Eden

29

“Oh, my God.”

I feel like I’m dreaming because this can’t be real. I stare up at our resort in awe, in complete disbelief that I’m going to stay in a place like this. It’s a fucking Four Seasons, on Lanai, which is essentially been turned in a rich person’s playground with its giant golf-course and tropical terrain.

We’ve just arrived at the resort, which took my breath away as we were driving up to it in the luxury cars that were rented for our group. Loni, Saint and I had rolled up in a red Ferrari, and Liam, Gabe, and Rosalind—who had invited themselves—had gotten a blue Lamborghini.

What the hell was happening to my life?

Loni comes to stand next to me and bumps my shoulder with a smile.

“Pick your jaw up off the ground,” she teases. “You deserve to be here as much as anyone else.”

It’s as if she can see into my mind and read all the insecure thoughts bombarding me right now. My first instinct was to believe that I don’t belong here, especially in my discount summer dress and sandals. Everyone else is sporting designer labels, whereas I visited the clearance racks in preparation for this trip.

“You’re right,” I nod, forcing a confident smile. “It’ll be great.”

I hope. I glance toward Saint, who’s giving his keys to the valet parking attendant. When he turns back around, his eyes meet mine, but then immediately look away again. He’s been doing that the whole trip so far, though I’m fairly certain I know it’s about those photos with Ghost. He hasn’t said a word to me about them, and I haven’t had the chance to explain.

Things feel awkward and tense, and I know I need to talk to him about the incident before it ruins our spring break. I just need to get him alone…

“Let’s check in,” he growls to the other half of our group as they wander up next to us.

“Yes, sir,” Gabe says with a sarcastic salute, making Rosalind giggle behind her hand. When I’d found out she was coming with us, I hadn’t known how to feel. When I’d discovered that Liam was the one who’d invited her, the reason behind her presence became a little clearer. So far, though, having her around was proving to be all right. She was as friendly and soft-spoken as ever.

Saint narrows his eyes at Gabe but doesn’t say a word as he stalks toward the resort’s entrance. I try not to gape as we walk into the gorgeous lobby, but it’s not easy. Saint goes to the reception desk and checks us all in, then returns with keys to our private cottages. When he hands me my key, our fingertips brush and a bolt of heat shoots through my body. If he felt it as well, I’ve no idea. The guy is a stonewall, moving away from me to continue handing out the rest of the keys.

I release a deep breath and try to calm my body down. It’s pathetic that a simple touch from him can set me off like this, but I blame the weeks of forced abstinence he’s submitted me to for my extra level of sensitivity. Thankfully, I’m able to get myself under control before Loni grabs my hand to slip it around her arm.

“Come on, roomie. Let’s go.” Loni glances back over her shoulder at Rosalind and continues, “You too, Sansa!”

Rosalind looks surprised, but then smiles shyly as she follows after us. The guys come too, and we all make our way out of the main resort building behind an attendant assigned to show us to our accommodations. There are several golf carts waiting for us outside, and once we and our luggage are all loaded, we’re taken down a long path to the cottages. They’re adorable little houses with stone exteriors and clay tile roofs, surrounding by lush foliage and palm trees, overlooking the ocean.

We peel off from the guys to get settled. Stepping into the cottage, I freeze. I can no longer not freak out. The interior is all rich wood paneling and luxurious furnishings. It’s an open floorplan, so I can see to the other side of the cottage, which is just a wall of glass and the view of the water outside it is breathtaking.

Loni and Rosalind don’t seem at all fazed by the luxury around us as they move further into the cottage to claim their individual rooms. I take the time to explore a little more, wandering into the full-sized kitchen with its gleaming, stainless steel appliances and large marble island. I make my way outside to the backyard and patio, where there’s a private pool and lounge area, including a large stone fire pit.

“This place is insane,” I murmur before turning back to hurry inside to find my room. Loni and Rosalind are both already unpacking in each of theirs, so I take the last room, though it’s far from the least. The bed is queen sized with white covers, a giant flat screen hanging on the wall across from it, and I have my own glass door leading out onto the patio. The bathroom is huge, with a glass shower and rainfall head as well as a Jacuzzi tub I could comfortably sleep in.

I drop my tiny, battered suitcase on my bed and sit next to it, needing a moment just to process it all. This place is amazing, and insane, a stark reminder that I’m a stranger to this world.

I want to have fun and enjoy myself while I’m here, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to shake this feeling of inferiority. It doesn’t help anything that Saint’s being weird again because a) Ghost and b) unexpected guests.

Pulling my feet up to the edge of the mattress, I wrap my arms around my shins and drop my forehead against my knees.

I don’t know I long I stay like that, but a gentle knock on my door surprises me and I look up to find Loni standing at the threshold, her brow furrowed in concern.

“Smile, okay? You’re in paradise” she says as she makes her way into the room. “Meanwhile, Henry’s being eaten alive by mosquitoes on his family fun adventure.”

I nod and try to smile, but I think it comes out as more of a grimace.

“I’m fine,” I say, hoping to convince her even though I know she won’t buy it.

Loni studies me for several long moments before saying, “For the first time in months, you get to just relax and have a good time. There’s no Laurel or Mr. Porter to make you miserable. Think of this as karma trying to make it up to you after two shitty semesters.”

When she says it like that, I do feel a bit better.

Chuckling, I shake my head. “God, I think I just need a drink.”

“Now that I can help you with,” Loni says, slapping her hand on the bed next to my hip. “Come on. Let’s go raid the expensive minibar. It’s all getting charged to Saint anyway.”

Loni and I tear into the bar, which isn’t so mini, and after a few shots, hunt down Rosalind and force her to join us. She’s hesitant at first, but we manage to melt her cautious exterior, and soon she’s throwing them back as quickly as we are.

“Oh, we should go see what the guys are doing!” she declares, her words slurring slightly.

To my alcohol-addled brain, that sounds like an amazing idea. I suddenly don’t really care that things are weird with Saint. I want to see him.

Grabbing the bottle of tequila that we’ve been steadily attacking, I push to my feet. I wobble a bit, but that doesn’t slow me down. The other girls stand up as well and together we stumble out of our cottage and hurry to the guys’.

Loni moves a little faster and reaches their door first, banging on it with her fist as soon as she reaches it.

It only takes a moment before the door is opened. Liam looks surprised as his eyes scan us. He’s shirtless, his tattoos on full display, as well as his six-pack. As though they have a mind of their own, my eyes wander up and down his torso in what I think is a subtle way. I’m drunk, though, so I could be blatantly ogling him. He catches me staring and smirks.