Page 9 of Off Plan

“Well,Istill think it sounds like bullshit,” Micah insisted. “If it really worked like that, everyone would apply for it and it would be incredibly competitive. There’s gotta be a catch.”

I squeezed my eyes shut against a flare of hurt. “Does therehaveto be? Really? Once again, your expert knowledge ofeverything in the universeastounds me,Micah. Maybe itisincredibly competitive. Maybe I’m qualified anyway! I’m notjustMicah Bloom’s kid brother, you know. I’m an autonomous human being with actual skills. How do you know I wasn’t put on the short list because I’m not only a good doctor with great references, I also aced my phone interview with the resort manager?”

“On the short list,” Con repeated softly. “You applied for the job?”

“I…” I took a deep breath and let it out. “Yeah. And I got it.”

“But you never said—” Con sounded upset.

“Mason, for fuck’s sake, you can’t seriously be thinking oftakingit!” Micah exploded. “That’s… that’s just… it’s notreasonable! You, a man who has literally stood in the toothpaste aisle for fifteen minutes debating the relative merits ofMinty FreshversusFresh Mint, cannot tell me that this is in any way a logical choice! Victoria moved off to Belize, so now you’ve decided you need adventure, too?”

“No.” I ground my molars together. It stung more than it should have to hear him reduce my motive to something that childish, when it was actually the exact opposite. “I want something that’smine, Micah. A life I choose for myself. Success I earn for myself.”

Micah was silent for a minute. “Fine, then. Fly down there. Take a vacation. Clear the cobwebs. Bring Toby along. Make sure the place isn’t, you know…”

“A front for the mob,” Constantine said in a hushed voice. “Or some kind of sex-trafficking operation like onDateline. Or run by serial killers who like to hunt humans for sport.”

“Jesus,” I groaned.

“Not quite where I was going, Con, but… yeah,” Micah said. “Let’s go with that.”

“Let’s not.” I pushed down the niggle of anxiety his words conjured. “Let’s assume that your very competent younger brother has taken care of everything and the serial killer population on Whispering Key is a nonissue.”

I mean… it was slightly possible that I’d been too excited by my new plan—and too busy closing out my life in New York—to research things as diligently as I might have, but I was trying to look at that as part of the adventure. The resort’s website had showed fruity drinks, miles of white-sand beaches, and a list of amenities that would make anyone’s head spin, so how bad could it really be?

Besides, I had three months to back out if it didn’t work for me.

No. Fear.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down.

“Whispering Key,” Micah grumbled. “Sounds fake.”

“Sounds like an episode ofScooby Doo.” Constantine still sounded unhappy. “You’re basically asking for mysteries and hijinks.”

“Or crashing waves and fruity drinks in coconuts,” I countered. “I’ve thought hard about this. I need a fresh start.”

“Butwhy? Mase, our family’s gotten through tough times by sticking together. By supporting each other.”

I dragged my loafer against the linoleum floor. “I know it, Micah. But you have Con now. Lauren and Leandra have their families. I love you, you know I do, but I want something I pick, not something I fall into. Something I can point to and say, ‘See that thing? I did that.Myself.’ So if you want to support me, support me now. In this.”

Micah made a noise that managed to express surprise and hurt and capitulation all at once. “I… I always support you, Mase.”

“We both do.” Con sighed. “And we’re going to throw you the going-away party of the century. No carbohydrates spared.”

“About that.” I sucked my top lip between my teeth and hesitated. “I, ah, actually already…left. I gave notice a couple weeks ago and flew out this morning. I called to tell you that, before you went allDr. Philon me.”

Silence reigned, and I winced.

“I know, I know!” I rushed on. “It’s a little bit crazy. But my choices were acting immediately or overthinking myself into a coma. I wanted to do this my own way. Low-key, with zero goodbyes. I’ll be back so often, you’ll hardly even miss me. Okay?”

“I guess it has to be,” Micah said slowly. “But you’ll call if you need help, right?”

“I won’t need help! Everything’s going to begreat,” I assured him… seconds before the conveyor belt stopped with a muffledthunk, and I realized I was the only passenger still waiting for luggage.

Fuck. Not off to a good start.

“But if you do—”