Reckless Abandon(33)

I can’t believe Leah is sick. Like, honest-to-goodness sick. This morning she woke up with some sort of food poisoning slash stomach bug slash I don’t know what.

At first, I thought this was her way of getting me alone with Asher again. Last night, she was crazy excited about what he might have planned for us. She loves surprises. And she didn’t seem to mind that we’d be spending Luke’s birthday with a stranger and she didn’t seem too concerned with what Adam might say about our hanging out with him.

Then when she woke up she started grumbling about how she doesn’t feel good. But this is Leah we’re talking about: she has lied in the past about being sick.

I now know she is not lying. She is locked inside the bathroom and the sounds coming from that room are far from human.

“Go without me. There is no reason why you should be locked up in this room all day too.” Her words are strained and breathy.

“What if something happens to you while I’m gone? You don’t sound so good in there,” I say to her through the bathroom door. She has been in there with the door locked for the past twenty minutes.

I hear the sound of a toilet flush and then the running water of the sink. I step back when I hear the click of the door being unlocked. Leah opens it. Her hair is a disheveled mess and her eyes are bloodshot.

“I feel much better. I promise you I’m not going to die while you’re out today.” She is padding her way to the bed. Leah is most definitely out of it. She would never make a death comment around me on an ordinary day.

Pulling down the comforter, Leah climbs in and falls back against the pillow. “Go spend the day with your boy. I’ll park myself by the pool later on.”

I’m already dressed in white shorts and a canary-colored V-neck, fitted T-shirt; my gold shoes from Asher garnishing my feet. “I feel terrible your vacation is ruined. I’m not leaving you alone to lay in this bed.”

“Oh, yes you are. You are so going out there and enjoying yourself. I’ll feel awful if you stay here and miss out on a gorgeous afternoon because of my sick ass.” She grabs the pillow next to her and stuffs it under the one already under her head. She sits up a little, elevated. “I’ll be in and out of that bathroom all day. You do not want to be here for that.”

I stand by her bed as I try to decide what I should do. I hate when people give you an option like this. Leah says go but will she secretly resent me for leaving her alone? Will she throw it in my face later on that I ditched her when she was sick in Italy? Probably not. Leah’s not like that. But still.

“Oh, for the love of all things holy. Go, Emma. If not for me, do it for McConaughey.” Leah says. I cock a brow at her and she adds, “You gotta keep on livin’.”

I leave Leah with everything she needs for a day of being sick. Her iPad is plugged in and next to her on the bed. She has the hotel phone on the end table in case of an emergency. A glass of water and a trashcan are by her side, as well as the remote, a bottle of soda, and her binoculars. I didn’t really see the use for the spyware, but she wanted them near by.

Leah promised she would contact the front desk if she felt dizzy. I stop by the concierge and place a room service order for her. Even if she didn’t eat, I knew someone would be there to check up on her.

After making arrangements for my sister, I head toward the lobby in anticipation for another day spent with Asher. As I walk through I spot the woman I bumped into two days ago. She is seated in a large wingback chair, reading a magazine. Her large hat covers her face as bright red nails flip the pages. I look down at my casual outfit and wonder if I should be wearing more day-dresses like the pretty striped one she is wearing. It is a mix of colors, most of them primary and dark.

I shrug my shoulders and walk out the lobby doors and down the stairs toward the marina.

Asher told me to meet him by the Marina. Growing up, I never went on boats. Once or twice we went fishing with my uncle on the lake, and there was that family cruise to the Bahamas. But other than that, I may have been on five boats my entire life. It’s fascinating I’ve been on six since we landed in Italy and I have no idea what we’re doing today.

I’m carrying the note Asher left at the hotel. I really like that he leaves hand written notes. With the age of cell phones and emails, there is no use for the old paper and pen method. Then again, I don’t have a phone with me anymore as it’s at the bottom of the ocean. So, this morning, the concierge handed me a note from Asher with the location I should meet him. I was also surprised it came with a yellow rose with red tips.

I’m walking along the steps to the Marina Grande, my rose in my hand and the card in the other. The sun is hot today and it’s not even noon. I am just about to step onto the final stair when a body rounds the corner and almost slams into me. I take a step back and, just when I’m about to be upset, I find myself breaking out into a huge grin.

“I thought I was meeting you at the boat?” I ask, but my words are swallowed up when Asher snakes his hand around my neck and pulls me into a kiss. I don’t know what to do with my hands, but my mouth knows exactly where it needs to be.

When Asher finally pulls away he gives me a kiss on the nose. “I couldn’t wait any longer.”

If I had a mirror I’m sure I’d see dimples on my face.

Asher takes the note card from my hand, slides it into his back pocket and grabs my free hand. He guides me along the marina and I check out my date for the day. Leah would say he looks edible and I would agree. It’s not so much what he’s wearing but the way he wears it. His navy shorts showcase his strong legs and the polo he has on accentuates the broad shoulders and narrow waist.