Page 74

HALLIE

“ O kay. I know we hate Conan right now, but you deserve this vacation from him.” Lily slides down her sunglasses and lays back on her lounger.

Hate is a strong word.

I grab my cocktail and stare at the waves crashing against the shore. The ocean is so clear it looks almost unreal, streaks of turquoise blending into pale gold sand that stretches for miles in either direction. A warm breeze dances over my skin, carrying the scent of salt and hibiscus.

“Yeah. It’s nice.”

“Better than nice. This is fucking beautiful. Shall we go get matching tattoos later? Drinks? Food? All of the above?”

I smile and take a sip from my straw. The cocktail tastes like coconut and lime, cold and sweet on my tongue.

“What tattoo shall we get?”

“We can figure that out when we get there.”

Impulsive. That is the motto of this trip. I guess getting my first tattoo is up on that list.

I let my gaze drift across the terrace. White linen cabanas sway lazily, casting deep shadows over plush loungers piled with oversized pillows. The resort rises behind us in tiers of whitewashed stone and glass, all clean lines and palm trees lit up by strings of tiny golden lights.

As I lie back down, I unlock my phone, pulling up Conan’s contact number. Should I unblock him to say thank you?

I feel like I should, because this is the trip of a lifetime. We’re getting the five-star treatment every minute of the day.

The penthouse suite feels bigger than my entire house. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the sea, and there’s a private plunge pool on the balcony. Everything smells faintly of expensive spa oils and fresh flowers.

I could stay here for weeks.

“Have you spoken to Conan since?” Lily asks.

“Nope.”

“Do you want to?”

I suck in a breath.

“I honestly don’t know.”

She sits up and faces me. Sunlight catches the gold flecks in her hair.

“Look, I know how much he meant to you. I’d never be upset with you for speaking to him. It’s your life, you’re only here once. Listen to your gut.”

I take another gulp of my cocktail.

“I’ll rethink after this trip. I just need to regather myself first. It was a lot. And it really fucking hurts, Lily.”

I told her everything. She didn’t judge. She didn’t tell me what to do. She just listened.

“I know it does. So no more Conan talk for the remainder of this trip?”

I pout.

“Well, unless I wanna vent about him being an asshole.”

She grins.

“Shit talking men is exactly what I wanna be doing,” she chuckles.

“Shall we get another drink?” I grin.

Her face lights up.

“Shots too?”

“Yes.”

This is exactly what I needed—a few days away in paradise.

Although I miss Bertie. Lily’s assistant has him while we’re gone.

I’ll have to call her later to make sure he’s being a good boy.

Even that is now a punch in the gut. Good boy now has a whole new meaning that I’ll never be able to forget.

Goddamn it, Conan.