“One and a half,” I correct, recalling she said she has seventy-eight bucks to spare.

“I know I gave you a hard time before coming,” she tells me, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate all this. It’s probably the most amazing trip I’ll ever have in my entire life. I’m so grateful, I’ll put up with a hundred Elaines.”

She rests her head against me, and I kiss the top of her head and smell the shampoo from her earlier shower. Looking out into the horizon, the sparkle of lights in the distant cliffside, I marvel at the view. I’ve been to Phuket before and looked at similar vistas. But tonight, it looks more special.

My moment of peace and contentment doesn’t last long, however. A couple of men are sitting down in the alcove next to ours, and I recognize the voice of Joseph Mok.

Mok, sporting a buzz cut and a dark Stefano Ricci blazer, spots me. Preston asks him something, diverting his attention.

Amy and JD plop down on the sofa beside us, both of them holding drinks decorated with a hibiscus flower.

“Hey, we’re doing a couples’ spa treatment tomorrow,” Amy says. “You want to do one, too?”

I look to Bridget, who hesitates, probably because she feels too guilty to indulge in one, so I answer for her. “Sure.”

“I thought we could go into town,” Bridget says.

“We can do that, too.”

“My sister told me I need to go to Jungceylon. I totally want to check it out.” She turns to JD. “Can we?”

“’Course, babe,” JD answers. He looks over at me. “My aunt try to hit on you again?”

I stare at JD. He had to bring that up?

“OMG, you’re not serious?” Amy gasps.

“I think she’s had the hots for Darren since he was sixteen.”

“That’s gross.”

“We had Darren over one summer—”

I interrupt. “You want to shut the fuck up?”

Bridget straightens. “What happened?”

JD catches my glare. “Nothing.”

“Something must have happened.”

“I don’t want to know,” Amy says. “I mean, she’s so much older.”

“Only by like sixteen years,” JD says.

“Still, she’s like a cougar.”

JD makes cat claws with his hands. “Meow.”

“And isn’t she related?”

“She married into the Lee family, so she’s not a blood relative.”

I glance over to where Mok is sitting with Preston and the other groomsmen. Mok is staring at me. He clearly hasn’t forgotten what happened between us back in Vietnam. His gaze lowers to Bridget. Instinctively, I tighten my arm around her.

Chapter 21

BRIDGET

Past

“I think it’s time we gave you a safe word.”

Still not fully awake, I snuggle into the crook of Darren’s arm. The jet lag wasn’t so bad, but I was tired after going out clubbing. Andrea had opted for a smaller, more exclusive club, but it still wasn’t really my scene. I enjoyed dancing with Darren, but I also had to watch the occasional woman hit on him. Although Elaine wasn’t with us, one of the women on the groom’s side boldly flirted with Darren as if I wasn’t even there.