“She didn’t give me the meeting minutes, no.”

It was funny hearing Paul—whose primary relationship to work as an adult had been in largely ceremonial positions for his father’s software empire—using any kind of professional jargon. In her frustration, she briefly considered asking him if he even knew what the phrase meant, but thought better of it.

“Well, thank you both, because I’m fucking humiliated.”

He stood up, walking toward her and placing his hand over hers on the counter. “Lex, come on, I’m just kidding. She was just trying to sleep, and you guys were being loud the whole—”

“I wasn’t—”

“Let me finish. You were laying into each other, but I don’t blame you. I just want you guys to at least try to get along.”

“I told you, we agreed to be friends for the trip. I’m not going to ruin your bachelor party.”

“It’s not for me, babe, it’s for Guy.”

“Because you already had to beg him to include me, I know.”

“Hey, whoa. Don’t do that. He’s just really stressed out about everything being perfect. And I didn’t force him to include you. You were always at the top of the list.”

“So he can write off my expenses as a charitable donation,” she deadpanned, avoiding his gaze.

“Stop it. You know it’s not about money with him.”

“Of course it is. Everything is about money, and the only reason you all get to act like it’s not is because you have so much of it.” She sighed, deciding her comfort level before continuing. “I’ve been taking on extra clients for six months to afford my wardrobe for this trip. Everything is about money.”

He rolled his eyes, sighing. “Babe, not again…”

“It’s not ‘again.’ It’s very different this time, and I’m not telling you so you feel sorry for me. I’m just telling you because I already feel like the smelly kid at the lunch table. And the fact that Sophie was apparently making fun of me the whole car ride down doesn’t help.”

Paul pulled her into his arms, putting her head against his chest. “You are not the smelly kid. Sophie was not making fun of you. Danny was an asshole to provoke you, and if you want to spend this whole trip avoiding him, I give you permission.”

“I don’t want to spend my whole trip doing anything about him.” She sighed, closing her eyes and breathing in Paul’s elegant cologne. “I just want to forget he’s here.”

“Okay, shh,” Paul whispered, resting his chin at the crown of her head. “Why don’t you lay down for a few minutes and relax? You could take a bath.”

“Do I smell?” She sounded like a little girl, overtired and full of emotion.