Page 83 of Beautiful Distraction

I shake my head, confused. “Butthat’s not where the gig takes place.”

“I know,” Mandy says. “I’ll beback in time to see Mile High.”

“What about…our plan?”

And me?I want to yell.

Mandy shrugs. “You wanted avacation. That’s exactly what you’re getting. Kellan will take good care ofyou. Won’t you?” She slaps his shoulder to get his attention.

“I’ll make sure to feed her,”Kellan says and winks at me.

“See?” Mandy says. “Problem takencare of.”

I stare at both of them, lost forwords.

Is it just my impression, or didhe already know that Mandy was leaving, because he sure doesn’t lookparticularly surprised?

“Can I talk to you?” My fingers clutcharound Mandy’s upper arm, and I yank hard.

“Sure.”

She leads me to the privacy of herbedroom. I realize all her things are packed.

“What’s up?” she asks as soon asthe door’s closed.

“We’ve barely been here for a day,and now you want to leave again? What happened? Why the sudden change of heart?What happened to our vacation in a five-star hotel?”

“You said you weren’t keen on it,”Mandy says.

“Yes, but that was back home. I neversaid I wanted to stay here either.”

Mandy stares at me. “Look, this isyour one opportunity to bury the past. You can’t stay single forever justbecause one guy let you down.”

I let out a snort. “Kellan and Idon’t have a relationship. He’s not even into relationships.”

“Yet,” she says slowly.

“It’s not going to happen. Ever.”

“You can’t know that.”

“Trust me, I know.”

She sets her jaw. I can almost seethe sappy scenes from The Notebook playing before her eyes. She wants a happyending so desperately, it’s ridiculous. “That’s not what Josh said.”

“Whatdidhe say?” I ask warily.

“I think you should hear it fromKellan. I’m sorry, Ava, but I have to do this. I promise I’ll be back soon.”

She hugs me tight and quickly lets go, dragging her suitcasebehind her as she leaves. I dash for my room to grab a clean shirt before Isprint after her.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Through the window in the hallway, I watch Mandy get intoJosh’s pickup truck and leave. I could head after her, beg, force her intostaying, and yet I’m doing none of those things.

As soon as she’s gone, I return to the kitchen.

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