Page 101 of Guarded Love

Then, they both stand.

My heart rate kicks up a notch as they make their way toward our table. Tyler's still talking, but his voice fades to background noise as Willow approaches. The orange dress moves with her body, and I have to grip my beer bottle to keep myself from reaching out when she’s standing in front of us.

Madison slides into the chair next to Tyler while Willow takes the empty seat across from me.

"So," Madison starts. "We could hear Tyler talking about the kayak trip from all the way across the room."

"Could you really?" Tyler asks, looking genuinely surprised. "I wasn't being that loud, was I?"

"You were being exactly that loud," Madison confirms with a grin. "But don't worry, it was entertaining. Something about almost becoming fish food?"

"Okay, that's a slight exaggeration," Tyler says while laughing. "The water was only like four feet deep where we were."

"Four feet of bioluminescent water that you nearly drowned in," Willow adds, and I'm relieved to hear her voice. She's been so quiet tonight.

"I didn't nearly drown," Tyler says defensively. "I just... almost got temporarily acquainted with the water."

Madison snorts. "Is that what we're calling it?"

“Yeah, because that’s what it was.” Tyler throws his hands up as if he’s given up trying to explain himself.

"Whatever happened to Tyler in the water," Madison pauses dramatically before she continues, "we should probably call it a night soon. Early flight tomorrow and all that."

I glance at my phone. It's barely ten-thirty. "Early? Our flight's not until?—"

"Actually," Madison interrupts, standing abruptly and stretching her arms above her head, "I'm exhausted. Tyler, want to walk me back to my room? I promised to show you the souvenirs I’m taking back home."

Tyler's face lights up. "Really? Yeah, absolutely." He's already pushing back from the table.

"Perfect." Madison grins, then turns to Willow. "You don't mind if I steal Tyler for a bit, do you? We can catch up tonight."

"Of course not," Willow says, but her voice sounds strange. "You two have fun."

"Great!" Madison practically bounces on her toes. "Tyler, come on. And Blaise?" She fixes me with a pointed stare. "Make sure Willow gets back to our room safely, okay? It's late."

Before I can respond, she's already linking her arm through Tyler's and steering him toward the elevator. Tyler throws a confused wave over his shoulder as they disappear.

And then it's just us.

"That was subtle," I say after about a minute of silence.

A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. "Yeah, subtly doesn’t know Madison apparently.”

"Was she trying to be your wing woman?"

Willow's eyes finally meet mine and she says, "Maybe."

I lean forward, lowering my voice so no one nearby can hear us. "What did she say to you?"

"She asked me if I was going to spend our last night in Puerto Rico pretending I don't want to be alone with you." Willow's cheeks turn slightly pink. "And then she told me she was going to fix it."

"And what did you tell her?"

Willow takes a shaky breath. "I told her I was scared."

"Of what?"

"Of wanting this too much." Her voice drops to barely above a whisper. "Of what happens when we leave here."

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