“You’re right. There are a lot of assholes out there,” Julia agreed. “I have to admit my own faith in romantic love is at an all-time low right now.”

“Why?” Kat straightened, brows furrowed with concern. “Did something happen with Luke?”

Julia laughed and refilled both their glasses.

“That bad, huh?” Kat asked. She picked up her wine, swirling the golden liquid. “Well, I’ve got no other plans tonight, so why don’t you tell me all about it.”

Whether it was the booze, the fact that misery loved company, or the simple peace of unpacking her sorrows with a dear friend, as Julia shared the details of how her own evening had taken a wrong turn, her heartache eased a bit, the weight of her thoughts lightened, and the long night ahead became a little brighter.

CHAPTER 27

LUKE

It was fully dark by the time Luke made his way back along the beach toward the resort, the night sky lit by a fat full moon hanging low on the horizon. The sand glowed with a pale luminescence and the waves crashed softly. The effect was all achingly beautiful, a night tailor-made for romantic moments. Too bad his most intimate moment this evening was spent with a seagull.

A bonfire was blazing along the shore. Luke recognized Julia’s friend Andie and waved, but she didn’t notice—too wrapped up in her own intimate moment with Curt. He shook his head, smiling to himself as he recalled the antagonism between those two at the start of the week. Who could have seen that coming? His sister, probably. Which was another surprise entirely, and one he should have seen a long time ago.

A lot had happened this week that he couldn’t have predicted. Luke sighed and started up the steps to the hotel. A few couples still lingered on the terrace, talking in low murmurs, flickering candlelight casting their faces in light and shadow. He didn’t see Pen and Jay among them. He headed upstairs, bracing himself as he knocked on the door to his sister’s suite.

It took a moment for her to answer, and every second he stood there in the hall he debated hightailing it out of there and escaping to his own room. But before he could convince his feet to move, the dead bolt clicked and Penelope opened the door.

“Luke.” Her face was guarded, eyes wary.

He hated that his sister felt like she had to hide things from him, hated that he’d been the one to make her feel that way. “I owe you an apology.”

“You do.” She opened the door further, inviting him in. “And you owe Jay one, too.”

Luke drew up short, struggling with his initial shock at seeing Jay in his sister’s room. “You’re right.” He swallowed. “I owe you both an apology for my reaction earlier.”