Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“Can I see your head?” I ask after she swallows the meds.
Without a word, she lets me check her scalp. “What’s the prognosis?” she asks with a sigh.
“Yeah, you’ve got a pretty good bump, but I don’t see any open skin. I just want to—” I press down gently around the swollen area.
“Ow! Dick.” Sabrina smacks my hand away.
“I don’t think you have a fracture.”
“Jesus. Warn me next time.”
I leave her with the TV remote while I make us some bacon and eggs for breakfast. All the plans we’d made before we got here—snorkeling, off-roading, taking a boat out to explore private coves—have gone to hell since this island is apparently trying to kill us. It’s like the moment we left Boston, we’ve been in a bad Final Destination sequel.
“We’re terrible at this,” she says later as we’re finishing breakfast downstairs. Sabrina pops a strawberry into her mouth and chews glumly.
Isa brought us fresh fruit again this morning, along with a basket of freshly baked croissants. I swear our housekeeper has invisibility as a superpower. She glides in and out of this house without making a single sound.
“Terrible at what?” I ask, clearing our plates.
“Vacation. I feel like we’ve spent most of the trip inside.”
“Yeah, because this place is out to get us.”
“I’m sorry.” Sabrina carries our empty glasses over and sets them next to me at the sink. “I know we were talking about going out on the boat today, but I’m worried my head will be spinning the entire time.”
“Hey, no.” I grab her around the waist, kiss her forehead. “Take all the time you need. I’m more concerned with you feeling better. I was the one laid up a couple days ago because of my leg.” Which, by the way, still looks heinous. But at least the pain’s gone away.
While we’re cleaning up, voices waft into the kitchen from the back deck. “Anyone home?”
Recognizing Bruce’s voice, I call out, “In here.”
A moment later, our neighbors stroll in through the open glass doors and cross the dining room toward us. In his polo, khaki shorts, and panama hat, Kevin looks like he’s ready for a day of sailing. Bruce, meanwhile, wears a tight tank top that reveals his oiled-up arms and very tight swim trunks.
“We’re heading out to do some deep-sea fishing,” Bruce says, greeting us with a big smile.
“We’ve got room for two more,” Kevin offers.
I shake my head in regret. “As amazing as that sounds, I think we’re staying in today,” I tell them. “Sabrina’s a little under the weather.”
“Oh, no. Really?” Kevin looks concerned. “I’ve got some echinacea and tea that might help.”
“It’s not that kind of ailment,” I say, while Sabrina glares at me. “We had a little mishap on the way back from your place last night.”
“Mishap?” Kevin’s shrewd gaze does a sweep of Sabrina.
Mortified, she huffs and looks away.
I fight hard not to laugh. “Coconut fell out of the sky and smacked her right on top of the head. Knocked her out cold for almost a minute.”
Bruce gasps. “Oh my God!”
“You’re kidding?” Kevin notices Sabrina’s murderous expression and chuckles softly. “Not kidding, I see.”
“You poor thing,” his partner says sympathetically. “You all right?”
“I’m fine,” she mutters. “Just a headache.”
“It’s more common around here than you’d think,” Kevin says. “You’re lucky it wasn’t serious.”
He sounds sincere, but I think he says it just to make her feel better.
“Anyway, we’re gonna stay in today,” I say. “But we appreciate the offer.”
Sabrina touches my arm, her features softening. “No, you should go. There’s no reason we both have to miss out.”
“I don’t mind. I’d rather be here if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just going to hang out by the pool, maybe, and FaceTime Jamie. Probably take a long nap too. If I need anything when you’re gone, I can text Isa.”
“There,” Bruce says, nodding. “It’s settled.”
“Yes,” Kevin tells me. “Come on. It’s going to be a beautiful day on the water. And we won’t be back too late.”
With Sabrina insisting, I eventually capitulate and take them up on it. Getting out on the water sounds great. And truthfully, the thought of watching any more goddamn movies on this beach vacation makes me want to gouge my eyes out.
“Meet you on our dock in five?” Kevin says.
“I’ll be right there.”
“Keep applying sunscreen,” Sabrina reminds me after the men leave. She tails me to our bedroom, watching me get ready. “And try not to get impaled by a marlin or whatever.”
“You too. The sunscreen part.” I wink at her. “And don’t fall asleep under any trees.”
Out on the boat, the fishing is great. We manage to land a few grouper and mahi-mahi. A couple of yellowtail snapper. It feels traitorous to even think it, but it’s probably the best day I’ve had since we got here. Spending the afternoon with some beers, feeling the ocean breeze on my face, just shooting the shit. Bruce and Kevin are good guys. And other than a close call when I nearly caught a hook to the face, I manage to return to dry land unscathed.