Page 11 of Beach Reads

He nodded. “Yeah, that answers my question. Well my friend, I wish you good luck with your lady love. I hope you can work it out with her. Take it from me, you don’t want to spend your later years all alone.”

When we finished our business it was after eleven, so I decided to wait to see Teresa in the morning. I wanted to apologize. I wanted to explain why I let her think I was just some random bartender. I wanted to beg her to consider staying, or to commit to a long-distance relationship until we figured out a plan to be together. I wanted to tell her that I loved her.

Unfortunately, I was too late.

Evie greeted me at the door with a stern glare when I knocked just after nine o’clock. I could see their suitcases lined up near the door. I remembered Teresa telling me that they were leaving today.

“Oh, I thought you were the shuttle driver.” She put her hands on her hips and looked at me like I was something she’d just stepped on. “Oh wait, are you pretending to be a shuttle driver today?”

“Can I speak with Teresa please?”

“You’re too late Mr. Liar McPants on Fire.”

“I didn’t lie, exactly.” I don’t know why I was defending myself. I was totally a liar. “I mean, I know it was a lie of omission. But I can explain.” I looked past Evie at her two friends but didn’t see Teresa.

“Teresa!” I bellowed. “Please, can we talk?”

“I told you, you’re too late. She left this morning.”

“What?” I searched Evie’s face, trying to determine if she was telling the truth.

“It’s Monday, and my dear sister was in a hurry to get back to her desk in New York in time for work. She flew out on a five a.m. flight.”

“Shit.”

I dropped my head to my chest, fighting the urge to punch the wall. Or cry. Why hadn’t I come over last night? It killed me that Teresa left thinking I was just playing her. I felt a touch on my arm and looked up to see Evie watching me carefully.

“Oh, you’re really upset, aren’t you?” She sounded relieved. “I thought this was more than just a fling, more than just some silly game you play with the tourists. I thought you had feelings for her – we all did—but after last night, well...”

I raised my eyes to meet her gaze, showing her that my words were true.

“I love her, Evie. She’s everything to me.”

Evie’s eyes widened. “In that case, you’d better come in so we can talk.”

Teresa

I trudged up the street to my condo, my feet feeling like lead. I had just finished the longest week of my life, and I wanted nothing more than to eat the Thai food I’d ordered before leaving the office, drink a cold beer, and go to sleep for the entire weekend.

After a long, heartfelt conversation with my sister about my feelings for Colin, I had gotten up early on Monday morning and headed back to New York City. The others were staying at the resort until early afternoon, but when we had made the reservations I had been eager to get back home in time to work a full day on Monday.

I had been sadder than I expected to say goodbye to my sister. Despite all the time I had spent with Colin on the weekend, I had also enjoyed the time I had spent hanging out with Evie and her friends, talking and reconnecting. As irritated as I had been with my mother for bullying me into going on the trip, I was glad I had gone. Even if I had gotten my heart broken.

I shook my head. How had this happened? It wasn’t like me to be impetuous. I did everything with a plan and a list. I wasn’t a person who slept with near strangers or fell in love at first sight. That was romance book ridiculousness. At least I thought it was, until it happened to me.

God help me, I did love Colin. I’d never in my life felt anything like it. Every time I thought about him I felt a twinge in my chest. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t concentrate on work. I had only gotten through the last five days with copious amounts of coffee and sheer determination.

Colin had texted me a couple of times the day I left, but I blocked his number without reading them. I didn’t want to hear his excuses. Evie, bless her heart, had texted me every day to check on me. She really was a good sister. I resolved to make some time to go down and visit her. I wanted to check out her bookstore and attend one of their Boozy Book Club meetings. They sounded hilarious. Evie had promised to keep me up to date with what the rest of them were reading so we could talk about the books.

My condo was on the top floor of a three-story walk-up. There were only two units per floor, and they were relatively large by New York City standards. I loved my place, and I felt a lot of pride that I had been able to buy it totally on my own. Who said I needed a man to make me happy?

Speaking of a man, there was one sitting in front of my door when I came up the stairs. My eyes widened as I realized it was Colin. I wondered how he had charmed his way through the security doors. My neighbors were usually pretty good about not letting people in, that’s one of the things I liked about this building.

“Colin? What are you doing here?”

“Teresa. Hi.” He jumped to his feet and thrust a bouquet of flowers in my direction. Daisies, my favorite.

I sniffed them before returning my attention to him. “How did you know where I live?”