Page 14 of Not Your Basic Love Story

I laughed. Great minds.

“You look so much better today, love. I don’t know what he did to you, but whatever it was, I hope he keeps doing it! You need something good in your life, after what that asshole did to you.”

I nodded and looked out at the ocean, my eyes suddenly misty. She meant well, I know she did, but I hadn’t thought ofhimall day, and now with the reminder, guilt seeped into my consciousness. It was stupid, feeling guilty. I had no reason to feel that way.

He had been my longest relationship—theone. The person I thought would be the father of my babies. And here I was, two and a half weeks later, in bed with some other guy who was basically a stranger.

She was right, though. After what happened, I was the last person who should feel guilty getting into bed with someone else. Then the guilty feeling shifted. I should have been thinking of Dev, not my ex! Or should I not be thinking about Dev at all?

While I debated internally about why I felt guilty and for whom, my phone dinged.

Dev: ‘Looking forward to it!’ Kissy face emoji.

Damnit, I should have gone with my gut.

“Aw, you’re smiling!” Miranda cooed, hugging me from the side. Then, she tensed beside me. “Holy shit. I’m getting married tomorrow.”

“Holy shit, you’re getting married tomorrow!” We squealed in unison.

“Hey, by the way, this guy you’re seeing—” she started.

“I don’t know if ‘seeing’ is the right word, but okay.”

“Dave?”

“Dev.”

“He’s welcome to come to the reception tomorrow if you want. I’ve noticed you’re kind of on your own with all of these events, and it’s the last thing I want. You shouldn’t be forced to hang out with my little sister or Derek’s single friends. I want you to have fun here, too!”

I considered it. “Are… are you sure?”

“Of course! Besides, we already paid for the plate. It’s really not a big deal.”

“Thank you,” I said, surprised and grateful for her offer. “I don’t know, though. We’ll see.”

We turned and re-joined the rest of the group. Though I was physically still there, my mind was elsewhere. Last night had been fantastic, one for the books, but to bring him to Miranda’s wedding reception? A: I wasn’t sure if he’d even be interested. I mean, it’s the kind of thing you do when you’re dating, and I didn’t want to scare him off, not that it mattered, but anyway… B: What would everyone else think? One second, they expect me to be withhim, then he’s not in the picture, then I bring my one-night stand to the party? Who does that? And C: DidIwant to have him there at the reception? What if I only liked him in bed?

As the catamaran took us back to the mainland, my mind and heart were troubled. Though we were on solid ground, the uneasy sensation of being aboard the ship remained. Miranda was back with Derek, as she should be. I checked the itinerary on my phone, but the schedule was blank.

I found Angelina. “What’s the plan for tonight?”

“I don’t think there is one.”

“We can… do our own thing?” I asked, my voice raising a little higher than intended.

She smirked. “Yes, you can go find your sexy Indian prince.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t correct her.

I texted Dev. ‘What are you up to?’

He replied right away. ‘Reading on the beach.’

I wondered what he was reading. A guy? Bringing a book on vacation?? Butterflies resurfaced. ‘You up for exploring with me?’

‘Definitely!’

Once the wedding party dispersed for their own private evenings, I went back to my room to shower and change before meeting Dev in front of my resort.

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