53 - Joanna

53

Joanna

I didn't know what else to do, so I just started running.

Away from the Cozart family.

Away from the lie we'd been clinging to.

Away from their accusatory eyes.

And away from the three men I'd somehow become entangled with.

I was afraid of twisting my ankle on the sand, but that didn't slow me down. I didn't care about that, or anything else. The only thing that mattered was getting away.

I ran until sweat began pooling between my shoulder blades. When I slowed down, I was on the beach outside of a neighboring resort similar to the one we were staying at. I hurried up the walkway to a bar overlooking the beach, which was crowded with customers at this time of day. There was an open seat at the bar, which I snagged like the last life raft on a sinking ship.

"What can I get you?" the bartender asked.

"The strongest drink you have," I replied.

"A double hurricane, coming right up." He poured frozen blue liquid out of a machine, then added two shots of rum on top and popped a straw into the glass. "What's your room number?"

"I…" I winced. "I'm actually not staying at this resort. I'm at the one next door. And I just realized that I forgot my purse." I looked at the drink longingly. "Sorry. I'll go…"

He held out a hand to stop me. "First drink's free, because you look like you need it. But I can't do more than that without my manager finding out. So be cool, all right?"

"You have no idea how grateful I am," I replied. "I'm coming back here and giving you a huge tip."

He shrugged and went on to the next customer.

I took the biggest sip from the drink I could without getting brain freeze, then sighed to myself. What a pathetic situation I was in. Pretending to be Landon's girlfriend in exchange for a job at his company? Two weeks ago, that seemed like a bargain. A deal that was going to fix all of my problems.

But everything had gotten worse since then. I'd drunkenly quit my job. I'd slept with both the best man at the wedding and one of the bride's best friends. At the same time. I was no longer getting the DefTec job. A clerkship fell in my lap, but now that was undoubtedly ruined because I couldn't keep it in my pants.

And the worst part of all: our return flight to Chicago wasn't until Sunday. I was stuck here two more days. I couldn't do it. Just the thought of going back to the resort and seeing everyone was enough to make me want to throw myself into the ocean. I didn't handle humiliation well.

I thought about what had just happened on the beach, and gulped down more of my drink to try to numb the pain. Everyone was there. Everyone saw the fight; everyone heard that I'd slept with Theo and Austin at the same time . It was the worst possible scenario. I wanted to disappear.

I pulled up a list of flights on my phone. There was one leaving in the morning, but it cost almost two grand. Despite the prohibitive price, it was tempting. I could sneak back to the other resort, collect all my belongings, and take a cab to the airport and sleep in the terminal overnight. That was better than showing my face around everyone.

Once I was home, I could figure out what to do. Maybe beg for my old job back. I had friends in the industry; I might be able to find an entry-level position for someone like me with a law degree. And if all else failed, I could drive for Uber or flip hamburgers or something. I was desperate.

I groaned to myself. Where had I gone wrong? Everything had been going flawlessly until Wanda had to open her big mouth today. But of course, that was my fault for even allowing myself to get caught.

Part of me wanted to blame Austin for kissing me on the stairs. But that wasn't fair. I had loved it, even though it got me caught. Austin wasn't to blame for that. Or, at the very least, I shared an equal amount of blame.

I finished my drink, sucking up every last drop of alcohol through the straw.

"Hope you have one of those for me," said a familiar voice behind me.

"Danicka?" I asked.

Landon's mother tapped the man next to me on his shoulder. "Excuse me. I need to speak with this young woman. I need your seat."

The stranger started to say something back at her, then stopped when he saw the dangerous look in her eyes. He mumbled something under his breath, then exited the barstool. Danicka sat down and smoothed out her dress.

"What a fine predicament you've gotten yourself into," she said. Then, to the bartender: "Chardonnay, please. And one for my friend who so desperately needs it."

The bartender raised his eyebrow at me.

"I actually hate white wine," I revealed.

"Lies upon lies," Danicka muttered. "Get her another one of those blue monstrosities, then. Lord knows she needs it."

The bartender gave me a long look, then went to get the drinks. As soon as his back was turned, Danicka asked me, "Oh God, you're not sleeping with him too, are you?"

"No!" I replied.

"Good. We have enough damage control to do already."

"I owe you an apology," I said. Tears were beginning to blur my vision. "Danicka…"

"It's okay, dear."

"No! It's not okay!" I protested. "You have no idea what I've gone through this past week."

She chuckled. "As a matter of fact, I know exactly what you've been going through."

As the bartender delivered our drinks, I said, "I seriously doubt you do."

"It's been quite the spectacle," she said while sipping her drink, "watching you scramble around, pretending to be my son's girlfriend."

I gave a start. Was she suggesting what I thought she was suggesting?

"Stop staring at me with your mouth open. It's unbecoming," she snapped at me. "Yes, I know you and Landon have been pretending to date. You're a fake."