“Somehow,” Ava said, suddenly willing to go to bat for her almost-sister-in-law, “I don’t think that the woman who almost single-handedly put together the Necessity prom three years in a row is a bad planner.”
“See?” Seth said gently, bumping his shoulder against his fiancée’s. “I told you people would remember things like that.”
Kristin blushed and grinned, and Ava realized that she couldn’t remember the other woman ever receiving a compliment on anything other than her appearance—not even when they were in school together.
And this wasn’t even much of a compliment.
Maybe Kristin really did need Seth as much as he wanted her.
And with that, all Ava’s concern about their upcoming marriage vanished.
“Y’all want to have dinner at the resort tonight or check out the St. John’s nightlife?” Kristin asked, turning the attention away from her again.
Imagining her bank account dwindling away—before she even had a chance to go snorkeling—Ava spoke up.
“Here,” she said, at the same moment Grant said, “Here at the resort,” and Seth said, “Let’s check out the city.”
At a loss, Seth glanced back and forth from his fiancée to his sister and his best friend.
“Go ahead and go out,” Ava said. “I want to stay here and…” She racked her brains for a reason other than money to stay behind. Seth and Kristin had already paid for enough. She flicked a look toward Grant, who was watching her interestedly.
I can’t very well say I want to stay here and seduce the best man.
“And go for a walk on the beach at night,” she finished, more lamely than she had begun.
“Are you sure that’s safe?” Seth’s brow furrowed.
“I’ll go with her.” Grant turned to Ava. “If that’s okay with you.”
Well. This whole seduction thing might end up being even easier than I expected.
“If you’re sure.” Kristin didn’t press the other two to join them. From the way her eyes sparkled when she glanced at Seth, Ava was fairly certain the bride was looking forward to some time alone with the groom.
“Sounds like a plan. Now that we’ve got all the wedding stuff straightened out, what’s everyone doing tomorrow?” Seth took a long drink of his Wadadli, the Antigua Brewery’s flagship beer. Kristin waved a waitress over to order a second rum punch.
“I’m going snorkeling,” Ava announced. “It’s the one thing I’ve wanted to do since I found out we were coming, and I want to do it soon so I can spend the rest of the time helping with wedding stuff, since we only have a few days to deal with anything else that crops up.”
And then she and Grant would be heading back to the U.S., leaving Kristin and Seth alone for a week of honeymooning.
“Oh, snorkeling. That sounds fun.” Kristin clapped her hands. “I have the best idea.”
Don’t say a snorkeling tour. Please don’t suggest a tour. I can’t afford one.
“I saw a snorkeling tour advertised at the activities desk. We could all go together.” Kristin beamed at Ava.
Of course.
Ava worked to keep the anxiety off her face. She could hardly blame Kristin. The other woman had no idea what it was like to have to live on a budget, and it’s not like Ava had exactly announced that her funds were limited.
Even Seth didn’t know how much she had been helping Grandma Jordan lately. The cost of almost everything in Necessity had increased lately, from property taxes to electricity to rent, and the two of them had been pooling their resources. Ultimately, though, Gran’s fixed income and Ava’s tips from her job at the Chargrill weren’t enough to cover all their bills easily, so after this trip, Ava was almost certainly going to have to give up her apartment and move back in with Gran.
This was supposed to be her last little taste of freedom before she settled into the rest of her life in Necessity. Until recently, Ava had been perfectly content—she might not have much, but she had her own space and her own life, and she liked it that way.
Now, though, the rest of her life spent living in her family home stretched out in front of her, long and unchanging.
Not that living on her own was a crazy party. In fact, not much would be different at all, other than her address.
She glanced around the table. Kristin was watching her eagerly, waiting for an answer. They were just beginning to build something resembling a friendship, and Ava hated to do anything that might put a damper on it.
Anyway, if she was going to have a last hurrah, this was it.
If she used all the money she had budgeted for souvenirs, she could probably manage a snorkeling trip.
Besides, in order to seduce Grant, I have to be around him.
Assuming she didn’t manage the seduction portion of her wild island fling during their walk on the beach tonight.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “A snorkeling tour sounds great.”
“I’ll go see what I can find out.” Grant waved everyone back into their seats as he stood up. “Wait here. I’ll report back.”