Page 5 of The All-Inclusive

“Fuck.” He’s gritting his teeth, not hearing me at all as he paces. “Fuck, fuck,fuck.”

“Trent?” This is freaking me out now. I hold out a hand,hoping to coax him back to the couch. “It’s all right,” I insist. “I can wait a few weeks for the full-meal deal.”

Trent stops pacing and stares at my hand. Slowly, like it pains him to look at me, his eyes lift to mine.

I’ve never seen such a haunted expression. Not even the time he returned from a mission in Yemen that I knew had gone wrong. He’s never allowed to share details, but a woman knows.

Which is how I know what’s coming. I feel it in my bones, an ache that almost doubles me over.

Then his eyelids fall shut and he utters the words that flip my whole world upside down.

“I can’t do this, Sara,” he says as his throat bobs. “We can’t get married.”

Three weeks later,I’m sitting with Eve and Camille in our favorite spot at Olive or Twist. They’re drinking cocktails while I sip kombucha and frown at the app on Camille’s phone.

“What’s this?” I tap a pink nail to one menu selection, turning the screen so she can read it. “Shibari—what is that?”

“Bondage.” Camille takes a sip of her drink. “It’s an ancient form of Japanese bondage using silk ropes and artful tying skills. It’s uh—maybe not where you want to start out.”

“Oh.” I’m getting a peek at the app that’s only available to guests of the Jilted Brides Honeymoon Club. Registered guests, or women who’ve been there before.

I’m still deciding whether to join their ranks.

Eve touches my arm as sympathy fills her green eyes. “Did you like what you read about the virginity packages at Crystal Bliss?”

Shrugging, I set down my glass. I’ve laid off the gin since the night of my party, but the back of my tongue tastes sour.

“The packages sound fine,” I mumble, setting Camille’s phoneon the table. “I feel weird about the resort’s requirement that I meet with someone beforehand to discuss myissues.” That’s my word, not theirs, but the implication’s there. “Can’t I just go to the Jilted Brides Honeymoon Club and get banged senseless like you did?”

Camille answers that one, since she’s engaged to the owner of the luxury sex resort. “Ash says they take extra precautions to make sure virginjilted brides are emotionally prepared for the experience.”

“Fuck that.” Gritting my teeth, I glare at her phone. “I’m so tired of other people controlling my sexual decisions.”

“Totally understandable.” Eve squeezes my arm, then picks up her drink. “You don’t have to decide anything right now.”

Except I kinda do. “My parents bought us the honeymoon package. They agreed to let me keep the credit, but?—”

“Ah,” Camille says as understanding dawns. “You’re afraid they’ll take it back if they know how you plan to use it?”

“Pretty much.” I still can’t believe I’m considering it. Me, a woman engaged to my best friend since forever. A woman who did everything right.

How could this happen?

Trent couldn’t explain.Wouldn’tis more like it.

The very next day, he flew out for a last-minute op. Some top-secret military mission he couldn’t tell me about. Nothing new there, except for the text that came the next day confirming our wedding was off. That he intended to pay all the bills for it, but that I shouldn’t try to reach him. He said he was sorry.

Fuckingsorry. After nearly a decade together.

Eve sets down her glass. “How are your parents doing, anyway?”

“They’re heartbroken.” They loved Trent like a son. “Kinda mad. A little confused that I’m talking about taking a trip by myself.”

I haven’t exactly told them about the sex resort. As far as theyknow, I’d be using the credit for some run-of-the-mill tropical trip.

“Trent’s already paid for the photographer and the church.” I pick up my glass and mutter the words into my kombucha. “We’re still haggling with the caterer and one of the musicians and—” Tears spring to my eyes as I face the finality of it all. “I still can’t believe it. I don’t even know where he went.”

Camille hands me a tissue. “I know it’s not easy,” she says softly. “At least you’re used to that part. Trent’s never been able to tell you where he’s deployed.”

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