Page 69 of Blue Hawaiian
For everyone’s sake, he hoped they’d find Brody, and soon.
Chapter 25
After Connor left, Jess went into the hotel lobby. Once inside, she perched on a wicker chair and centered herself with a few deep breaths.
You need to tell him the truth.
When they’d been at the print shop earlier, Connor’s words had caught her off guard. Though he’d spoken without thinking, he’d implied he might want more than a fling. That he might be up for an actual relationship.
All this time, she’d been lying to protect her heart and give him an easy out. But what if he didn’t want one?
How was she going to walk back all the lies she’d told? More than once, he’d mentioned the importance of trust, especially after the way Natasha treated him. What would he think when he learned Jess had lied about her life?
She’d tell him tonight. After dinner and a few drinks. And a steamy session in bed. Then she could fess up and apologize. Even if Natasha had left him with major trust issues, Jess was equally vulnerable.
For now, she had a rehearsal dinner to save. When she reached Brody’s room, she waited before knocking. What if he and Taylor were in the middle of a passionate reunion? If it was anything like her sizzling encounter with Connor last night, an interruption would not be well received.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Gabi.Any luck?Is Brody in his room?
She wished her sister would calm down. The more Gabi stressed about the tiny details, the more she overreacted when something didn’t go as planned. Chasing perfection was an endless cycle—as soon as one problem was dealt with, another came to take its place.
She knocked on Brody’s door and called out his name, but no one answered. She replied to Gabi.Not there. I’ll check out the rest of the hotel.
Gabi responded instantly.Thanks! Keep looking! I’m counting on you!
She almost replied that Brody wasnother personal responsibility, but she held back. If she could find him and potentially save the day, she’d score another win as the ideal maid of honor.
She searched the hotel lobby, the adjoining bar, and the Molokini Cafe but saw no sign of Brody. Her luck turned when she went outside to the Coral Cove. Brody was seated at a table facing the pool. Alone.
“Brody?” She sat down across from him. “You okay?”
He looked up, bleary-eyed, and pushed his empty glass away. “Can you get me another whiskey?” His breath reeked of booze, and his ash-brown hair was a disheveled mess.
“What’s going on? Where’s Taylor?”
“Not here.” He looked away, his eyes focused on a group of teens splashing each other in the pool.
She wanted to shake him, but she forced herself to be patient. “Did she miss her flight?”
Brody wouldn’t meet her gaze. “She wasn’t on the morning flight from San Diego. You know why? Because she never bought a plane ticket in the first place. Turns out she’s seeing someone else.Pierce. But she waited until today to tell me.”
“Oh, Brody. I’m so sorry.” Her heart ached for him. She waved over a waiter and ordered a glass of ice water for Brody and a Diet Coke for herself.
“Do you think I should fly home tonight?” Brody asked. “To see if I could win her back?”
“No!” Her voice was so sharp Brody turned to face her. At his wounded expression, she softened her tone. “Your brother’s counting on you. Even if you rush home, you might not be able to change Taylor’s mind.”
If her experience had taught her anything, desperate pleas for attention rarely worked. Instead, they drove the other person further away.
“This sucks.” He plopped his head down on the table. “I need another drink.”
She could relate. When Connor had broken up with her, she’d gotten wasted and called Gabi in drunken misery. And she’d done it more than once. Watching Brody act the same way made her aware of how much weight she’d put on her sister’s shoulders.
When the waiter came with their drinks, she pushed the glass toward Brody. “Have some water. Otherwise, you’re going to feel like crap.”
“I already feel like crap.” He lifted his head and took a sip of water. “Love stinks. What’s the point, anyway? All you do is get your heart broken. Isn’t that what usually happens to you?”
“Yeah. My luck’s been bad so far.”
