“I was married,” he says, but he holds up a finger in protest. “She cheated on me.” He leans casually against the rocks. “Actually, it was more of a mutual cheating, but we can talk about that later.” He wraps his hand around mine and leads me silently back to our hut.
“She was always selfish, but then again, I always was, too,” he says, sitting on the couch, while I take a seat in the fluffy chair. “She wanted things I couldn’t give her. I started working at the fire department about two years ago, when I finally found out.” He gives me a smirk then continues, “Never trust your best friends. Especially around your pretty wife.”
I want to ask him who he’s referring to, but it's none of my business. “She left me for him, not that he married her or anything. I tried to fix things, but we had grown apart in more ways than one. It's actually what turned me to God. And in an odd way, it brought me back to Him.” He stands up to get a drink of water.
“But you said you cheated, too?” I ask shyly.
“I did, in my heart. I never really loved and cherished her. I just liked what I saw on the outside and the pleasure she brought me. I sure didn’t honor her with my actions or my thoughts, nor did I fight for her when she chose to go the other way. I should have fought.” He looks down at the sink and shrugs as he fills up his glass with water.
“She finalized the divorce, and I did nothing. Once I got my life back on track, I tried to make things right. It doesn’t help that my ex-best friend still works at the same station. I’ve been trying to get on at other ones, but it’s kinda hard with how competitive my job is.”
I look at him and try not to cry, but it's hard. I feel so sorry for him. And yes, I still want to kill Kristin for setting me up with a broken man, but I can’t blame her for thinking we could help each other. I still can’t help but think she knows more than she’s willing to say. I’ll have to ask her later but for now…
“I owe you an apology,” I say quietly.
“No, you don’t. I should’ve said something about the ex-wife to the new wife. It only makes sense.” He smiles widely at me, while I roll my eyes.
“I’m not marrying you,” I say again, this time even more unconvincingly.
“You will, we’re perfect for each other.” He then leans in and plants a soft and gentle kiss on my forehead.
“So who’s the ex best friend?” I ask curiously. “Anyone I know?”
Preston’s jaw clenches, he shakes his head, and abrubtly looks away, clearly giving the message that he doesn’t want to talk about it. “Don’t worry about it, panda.”
“Stupid fat bears,” I say, punching the pillow next to me.
“You’re not stupid and you’re not fat, we’ve been over this. Pandas are cute. Have you ever heard the panda story?” He asks curiously
“It makes me cry, so if you tell it, I’ll have to punch you in the face,” I say, smiling back at him.
“Deal,” he says as he swallows some more water.
I look at his lips and immediately feel dizzy as I remember the kiss under the waterfall. It was kind of romantic minus all that ex-wife and cheating talk. I sigh and flip on the TV.
“No,” Preston says, pulling the remote from my hands. “It’s basically a punishable crime to watch any sort of television in Hawaii.” Preston turns the TV off.
“Fine, what's your idea?” I say, feeling a little exhausted.
“Midnight swim, of course,” he says, jumping off the sofa and running toward his room.
I slowly get up and change into a different suit before following him out to the pool. It’s kind of nice. We’re the only two in the pool. Well, us and two old people who, I fear, might have strokes if they keep kissing like that.
“Gross,” Preston says as we swim past them.
“Come on, it's kind of cute.” I smile sheepishly as I stare at them. I mean, it’s a little gross they are all over each other, but how great is that? They still have that little spark.”
“Oh, I think it’s great. It's the public display of affection I don’t like. Get a room!” he yells before I laugh and shush him into the corner of the pool where you enter the hot tub.
I punch him in the arm and wade into the boiling water. The only time you can get into these things in Hawaii is when it’s night time, and even then it's sometimes a little sketchy.
I sit down on the nearest step and let out a relaxing sigh, That is, until I see something dark in the corner of my vision. Preston notices my panic as his eyes widen in realization as to what the object is.
“Amanda, don’t freak out. It’s okay just don’t freak out.” He’s leaning toward me slowly with a look on his face that I can only describe as pure terror. Oh my gosh, this is it. It has to be some sort of wild animal. It’s probably going to start gnawing on my neck any minute. Perfect. Well, at least I’ll die in Hawaii. So long, perfect world. I close my eyes as he quickly grabs the object and tosses it into the bushes. As soon as it’s gone, I jump into his arms shaking.
“What was that?” I ask in near hysterics.
“A leaf,” he answers, smiling.
I look at him expecting him to say, “haha I’m kidding”, when he just returns my stare with a blank one of his own. “Then why did you panic and get all big with your eyes?” I’m now pointing at his eyes and making giant movements with my hands.
“I thought it would be funny to see your reaction, then I felt bad because I could feel your heart beating through the water. I nearly thought it was going to stop. Sorry about that.” He laughs, still holding onto me tightly.
“Let go.” I pout, struggling to let myself go free.
“No,” he says, holding me tighter.
“I don’t like you,” I say, looking away from him like a small child.
“Oh, come on, Amanda. We both know you’re a terrible liar,” he says as he leans down toward my face. “Marry me.”
I roll my eyes. “I think you should stop trying to kiss me. It sends me mixed signals,” I say breathily as his lips barely touch mine. “You should probably stop proposing marriage, too. It’s getting weird.”
He lets me down and sits across from me in the hot tub. “There, is that better?” He lifts an eyebrow in question. “Tell me, Amanda, why do you think I’m sending you mixed signals?” He doesn’t wait for my answer, instead, he keeps talking, “I feel like I’ve been more than upfront about my intentions to marry you. Have I not?Just say yes.”His tone sounds teasing but I can’t be sure, not when his eyes are piercing through me like they are at this moment.
“Please, it’s a smoke screen.” I say, challenging him. His look is altogether too cute. I know I’m going to regret this later, but what happens in Hawaii stays in Hawaii, right? Or wait, that’s Vegas. Still, I find myself saying, “Sure, I’ll marry you, happy now?”
“Yes.” He beams. “Speaking of desert,” he begins totally confusing me with his inability to stay on subject. “How about you and I have some ice cream out here in the hot tub? You know, to celebrate our upcoming nuptials?”
“Deal.” What can I say, I’m a sucker for junk food. “I’ll go back to the room and get the ice cream if you—“
“—get the chocolate sauce,” he finishes, winking.
I don’t know why, but I get embarassedat this remark. Geez it's not like it's going on me instead of the ice cream. The ice cream, Amanda, I yell at myself in my head. “Um sure, yeah, good idea,” I say, blushing.
Chapter Fifteen
I grab my towel and run back to the room. I begin searching for the ice cream in the freezer when I hear an odd buzzing noise, similar to the one on the boardwalk earlier. I turn to face the counter and see Preston’s cell phone. It continues to buzz awhile longer before stopping. I shrug and grab the ice cream and a fresh towel. Then the buzzing starts again.
And okay, I know it's none of my business, but maybe it's important. Like someone is actually hurt or something. I mean, he is a fireman.
Right? And wouldn’t it be so cool if I’m the one who discovers what’s going on back home and then helps him solve it. It would be like we were saving people together. I mean, what if he would have never known had I not brought him his cell phone at this precise moment. I mean, lives are hanging in the balance here!
Okay, I’ve convinced myself. I put the ice cream carton down on the counter and carefully picked up his cell phone.
Wow, two missed calls andTwelve missed text messages. This guy doesn’t kid around with technology. I pick it up to stuff it in my pocket when it goes off again. Why is Bobby calling him? Well, actually, I guess it makes sense; they do work together. The phone goes off again as I near the pool.
Okay, maybe it wouldn’t hurt if I just look at a few texts. I mean, how is he gonna know anyway? I can always delete them, or actually, I can see them if I just look at the heading.
I step into the shadow and take out the phone that’s burning a hole in my pocket. I don’t do well with secrecy, this much is obvious. I click on the last text. It says, “Congrats, you win!” Oh yay. Maybe he won a whole bunch of money or something! I get to be the first to say congrats! How exciting! I click on the next text. It’s from Bobby, just like the first one. “Time is up.”
What? What does that mean? The next few texts had similar cryptic messages. “Did you do it? You have one more day. Ashlyn says hi. I’ll back out if you back off. You always were a sucker for a challenge.”
And then the one text to ruin them all. “Deal, if you can get her to fall for you, not only will I back off with Ashlyn, I’ll move departments. You have five days. If you lose, well, you’ve been losing this whole time. It won’t be any different for you.”
I quickly check his outbox, please tell me this is all some huge joke and he’s talking about someone else. The text to Bobby from Preston read, “It’s done, now leave my wife alone.”
I feel numb as I walk back to the hot tub.
“Wow, seriously, Amanda, did you make the ice cream?” Preston asks as I sit on a nearby chair.
“Here,” I say, my voice thick with emotion as I hand him his phone.
He takes it from my hands and looks down at all the missed messages.
I left my favorite one open for him to read.
“Amanda!” He says as he quickly gets out of the water, but I’m already running back to the room. You better believe I’m taking the ice cream with me.
I slam my bedroom door in Preston’s face as I lean against it and dig into the soggy ice cream.
“Amanda, seriously, it’s not what you think. Actually, I don’t even know what you're thinking right now. Just talk to me.”
“No!” I yell, my mouth full of ice cream.
I hear Preston get on the phone, hoping he’s calling the airline so he’ll leave my presence. I mean come on, playing me just to prove to my ex-boyfriend that he could “get me” and all so he could get his wife back? Who does that? How childish is it to make a bet that you can get a girl to date you or agree to marry you? And why do I have to be that girl?