Page 10 of Right Side of Paradise

Hold Up

If it weren’t for the waves, there’d be no sound at all on the patio.

Nobody except Harlow was touching their plates. And that was weird because I hadn’t cooked.

What ? I knew my strengths, and they weren’t in the kitchen.

“Why are y’all looking at me like that?” the only woman at the table asked. Harlow was wearing a headscarf tied into a bun at the nape of her neck. It was one of Rico’s colorful designs and I couldn’t help but think how pretty she looked, even as the man beside me was silently fuming.

“Because I’m trying to figure out what the fuck you just said.” Rico’s glacial tone made all our heads turn in his direction.

“I said I’m putting myself out there this summer. I want to have fun. Meet someone. Or maybe multiple someones.” Harlow shrugged, taking a sip of her midori sour. “I have some things I want to experience.”

Rico was stiff beside me, but the intensity of his energy seeped into my skin before he opened his mouth again. “You’re not fucking anybody on this island, Harlow.”

“Good thing I’m not asking for permission.”

My eyes dropped to the table in time to see Rico’s grip tighten around his fork.

“What’s wrong with you? It’s not like I said I’ll be bringing them to your house.” Her eyes formed slits the longer she stared at him. While they were having their silent standoff, Christian caught my eyes, and I witnessed the hopeful light in his dim.

We’d gotten past whatever he had going on with Harlow just to land here .

Right about now my heart was at my feet. I couldn’t stand seeing Harlow look dejected. And I hated when Rico spoke before realizing his delivery overpowered what he was trying to convey.

Why couldn’t we just enjoy this summer for what it was?

“Oh, so you’re the only one allowed to get fucked this summer?” She backed away from the table and stood. “Good to know.”

“Harlow, where are you going?” Rico asked her retreating form when she stepped onto the sand without a backwards glance.

“ Harlow .” Her name came out rough and demanding but I could hear the panic lacing the last syllable.

“I’m going for a walk,” she called over her shoulder. “Don’t wait up.”

Rico tried to stand but I grasped his forearm in time to keep him seated.

Annoyance was evident when he looked at me, but I kept my hand where it was, holding him in place. “Give her a second.”

Christian reached over and grabbed the drink Harlow left behind, finishing it in a single gulp. “That went well,” he said dryly.

Then he stood up and went back in the house, leaving me alone with the brooding man beside me.

“She’s being childish.”

“No. You treated her like a child.”

I could tell the moment my words sank in because his hard facade fell away, leaving his expression full of questions. “How?”

“She told us something and you shut her down in front of everybody. You saw she was excited and instead of having a conversation, you immediately jumped into protective mode. How did you expect her to react?”

“I don’t want her fucking anybody else,” he admitted somberly.

“You think I do? But I’d look like a hypocrite telling her what the fuck she can do when she had no say in what I’ve been doing with you for the last six months.” I massaged the tension out of his forearm and moved down to thread our fingers on top of the table. “You see how wild that sounds?”

Rico hesitated, licking his lips before he shook his head and watched the water.

“We haven’t talked to her about anything, how is she supposed to know you feel a way if you don’t tell her?”

“I was wrong?” he asked, regret replacing his fight.

Sometimes his bullheadedness frustrated the hell out of me, but I’d always have a soft spot for the way he was open to correction. Rico was stubborn as hell. Protective and possessive like nobody I’d ever met. But when he slowed down to listen, he wasn’t above admitting his wrongs.

I knew this thing between him and Harlow was a tender spot, so I kissed the corner of his mouth and decided to change the subject.

“That’s up to you to decide, but let’s clean up this table in the meantime.”

Tonight hadn’t gone the way I thought it would, but tomorrow would be better. Right?