Page 101 of Until It Was Real

Relief courses through me. I don’t need to interact with other humans today. Thank the mermaids.

“If you tell me why you’ve been crying.”

I groan. “There’s always a catch with you.”

“Duh.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m a smuggler.”

“I don’t want to be a smuggler,” I mutter.

“Now, I definitely know there’s something wrong. You love this island.”

I do. Smuggler’s Hideaway is awesome. People are friendly, if a bit quirky. There’s always some kind of festival going on. And I’m completely safe from my so-called friends who dumped me the minute they realized what a scoundrel Adam was.

Although, I’m not completely free from friends who’ve dumped me anymore.

“Rhett dumped me,” I admit to Sadie.

“Shit.” She rounds the counter to pull me into her arms. At first, I stiffen. I’ve never been the kind of woman who had friends who hug. But her arms around me feel good. I allow her to comfort me.

She leads me to the sofa in the reception area and pushes me down on it. “What happened?”

I fiddle with the strap of my purse. She squeezes my hand. “You can tell me. I won’t tell anyone else.”

I grab onto the chance to change the subject. “Really? Ms. Gossip All The Time won’t spill the beans to the entire island?”

Her cheeks darken. “I can keep a secret.”

“What secret are you keeping?”

“It wouldn’t be a secret if I told you, would it?”

“But you admit there’s a secret.” I know there’s a secret. There must be a reason she’s super cagey about the mail.

“I admit to nothing.” She taps my leg. “And you’re stalling.”

Of course, I’m stalling. I can’t admit why Rhett dumped me without spilling my secrets. The door flies open before I can figure out how to explain what happened without revealing all. I frown when Blossom and Paisley rush inside.

“We came as soon as we could.” Blossom hauls me to my feet and throws her arms around me. “We’ve got you,” she murmurs as she sways me from side to side.

“How do you know?”

Blossom steps back and nods to Paisley.

“Sorry. But it’s impossible to keep a secret in this family,” Paisley says.

I scowl. Keeping secrets is what got me into this mess in the first place.

The door opens again and a group of college kids stroll inside. Sadie makes her way to the desk. “I’ll cover you for tonight, but I expect answers later.”

Blossom and Paisley usher me toward the door. When they start to push me toward the parking lot, I plant my feet.

“No way. I’m not leaving.” I’m not chancing running into Rhett. I don’t want him to know how devastated I am. How heartbroken I am.

He’s an asshole. He doesn’t deserve to witness my pain.

Blossom threads her arm through mine. “I suspected as much.”

We make our way to my suite. Paisley’s lips flatten as she scans the living area. “Eli doesn’t pay you enough.”

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