“Hey, honey,” Adele greeted me, setting a carafe of coffee on an empty table and coming over to give me a tight squeeze. “I heard about the sale.”
I sighed. The news was out. “Did you hear who bought it? Doc didn't have much information last night.”
Adele's sweet face smiled gently, her eyes full of pity. She patted my cheek before turning and picking up the morning paper from a recently vacated table. I had to read the headline twice.
Diamond Hotels Buys Island Property. Next to the article was a picture of Noah, smiling and dressed in a trendy business suit with Beth in the background. My heart sank. It was my Noah.
I scanned the article, feeling tears form behind my eyes. The lump in my throat threatened to suffocate me.
Noah Black, President and owner of Diamond Hotels has purchased beach front property on Key Island. An inside source confirms that hotel/condo plans have already been drawn up and submitted.
This comes as a blow to local scientists who had been hoping to turn the property into a nature preserve and conservation area. A city council member, who has asked to remain nameless, stated that, “the increase in tourism and tourism related dollars is worth far more than another nature preserve. We are simply looking out for the economic well being of our island.”
I handed the paper back to Adele, my hands shaking. I didn't want to read any more. I actually couldn't because of the tears I was struggling to keep inside. Adele held the paper up and frowned at it.
“Isn't this the man you came in with the other day?” she asked. My stomach clenched.
“Yeah. It was.” I felt like my life was on repeat. Yet another tourist was breaking my heart and making a fool of me in front of the community. Only this time it was way worse.
“And he didn't tell you he was buying the land?” Adele pressed.
“No, it didn't come up,” I said sharply and instantly felt bad. This wasn't Adele's fault. I didn't need to take this out on her. I needed to go home. I needed to think. “You know what, Adele? I'm actually not hungry. I'm just gonna go home.”
Adele nodded and wrapped her arms around me again. She smelled like cinnamon. “I understand, dear.”
No, you don't, I wanted to tell her, but I just smiled meekly and quickly broke away. I couldn't get out of the restaurant fast enough.
The door closed behind me and I gave serious thought to going back in. Waiting patiently for me in front of the restaurant was Danica. I wanted to punch the smug smile off her face. She had seen me look at the paper through the window, and I could only imagine what was going through her head.
“Leave me alone.” I glared at her and turned to walk in a different direction, but she just moved to intercept me.
“Why do you think he stayed on the island after the party?”
“I told you to leave me alone.” I clenched my jaw and worked my fingers into a ball. I really wanted to hit something, and she was looking like a good target.
“Did he tell you it was because of you?” she asked sweetly. “Because, if I were you, I'd think it was so he could sign the papers before you and your scientist friends had a chance to do anything.”
The truth struck me like a baseball bat, but I didn't want to give the evil reporter the satisfaction of seeing me break. I couldn't breathe again. The air was too thick to get past the lump in my throat and the knot in my chest. I was glad I hadn't eaten anything, because if I had, I would have been sick right there.
“I'm not going to give you a sound byte,” I said, doing my best to keep my voice level. I even impressed myself by managing to keep it steady. “Leave me alone.”
I pushed past her; every muscle in my body was wound too tight. She moved out of my way, eyes dark and full of derision.
“If you think he'd do the same thing for you, you don't know Noah Black,” she called after me. I ignored her, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. I needed to get to where I could think and cry. I needed to be alone.
The buying of the land, I almost could have forgiven. I hadn't said anything about it to him, and I could give him the benefit of the doubt. But it was the rest of what Danica had said that irritated me and rubbed like salt in a fresh wound. It had truth to it. Why else would he stay on the island? Bring his personal assistant? He needed to be on the island for the sale. I was just a convenient way to pass the time. That thought hurt more than the loss of the land. I wasn't sure if his love for me was real or just a comfortable lie.
I hurried up the walk to the house, desperately trying to keep my tears at bay. One of the boats was missing, and I hoped that meant everyone was off on an expedition. I wanted the house to myself. I just wanted to curl up in bed and pretend this was all a terrible dream. I was going to wake up and find out that Doc had gotten the property and that Noah was here for me and not his business. Things were going to be the way they were supposed to be, which wasn't like this. This had to just be a bad dream.
Chapter 20
The house was mercifully quiet as I stumbled to my room. I opened the bedroom door and felt a rush of gratitude that Brooke's bed was empty. I had the place to myself. The sob I had been holding in finally escaped as I clicked the door shut and slid down to the floor. I felt so heavy with betrayal I couldn't stand anymore. Everything hurt. How could he have done this to me? He had said he loved me! I had loved him, and truthfully, I was still in love with him.
Every beat of my heart hurt. I cried into my hands, sobs wracking my body with every strangled breath. I wished I could stop breathing and just let the heartache die out. I wanted to cry until I was empty and it didn't hurt anymore, but somehow I just kept finding more tears.
I cried until my butt went numb from sitting on the floor, but even then, I still felt miserable. There was a box of tissues on my nightstand. The bed looked like a better option than the floor. At least there I could cry myself to sleep. With far more effort than I had expected, I hauled myself away from the door and up onto my bed. I felt a little better with a cleared nose and a cushioned bottom, but not by much. Small steps, I told myself. Small steps.
“Izzy? You okay?” Brooke asked, carefully opening the door and peeking in. She must have heard me crying. She saw me and my new pile of tissues and gave me a sympathetic look. “We'll figure something out with the Grove and your research. It'll be all right.”
“I never should have fallen for him, Brooke. I should have listened to you.” I looked up at her, fresh tears welling up in my eyes. I could tell her to go away, but knowing Brooke, that would only make her nosier. It was better just to get it out now. At least then she'd go buy me ice cream.