Page 35 of Her Surprise Vacation Date

I lie down next to him and shoot him a quizzical smile. “Did you just put on more clothes?”

“Yep, two more shirts and three more pairs of shorts. It’s the new look of the season, inspired by my favorite girl. I like to call it the maximalist style. It also helps ensure that nothing questionable happens between a man and a woman when they have to share one bed.”

I giggle at the absurdity and genius of it all. “This has got to be the most unique one bed trope ever.”

“One bed trope? What’s that?”

“When a couple in a story end up at a hotel and there’s only one bed. Just like us.”

“Does this happen a lot in the books you read?”

“Yes! So often you start wondering if all the hotel managers in the world got together and?—”

Ding!

The sound of an incoming message cuts me off. Shane reaches for his cell on the side table and swipes the screen. “It’s Amelia.”

I gasp in surprise. “What did she say?”

He hands me the phone and lets me read the text.

I’ll be in Solvang in the morning. We need to talk, you and me.

CHAPTER 18

Shane

“Age only mattersif you are a cheese.” ~Unknown

It’s bright and early the next morning when I walk ten minutes south to The Coffee House to meet my sister. Amelia’s already there as expected; she’s never late for anything. According to our parents, she was born exactly on her due date, while I was four days past mine. I’m, however, two minutes early today because I know how important this meeting is to Hope. It also helped that she practically pushed me out of our room when I’d lingered in the doorway for another kiss.

But now is not the time to think about kissing… unless it involves kissing up.

“Hey, sis, it’s good to see you.” I give Amelia a quick hug and offer to buy her breakfast. “Feel free to choose whatever you want, it’s my treat.”

“Thanks. I’m so glad I can finally eat solid food again.” She glances at the menu that’s written out in block letters on two framed mirrors. “I’ll have a hot green tea and a peach scone.”

Once our food is ready, we grab a small table beside a wall with colorful artwork and sit down. The café is empty and quiet, so the two of us sit in silence for a while sipping our drinks. I figure I’ll let her take the reins on this conversation since that’s what she usually likes to do, but the longer I wait, the antsier I get. Especially when all I can see are her hazel eyes studying me over the rim of her white mug.

“Okay, the suspense is killing me,” I finally admit. I wipe my damp palms against my shorts and release a heavy breath. “Just say it, sis. Tell me all the ways you think I’m wrong for Hope.”

She sighs, then shrugs. “That’s the thing. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to come up with reasons why you guys won’t work out, and I’ve got nothing. Nothing concrete, that is. You guys are grown adults and honestly two of the best people I know. You both deserve the best, so it kind of makes sense that you’d fall for each other. I just can’t believe it happened now of all times. On the vacation that Hope and I had planned to go on together. And all because I got sick and asked you to take my place. I don’t know if I should be happy or not that I had food poisoning. Are you happy I had food poisoning?” she adds with a quirked brow.

“Happy?” Talk about a no-win situation. I take a sip of my coffee to stall for time, then choose the safer route. “Of course not.”

“Really? But if I hadn’t, you and Hope wouldn’t have met again.”

“Not in Solvang, but we might have met somewhere else. I believe we’re meant to be together, so God would’ve made our paths cross one way or another.”

“And how do you know you’re meant to be together?”

Amelia’s question brings me back to yesterday and Hope’s and my so-called one bed trope. Sleeping beside her all nightlong had been too much and also not enough. But not once did I try to cross the imaginary line I’d drawn in between us. Everything in me wanted to respect Hope and put her first. When I woke up to her snuggled into my side with the most peaceful smile on her face, it was another confirmation that she’s worth waiting for.

She’s been worth waiting for.

I know exactly how to answer my sister’s question. “You know what Dad always said when we were growing up, how it works out better for a relationship when the guy likes the girl more? Hope is the only woman I’ve ever loved more than myself. I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”

Amelia’s mouth falls open, and she gawks at me like I have two heads or maybe five. That’s how shocked she looks. “I’ve never heard you talk like this before. Are you sure you’re my brother and not some alien being who took over his body?”

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