Page 23 of Paradise in Progress
“I’ll take care of it. Can you be at the Columbus Airport by nine tomorrow morning? Will that give you plenty of time to pack and get everything you need for a month or more in St. Lucia?”
Mulling over his words, I run through a list of all the things I’m going to need, like toiletries and island-appropriate business clothes. “Yeah, I’ll make it work.”
“I’ll text you all the flight details.”
And with that, he clicks off the call, and I’m stuck sitting in the cold forty-degree weather, wondering how the hell I’m going to survive a month with Tristan.
Willing my fingers to work in the colder weather, I tap on my messaging app and find Lana’s name.
Me: Guess who is going to St. Lucia for at least a month.
Lana: A hot redheaded bombshell?
Me: Yes…
Me: With Tristan.
Lana: Lead with the juicy details next time!
I groan to myself. My best friend and my office bestie see this undeniable chemistry between us, even after all the frustrations I’ve vented to them about.
Me: Lana, he’s arranging a flight to come pick me up tomorrow and then we leave on Saturday.
Lana: *Wide Eyes Emoji* Oh damn. Do you have island clothes?
Lana: Wait, of course you do. What do you need from me?
Me: I mean I have vacation clothes but not stuff I’d consider wearing for work.
Lana: Then stop texting me and order store pickups. I’m free tomorrow. I'll be your pretty little errand girl.
Lana: No, promote me to assistant. Look at you going to St. Lucia and hiring an assistant. Look ma you made it *wink emoji*
Me: You’re delirious. But if you mean it, I think I might take you up on it.
Lana: Put that credit card to use and I’ll see you tomorrow.
Me: *kiss emoji*
Closing out of the messaging app, I pull open my notes and start making a list of all the things I’m going to need and what sizes will meet TSA standards. Wait, do private jets have to follow TSA standards? After a quick search, I find we don’t have to follow TSA requirements, which means I can order normal sizes of all of my things.
Light from the bar pours outside, and I hear “Kenny!” shouted. My cute little sister, with her silver hair shimmering in the night light, appears in the doorway of the bar and she has Tate Blackwood’s arm wrapped around her shoulder, while hers is at his waist. They look friendly, all cozied up together. I knew something was going on between the two of them.
“You two look cute,” I say, watching Olivia’s eyes widen while Tate smirks at me.
“Who was on the phone?” Olivia asks me.
Groaning, I toss the phone on the table and wipe my hand down my face. “Tristan.”
Her smile grows. “Aw, it’s sweet that he missed you.”
“He didn’t miss me. He called to tell me that I have to fly to St. Lucia for the next month. Apparently, there’s a problem with the resort.”
Her eyes widen as she raises her eyebrows up and down. “Have fun sleeping with the enemy.”
“Are you ready if I text Dad to come pick us up?” I ask her, ignoring her comment.
She nods as Tate tucks her closer to his chest. “C’mon, Livvy, head back to the house with us.”
