Page 19 of For the Promise

I open the door to grab our supplies and nearly run smack dab into Sadie, the manager of the motel.

“I found more cleaning staff. Jada wasn’t answering her phone because it’s her day offandshe went to theBootleggerlast night and met a sexy pirate. Her words, not mine. They proceeded to drink entirely too many moonshine shots before being kicked out of the bar for trying to sing a duet.” She shakes her head. “Everyone knows Mermaid karaoke is for single women only.”

“In other words, we’re done,” I summarize. You never can tell with Sadie.

“Yep. You can go. We’re covered. Thanks for coming in. Especially you, Dakota. After working until six this morning.”

Dakota flicks her hand. “It was no trouble. I got five hours of sleep before you came pounding on my door.”

Sadie grimaces. “Sorry. I may have panicked.”

I snort. “May have?”

She pushes me toward the door and into the breezeway. “Go on. Get out of here. Go follow your mermaid dreams.”

“I don’t have any mermaid dreams.”

She plants her hands on her hips. “No dreams about a certain nerdy Raider?”

I scowl. “I’m done with Jaxon.”

She rubs her hands together. “Do tell.”

I flick my hair. “There’s nothing to tell.”

Except he kissed me like he needed me more than his next breath before retreating the next day. And in the month since, he hasn’t responded to any of my overtures.

Dakota winds her arm through mine and drags me down the breezeway. “There’s more to the story.”

“Why are you leaving me hanging?” Sadie hollers after us.

“Because you’re the biggest gossip on the island,” Dakota yells back at her.

“And this is bad because?”

Dakota stops and whirls around to confront Sadie. “Do you want to explain why you practically pee yourself in excitement whenever you get a letter?”

“I don’t pee myself. I have excellent bladder control.”

Dakota huffs. “Do you want to explain your excitement over your letters?”

“No,” Sadie grunts.

“There will be no more gossip about our love lives until you reciprocate.”

“You’re boring,” Sadie pouts.

A woman with long black hair stumbles down the breezeway toward us. “I’m here.”

Sadie grins. “You can tell me all about your night while you clean,” she says as she nudges the woman toward the motel room.

“Phew.” Dakota runs the back of her hand over her brow. “You’re lucky Jada showed up. Sadie is seriously the biggest eavesdropper on the island.”

“I reflect that comment!” Sadie shouts from inside the motel room.

I giggle. “She apparently also has excellent hearing.”

“Don’t I know it,” Dakota mutters as we arrive at the elevators.

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