The bathroom, I discovered after a minute of searching the cabin. Convenient, I thought as I closed the door so I could have some privacy to see just what kind of shit storm was brewing.
A glance at my phone revealed not one missed call or text. Not a single one. Not even from the hospital, which was rare since I was used to fielding at least a few daily calls from my coworkers and administrator. I exhaled, rubbing at my day’s worth of stubble. The silence must mean no one knew yet. Jacob was still “indisposed.” God only knew how much longer he’d remain in that state.
I wished it could be for the rest of forever. Because maybe if Jacob never surfaced from his stupor to realize he’d missed his own damn wedding, and if Cora never figured out I was the other brother, we could all just live happily ever after.
For a whole day and a half.
I drove my palm into the bathroom wall as I accepted there was no good way any of this could turn out. No matter what happened or how Cora found out, it was going to be catastrophic.
From chart-topping high to record-setting low.
Best day ever? Nice knowing you. Time to move over and get acquainted with worst day ever.
I was so consumed with my thoughts that I didn’t register the sound of knocking at first. It was far off, too inconsequential for me to give much headspace to it in my present state of the-world-is-over.
“Breakfast. Thank goodness. I’m starving.” Cora’s sleepy voice cut through some of my haze, but it wasn’t until I heard her padding around the room that I registered what was happening. “Why don’t I let our breakfast in, then I’ll join you in the shower in a sec. Do you have money for a tip in your wallet?”
The moment she said it, I started moving. Fast. It wasn’t fast enough, I discovered, after throwing the bathroom door open to find Cora standing beside the nightstand, a white sheet twisted around her body, staring at my open wallet in confusion.
Shit. So not how I’d planned this going. Not that any of my plans had been all that impressive.
“Why do you have Matt’s driver’s license?” Cora blinked at the ID like she was trying to make sure what she was seeing was real.
I didn’t know what to say. She still thought I was Jacob.
She slid a couple of cards out of their slots, each one drawing another crease into her forehead. “And why do you have Matt’s credit cards too?”
In the background, I could make out the sound of knocking from whatever poor person was trying to deliver our breakfast with no idea what kind of storm was developing behind that closed door.
“Jacob?”
It wasn’t until she looked at me again that she realized it. It wasn’t until she saw whatever look was on my face that she figured out what Matt’s wallet was doing in her hands the first morning of her honeymoon.
“Oh my god.” The wallet dropped to the floor as she backed away from me. “Please, no. Please god no.” She was whispering, almost like she was talking to herself, tears starting to streak down her cheeks as she continued separating herself from where I stood frozen in the bathroom doorway.
“Cora, please . . .” I swallowed, realizing I’d just had everything I’d ever wanted and was losing it all, all at once.
“Matt?” It sounded like less of a question and more of an accusation. “Oh my god. It is you, isn’t it?”
She didn’t wait for me to confirm it—I supposed she saw swimming in my eyes all she needed to be convinced of my guilt. I managed to move a whole step before I watched her hand reach for the front door.
“Cora, let me explain.” I couldn’t let her go. Not before I explained why I’d done it. Not before I apologized for what I’d done. Not before I handed her a knife to stab my heart or cut off my damn dick. Whatever it took to prove just how sorry I was that I was so impossibly hopeless when it came to her.
“Let you explain?” she repeated with disgust, looking at me like she didn’t recognize me. Or more like she couldn’t stand the sight of me. “Let you explain why it’s you I’m waking up to the morning after my wedding? Instead of Jacob?” She let that settle between us, successfully making me feel like the piece of shit I knew I was. “Whatever your explanation is, I don’t want to hear it. I just want to get out of here. Away from you. Off of this goddamned island.”
She had the door thrown open and herself through it before the look of surprise could form on the server’s face. He was still waiting outside the door, a covered tray in hand.
“Cora, wait!” I shouted, chasing after her.
She didn’t wait though. She didn’t even look once over her shoulder to see if I was following her. She rushed down the stairs and sprinted down the beach, the sheet billowing around her as she ran. She disappeared from sight while I stood at the top of the porch, watching her go. The story of my goddamned life.
I’d forgotten all about the server who’d brought us the breakfast order I’d put in last night until he cleared his throat. “Would you like me to leave this on the table, sir?”
When I looked back over my shoulder to find him clearly trying to avoid looking in my general area, I remembered my present state. My naked present state. “Yeah, that works.”
I turned to go back into the cabin. I didn’t take the time to cover myself with my hand or the throw pillow resting on the chair right inside the door. I just hustled to gather up my clothes spread around the room, tugging them on as I came to them. I needed to find her. I needed to get to her before she left this island. I needed a chance to explain, because I knew if she left before I did, I’d never get that chance. She’d avoid me at all costs from now on. She wouldn’t attend any gatherings I might be at; she’d cross the road if she saw me walking down the same sidewalk as her. Hiding in Miami would be much easier than here on this island, especially while she was wearing nothing but a hotel sheet.
I needed to find her.
“Sir?”
Even though I was mostly dressed now, the server was still not about to make eye contact. Not that I could blame him after the scene he’d just witnessed.
“Yeah?” I stuffed my damn wallet into my pocket as I shoved my feet into my shoes.
“A storm warning has been issued for the island. Nothing to be too alarmed over, but the hotel’s letting all of the guests know.”
My brow furrowed, for the first time registering what time of the year it was and where Brother Dearest had elected to bring his new bride on their honeymoon. Because who didn’t think Caribbean when they thought of October?
Probably explained why they’d had an extra cabin available so last minute.