Page 45 of Sharing Shadow Secrets (High Five Novella #6)

S taring at my phone, seeing Patrick calling, I step away from Cryptoball’s branded lounge. Wading through a sea of people, I’m mentally exhausted from this conference and ready for it to be over.

“Everything good?” I ask after answering. It’s just after breakfast.

“Dude,” he answers warmly. “You need to fly back and surprise your girl at the Halloween party tonight.”

“I’m working,” I say tightly.

“It’s the last day. No one will miss you,” he says easily, and I envision him shrugging as he does. “Plus, Rachel and I love Taylor. Flex your rich kid card. Get on a jet.”

Little does he know I have one booked for later today.

“I’m not going to High Five.”

I’ll see her when she gets back, surprising her.

“Come on!”

I don’t say anything.

“I recall being nervous about meeting up with a girl at High Five and you pushing me …” Patrick says. “It was the best push of my fucking life. Now I’m doing the same.”

I look out at the resort, seeing the ocean, considering this suggestion of surprising Taylor. She would love it. I chuckle, a costume idea flashing in my mind: the mafia guy who got in a motorcycle accident.

High Five isn’t the same place it used to be.

The people that used to go there won’t be there. Well, Andrew will be there … working.

I want to make Taylor smile.

“If Declan approves of me leaving early, I’m there,” I say after a beat, knowing bumping up the jet reservation a couple of hours won’t be a big deal.

“You already know he will. If it’s for love, it’s always a yes.”

I don’t have to be here any longer.

“Can you do me a favor?” I ask, having mentally decided that I’m getting the fuck out of here. “I don’t know how you buy a domain, but can you buy one and make a landing page? I’ll text you the details and give you my credit card info.”

“You’re starting a company?”

“I’m getting something for Taylor.”