Chapter 28

Tyson

I don’t know for sure that Hannah is with Olivia, but that’s my best guess, and if I’m right, it’s not gonna be pretty. Lainey is now three drinks in—which isn’t helping matters. She’s not a belligerent drinker, but she’s definitely an emotional one, and as the two of us approach the entrance of a small, nondescript hotel, I can tell she’s enraged.

I reach out and catch her arm right before she walks in.

“Lainey,” I say. “You have every right to be upset. But can you please take a deep breath?”

“A deep breath? You think a deep breath is going to help right now?” she snaps back at me.

“I just want you to try to calm down a little. For your sake—”

“Don’t tell me to calm down, Tyson,” she says, pointing her finger in my face.

I quickly surrender, palms up and out. “Okay. I’m sorry.”

She spins back around, storming into the hotel.

I trail behind her, cringing, praying that Hannah just chose to spend a quiet day alone. Instead, I turn the corner and spot her cozied up to a bar with a woman who could easily be Lainey’s sister. They have the same dark hair and broad shoulders. I watch Lainey descend upon them.

“Why, hello there, Hannah! So lovely to see you!” she says in a loud voice. “How was that sunset with Archie?”

Fuck, I whisper under my breath, approaching in time to see Hannah’s dumbstruck expression.

“And nice to meet you, Olivia,” Lainey says. “What a coincidence that you’re here on this same little island!”

Olivia smiles hesitantly, then offers Lainey her hand.

“Wow,” Lainey scoffs, staring disdainfully at her extended arm.

“Lainey—” I say, touching her arm again.

She spins and looks into my eyes. “Don’t you dare,” she says in a fierce whisper.

I nod and keep my mouth shut.

“I asked you guys for one thing,” she says, swiveling her head as she looks at me, then Hannah, then back at me. “One thing.”

Hannah’s face contorts in an unsuccessful effort not to cry as she tells Lainey how sorry she is.

“It’s my fault,” Olivia says. “Hannah told me this wasn’t a good idea.”

“No. It’s not your fault,” Lainey says, dismissing Olivia with a quick wave of her hand. “You owe me nothing. You’re irrelevant.”

Olivia’s mouth opens, then closes, as Lainey continues her rant. “But my friends did owe me something.” She turns and gives me a long death stare. “So much for that.”

“Lainey, please,” Hannah says, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Can I explain?”

“I don’t want to hear it. From either of you. From any of you,” Lainey says. “You three have fun. I’m out.”

A second later, she is flying out of the bar and back toward the lobby. I start to follow her but stop myself, knowing it’s futile—and could possibly be even more damaging. There is no way we can have a productive conversation until she calms down.

“Dammit,” I say under my breath, turning back to face Hannah. “What a mess.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where I was today,” she says. “I didn’t want you to have to lie for me.”

“Yeah,” I say. “Except I already knew Olivia was in Italy—and I told Lainey I knew that. So now she assumes I was in cahoots with you.”

“I’m really sorry,” Olivia says. “You should both go talk to her. Tell her I’m leaving on the first ferry in the morning.”

“No. We need to give her a minute alone.” I hesitate, then say, “I’m Tyson, by the way.”

She nods. “It’s nice to meet you…despite the circumstances.”

“You too,” I say, relieved that Hannah is right: she seems nothing like Ashley.

I grab the barstool on the other side of Hannah and order myself a bourbon, neat.

—

About thirty awkward minutes of small talk later, I tell Hannah I’m going to head back to the room.

“Hopefully, Lainey’s there,” I add with a sigh.

“I’ll go with you,” Hannah says.

I nod, pulling my wallet out to pay our tab.

“Let me get the drinks,” Olivia says.

I don’t have the energy to push back, so I just thank her.

“I’m sorry again,” Olivia says. “I really didn’t mean to cause all this trouble.”

“I know you didn’t. I hope we can sort it out,” I say, looking at Hannah, who hasn’t budged from her stool. “Are you coming?”

“Yeah. Just give us one sec,” she says, biting her lip and glancing nervously at Olivia. It seems odd—in fact, they’ve both been acting a bit odd—but I remind myself that it’s been an emotional day for everyone.

I nod, then say I’ll wait in the lobby. But the second I get there, I decide I should probably go back to the room alone. As angry as Lainey is with me, I might have a better chance of laying the groundwork for a reconciliation without Hannah.

I turn around and walk back, popping into the bar just in time to see Hannah and Olivia sharing a sweet hug. It’s a heartwarming and hopeful sight. I walk toward them, then stop in my tracks, watching in disbelief as Hannah gives Lainey’s sister a long kiss on the lips.

Chapter 29

Hannah

“Thank you for coming today,” I say to Olivia once Tyson leaves the bar and the two of us are alone again. “It’s been really special.”