Page 17 of Searching for Sunshine (Crestbrook Cove #1)
WYATT
“ H ow’s it going?” I ask Stella while she runs around the pool area, making sure everything’s set up for the first bachelorette event. “And what can I do?”
“We just got them checked in a little bit ago. I have a good feeling about this group, so I think it’s going to be a fun weekend.
I’m just making sure everything is ready for them when they come down,” she answers, leaning down and grabbing a plastic pink tub from behind the bar.
“But if you’re offering, I’ll let you take this inside and fill it with ice so I can finish the drinks they asked for. ”
“No problem, Stels. And really everything looks perfect,” I say truthfully.
Honestly, it’s impressive how much she and Avery managed to liven this place up in the last few days.
All of the plants around the pool have been manicured, making it so there’s a clear view of the beach from anywhere around the patio.
The small twinkle lights glow off the water, and the floats in the shape of wedding rings and pink flamingos are floating around the pool.
I make quick work of filling up the ice bucket, and as I walk back to the pool I can’t help but stare at Stella.
She’s talking animatedly to Avery so she’s not paying any attention to me, and I take the moment to admire how hot my fake wife is.
Her long brown hair frames her face perfectly, and the sundress she’s wearing clings to her body in the June heat.
I shake my head, determined not to let myself go down that road with her.
We agreed we’re just friends—and friends don’t fantasize about kissing each other.
And I’m pretty sure they don’t fantasize about each other the way I did last night.
There was a moment in the woods yesterday when I was certain she wanted me to kiss her, but she hasn’t acted any differently since our almost kiss, so I’m guessing I’m wrong.
It makes me feel guilty knowing I finally gave in and jerked myself off in the shower at the thought of her after we got home last night.
I’ve never come that hard in my life, but the knowledge of what I did has made me feel guilty all day.
Really, we were both really clear on how we wanted this relationship to go, so what kind of creepy fake husband am I?
Pushing those thoughts from my head, I walk up to her with the ice bucket, causing Stella to smile at me. As soon as I set it down she wraps her arm around me in a hug. “You’re the best, Wyatt,” she tells me. I don’t miss the way Avery watches us, suspicion heavy in her eyes.
“Okay, enough of this bullshit. You two may be okay living in delusion, but I’m not.
When the hell are you two going to sleep together and get it over with?
The tension between y’all is really some—” she starts, and I have to catch myself from laughing at her outburst as Stella leans over and covers Avery’s mouth.
Avery appears unfazed as she continues to babble incoherently around Stella’s hand, and I just stare at them, trying to decide how I should react.
Thankfully I’m saved from saying anything as the guests for the bachelorette party pile out onto the pool deck, squealing over the setup in front of them.
“Oh my god, this is so beautiful!” a girl, who I'm assuming is the bride since she’s the only one wearing a white swimsuit, yells, and Stella and Avery just smile in acknowledgment.
Stella’s hand left Avery’s mouth as soon as the door opened, and although I know Avery won’t bring it up in front of the guests, I can tell she’s far from through with this conversation.
“Girls, do you see these floats? That wedding ring is seriously so cute. And more rosé? I’m in heaven,” the bride continues. When I look over at my wife and her best friend, I can tell her praise means a lot to them.
“Okay, I need us to take lots of pictures before it gets too dark and our hair gets wet,” another girl suggests, prompting the rest of the girls to drop their stuff and start lining up.
“Stella or Avery, would one of you mind taking some group pictures?” she calls, and Avery immediately darts over and starts directing people on how to pose.
Stella and I make eye contact, and I know we’re both thinking about the other night when we talked about her joining me for the boat charters for this exact reason.
“You were right,” she whispers, and I can’t help but smile at her.
“Yeah, I know,” I tease, before adding, “but I think this is my cue to leave, so I’ll go wait on the food at The Sand Bar.”
“What, you don’t want to stick around for the photo shoot?” she asks.
“I’m good, thanks. I know we just called everything in, so it’ll probably be about an hour before I’m back.”
“That sounds good, I’ll see you then,” she tells me, moving away from where we were standing and heading over to where the girls are taking pictures. I try not to stare too much as she walks away, but I completely fail.
Damn it, I’m fucked when it comes to this girl.
“So, y’all have a hotel full of women, huh?” Everett asks.
“Yep,” I say, and he waits for me to continue.
When he realizes I’m not going to say anything else, he asks, “And how is that going?”
“Okay, I guess. I’m really proud of Stels and Avery, and the guests seem really impressed, mostly thanks to all the upgrades we’ve made in the last few weeks. But also, they take a lot of fucking pictures.”
Everett bursts into laughter, shaking his head. “Okay, people on trips tend to do that, Wyatt.”
“I know,” I grumble, feeling my frustration rise the longer he talks to me.
“You know, it almost seems like you're annoyed at something else entirely, and you just don’t want to admit it.”
“Fuck off,” I mutter, regardless of the fact that I know he’s right. I’m starting to realize the more time I spend with Stella, the more I’m going to want her, even though I know I shouldn’t.
“Fine, I’ll drop it, but just know you’re not fooling anyone around here. And the sooner the two of you admit it, the sooner you can stop storming around here like an asshole,” he tells me before turning to the kitchen and coming back with several bags of food.
“Here’s your food,” he says, holding out the bags for me to take.
“Thanks, man. And I’m sorry. You’re right. The last few weeks have been great, but it’s also been a lot to process. I’m sorry I was a dick.”
“Nothing new there,” he mumbles, before turning and chuckling at his own joke.
“Yeah, yeah. Fine. Thanks for taking care of the food.”
“No problem. See you later,” he says, stepping back behind the bar to get back to work.
After loading everything up and making the short drive to the Hideaway, I grab the bags of food and make my way through the lobby and out to the pool. “Food’s here ladies,” I call out, and Stella and Avery rush over to grab the food from my hands.
“Perfect, thank you for picking this up for us,” Stella says.
“No problem. Everything still okay over here?”
“Yep, we’re going to feed them out here and then they’re planning to go back to their rooms for a lingerie shower, so I shouldn’t be out here too much longer.
“Okay, that sounds good. I’m gonna go check on Duke, but you can call me when you’re ready to clean up. I’ll come help you.”
“You don’t have to do that, Wyatt. But I appreciate it. I’ll just see you at the house in a few hours. Give my sweet boy some cuddles in the meantime.”
I roll my eyes at the suggestion, before saying, “Yep, sure. I’ll be sure to get right on that.”
Stella laughs, and I turn to head toward the cottage. Just as I’m almost on the path, one of the bridesmaids stops me.
“You must be her husband, huh?” she asks, and it takes me a moment to realize what she just asked me.
“Oh, yeah. I am. What gave it away?” I ask.
“You two look at each other the way my husband and I do. I’d recognize the sight of two people in love anywhere. How long have you two been married?’
Holy shit. What is in the water in this damn town?
“Just a few weeks, actually,” I answer, trying to ignore everything else she just said.
She smiles brightly, nodding her head. “Oh my, no wonder you two look so smitten. You two are still in your honeymoon phase. Congratulations.”
‘Thanks,” I tell her, feeling more uncomfortable the longer I stand here.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you. I’m a wedding planner and I just get so giddy watching couples like you. Love is such a beautiful thing,” she says, hiccuping before reaching down to grab one of the seltzers I helped Stella ice down earlier and taking a long sip.
“All right, well, enjoy the rest of your night,” I respond, before heading down the path to the cottage in an effort to get away from the turn our conversation had taken. Clearly, she doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about, because Stella and I are just friends.