Page 101 of Rio

I do remember.Apparently, so do they.They’re half-joking now, but Raquel and I are still standing there like statues, trying to figure out how this became an intervention.Our friends start firing off questions, fast and furious, and we slip around arms around each other’s waists, taking their questions.How long?When did it start?Did anything happen at the wedding?Or did it begin in Belize?

We let little snippets out.That it started in Belize.Raquel gives a brief reason for her being there, and I tell them it was about the Blue Star eco resort.

“I heard about that,” Dex says.“It’s not opening yet, and the old man is pissed.”

We haven’t had a meeting about it, everyone’s busy working on their own projects, but it’s clearly the old man is pissed to have let this slip.

“Does the old man know about you two?”Dex asks.

“No.He doesn’t.Let’s keep it that way.”

“Sure.Don’t worry about that.We’re not going to tell him anything,” Dex says.More questions follow, especially when they discover this is our first weekend together, since we’ve returned.

“Oooohh!”Dani squeals, looking at Raquel for answers.“You have a lot of explaining to do.”

Raquel folds her arms.“Hit me with it.I can answer everything.”They grab the bottle of wine and the glasses, and slope off outside to the pool.

Dex grins, his hands resting on the kitchen island.“Well, well, well.The secret is finally out.You look different, dude.Softer.”

“She’s good for me.”I lean back against the countertop where we just fucked.“She’s the one.No one else comes close.”

Dex jolts to attention.“There was always something about you two.I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I suspected something.”

“Me and Raquel, we were fire and ice.Love and hate.”

“And now?”

“Now I’m wondering how the hell I’ll cope when she flies back tomorrow.”

“Long distance relationship?”

“Maybe.”I shrug, thinking about how today has been so full.So perfect.How I can’t imagine having a day without Raquel in my life.How the thought of her in Miami with that sonofabitch boss makes my blood boil.

Dex gives me a look.“You don’t think that’s a little too convenient?”

“What?”

“You and Raquel, in Belize at the same time, dealing with the same issue?”

“Maybe,” I shrug.“Or maybe it’s fate.”Because that’s what I believe.

“Hmm.”He rubs his jaw like he’s mulling it over, and all I can think about is whether Raquel and I will get to have the perfect end to the perfect day.

Chapter 32

RIO

Raquel goes back to Miami, leaving my apartment empty and a huge void in my life.

I can’t wait to be with her again.We talked about how we could make this work.Weekends here and in Miami.Taking things slowly.

She said she needs to step away from the case, recuse herself.I told her I was looking into things, finding ways to fix it.I didn’t tell her what the old man said.I figure the less she hears about him, the better.

Dex hasn’t stopped teasing me.First thing on Monday morning he was in my office, leaning against the door with a wide smile, trying to get more details from me.I’m not going to tell him about the hut.Or how we were marooned on that island overnight.He doesn’t need to know everything.But he’s secretly happy for me.What’s even cooler is that Dani and Raquel are best friends.

He’s talking like Raquel and I have a future and I want to believe that.What she said about maybe looking for work here in New York, gave me hope, but she’s career-driven, single-minded and focused.This could just be a fun distraction for her while she’s working so hard.

I don’t want to dream too much, or dare too much.I don’t want to expect too much but I meant it when I told Dex that she’s the woman for me.