Page 29 of Match Made in the Maldives

“You’ll find out, eventually.”

“Not—You’re not back with Dana, right?”

“What? No.”

“So who is it?”

“You’re unbelievably nosy,” I say.

“And you’re being mysterious as hell.”

“Don’t wanna jinx it.”

He stares me down with one of his eyes squinting—like he’s deciding whether he’ll let me off the hook. “Okay, fair enough.”Breaking eye contact, he looks into the distance where some darker clouds have formed. “Man, that’ll make for a great next family vacation. The parents, me and Mel, Cass and Carmen and baby Hernández-Moore, you and your mystery woman, and Lou and Tan.”

I hold back a sneer at the mention of him.

“Although, honestly,” Aaron leans toward me and lowers his voice. “I’m kind of glad Tanner’s not here. Kid’s exhausting.”

“What do you mean?”

“That’s a man who really loves himself.”

This causes a laugh to rip out of me because I understand what he means. What a relief to know I’m not the only one who dislikes the guy. “Yeah, he’s…something.”

“Mel calls him a fuckboy, but whatever. Lou likes him.”

“So do your parents.”

“They like anyone she dates. That’s how they are, always thinking the best of people. Sometimes they’re right, like with you. Other times, they can miss when someone’s a piece of shit.”

“Mm.” I scratch at the sweat tickling my beard. “Have you ever talked to them about it?”

“Doesn’t matter. Lou can date who she wants. Besides, you try looking Betsey and Dave in the eye and saying the wordfuckboy.”

If Aaron and Mel think so, Cass and Carmen might also like not having him on our trip. No one despises him more than I do—of that I’m sure—but knowing that the Moores aren’t one big Tanner fan club lightens my mood.

“I just wish she would be with someone who fits. Like Mel fits. Carmen fits. They’re family. You—you fit. Man, if you had a brother that wasn’t a total shithead, we could set them up.”

Aaron says nothing about setting Lou up with me, not even as a throwaway joke, and I stiffen. Perhaps he wants to stay respectful of this new, unknown woman I’ve told him about—or, more likely, he can’t even wrap his head around Lou and me dating in the realm of possibility.

“Hello, boys!” Betsey waves from the sidewalk, and she and Lou stroll in our direction. “You two have enough water?”

“Yeah. We’re ’bout done,” Aaron says.

My eyes drift to Lou, looking equal parts sexy and sweet in her see-through sarong and that skimpy yellow swimsuit—the kind that has ties on the hips and around the back. I wish she’d let me take it off with my teeth. Lou smiles at me, casual and ordinary, except for a quick drag of her gaze down my naked torso.

“We’re headed to the dive center,” her mom says. “There’s a presentation on coral and the island’s rebuilding efforts. Care to join?”

“No,” Aaron replies. “Gotta shower.”

“Definitely.” Lou scrunches her nose at him.

“Aw, c’mere little sis.” He opens his arms wide to envelop her in an enormous sweaty hug.

“You’re so gross. No. Get away from me.” She hooks an arm through her mom’s and ushers her away. “We’re going. Bye. Get away. See you later.”

On our walk back to the villa, I text Lou.I will never tire of watching you walk around in that bikini.

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