Page 52 of D.I.E.T. (Did I Eat That?)

“Get down here so I can kiss you. Adrenaline rush. You are so getting laid when we get back to the hotel.”

Sinjin, harnessed and hooked, descended the cliff with far more finesse than me. Then we waited for Len to reach ground. The last of us. It was impressive to see him in action.

As a group, we made our way back to the Lowensteins’ yacht, where Henri had prepared a beautiful seafood spread pulled from the coolers and laid out for us. The man was a culinary genius. No wonder he had the most sought-after catering business in the state back home.

We arrived at the dock a couple of hours later, where the shuttle waited to return us to the hotel. I was wiped but still looking forward to some Sinjin booty once we got up to the room. But as soon as his phone got a signal, his phone blew up with incoming texts that he had to answer. In the middle of shooting off texts left and right, his phone rang. I saw her name flash on the screen. Vanessa. We were having a great day until she had to call and ruin it. Walking inside the hotel lobby, it felt as if I’d vanished off his radar. Sinjin stopped Brandon. “We need a meeting.” Then, turning to the concierge, he said, “Do you have a conference room we can use?”

“Yes, sir,” The woman said. “Right this way.”

I was surprised when he even bothered to say, “I’ve got to take this, Geet.” He pecked my cheek and swatted my bottom to get me moving toward the rest of the group. Brandon looked less than happy, but he followed Sinjin and the concierge.

“You want to hang out with us until he’s done?” Kami asked, but Len had his teeth to her neck, nibbling her skin.

“No. Thanks, though. I think your man wants some honeymoon time.”

Dion and Henri appeared pretty cozy, too.

“I’m heading to the bar for a drink if you want to join me,” Rob said.

Why not?

He and I spent the evening getting sloshed, singing really bad karaoke, and discussing my sister.

“Pisco Sour,” I ordered from the bartender.

“Whiskey,” Rob ordered, too. Then he turned to me. “I want her back.” He didn’t have to tell me who.

“I don’t know that you can have her. She’s not the same woman she was when you were together, and that’s on you.” I wasn’t trying to make him feel bad, but he had to know. “Now come on.” I hauled him up from his stool. “Sing with me.”

While he picked out his song from the playlist, I serenaded the bar with Alanis Morrisette’s “You Oughta Know.” It seemed apropos given the conversation between Rob and I.

It was late when we went our separate ways. I opened the door to our suite. “Honey, I’m home,” I called out. Well, I might have been home, but my honey certainly wasn’t.

We were leaving in the morning. Despite this being the trip of a lifetime, it wasn’t meant to be a long trip. We all had to get back to work and a week was the most we could stay gone.

I fell asleep alone in bed.

Nineteen:

As a group we, had one final breakfast together. Brandon looked downright grumpy. He hardly said two words to his CFO.

I kissed Kami and Len goodbye. We’d be seeing them at the reception in two weeks. I shook Meredith’s and Brandon’s hands. Rob, Dion, Henri, Sinjin, and I boarded the shuttle for the airport. As he’d upgraded us to first class, Sinjin and I boarded first.

Twenty hours later, our plane touched down in Grand Rapids. Despite breaking out the yoga moves once again to keep our circulation flowing, I was so ready to disembark from that flight.

We were waiting at baggage claim when that blasted Vanessa called him again. I was beginning to think he had a stalker. My phone pinged from a text from Dion.

Dion:Girl, got something to tell you. Didn’t know how this morning. You alone?

Me:Yes. His stalker called again.

Dion:Not surprised.

Me:Why?

Dion:Heard Brandon and Sinjin arguing after breakfast when you went to the little girls’ room.

Me:And?

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