It’s over there.” I point at the nightstand. It was delivered this morning.
“You asked your assistant to buy your bride a ring?”
“It’s an arrangement.” I shrug one shoulder, trying to convince us both of how uncaring I am about all of this. “I don’t give a fuck what she wears as long as she does.”
A gloomy cloud comes over his head, annoying the hell out of me. He always does that.
“What?”
“I mean, you’re getting married anyway. Why not put some effort into it?”
“It’s an arrangement,” I growl. “I don’t give a fuck.”
His prolonged silence makes me turn toward him. “What?”
He doesn’t respond. Just shakes his head with quiet disappointment.
30
Maeve
“Such a douchebag,” Bea fumes when I walk back inside. The flowy skirt of her knee-long pink dress follows her like a veil. This is what she’d wear every day when we were kids.
“You heard?”
“The whole island heard.” Her little nostrils flare as she jumps to her feet. “You don’t have to go through with that, you know. Fuck him. Let’s just run away somewhere together.”
“I’ve tried that,” I say with a sad smile. “And look where it landed me.”
“It landed you right back to me. Maybe it’s destiny.” She walks up to me and takes my hand. “He’s not getting you.” She speed walks to the closet and pulls out the suitcase she brought for me yesterday.
