Be Your Everything

f o u r t y n i n e

The resort looks like something out of my wildest dreams. Each of the bungalows is sitting along the shore's edge where the sparkling pale blue water waits. The sun is hanging low in the early morning, casting a warm orange glow throughout the sky. Everything about this place makes me nostalgic for home, but in a way that makes me feel at home rather than homesick.

Luke stops the golf cart that we've been riding in and takes the key out, his eyes locked on Jo the entire time as she debriefs us on the rules of the resort. He looks frustrated, almost annoyed with her, but there's a bit of sadness hidden underneath his anger. I want to ask him why they broke up, but I'm too afraid of the possible answer to ask.

What if I'm the reason he broke up with her?

I shake the thought from my head and try to think positively. This trip is supposed to be a chance for everyone to recover from all of the craziness that has been going on recently. If that's going to happen, I'm going to have to take the first step and work things out with Jo. I can only imagine how much resentment she's been holding onto since this all started.

"Jo," I rush to catch up with her as we get out of the cart, "is everything okay between us?"

"Of course it is," she smiles and wraps me into a side hug as we walk toward inside what she's already informed everyone is our bungalow. I'm surprised that she's so calm; I was expecting her to be more irritated with me.

"I just want you to know that I'm sorry if I created a drift between you and Luke. You know that I never would have signed up for this if I knew what I was agreeing to."

"Elle, I know you. You'd never do something if there was even a chance of you hurting someone. I just wish I'd known what Baker was planning so I could've kept you from getting wrapped up in my mess." She looks almost... sympathetic. Then again, Baker is her boss, so I'm sure she knows better than anyone how controlling she can be. Maybe she really isn't mad at me.

"I just... feel kind of responsible for you guys breaking up. I can't believe I stole your boyfriend."

"Oh my god, no you did not!" Jo insists. "We broke up because... basically it was all my fault, so don't blame yourself. I mean yeah, it's kind of weird seeing you guys together after everything, but you had no idea. I'm just pissed at Luke, but I can't take that out on you. I will say that I can't promise to be very nice to him on this trip."

"Fair enough," I giggle and hug her back before looking over my shoulder at Luke, who's walking with his hands shoved in his pockets and his head hanging low. "I should probably go back there and walk with him or something."

"Go," Jo rolls her eyes and fights a smile. "I've got family business to tend to anyways."

I turn on my heel and walk toward Luke until he's caught up with me. He smiles and offers me his hand, and I hesitate to accept it with everything Jo told me on the plane still playing in my head. She left out the part where they broke up, but I can't help but assume the worst.

"What did Jo say to you?" He whispers, and I look up at him indifferently.

"You told me you were seeing someone." I say quietly, ignoring his question. "What you neglected to tell me was that you were two-timing me and one of my closest friends."

"Woah, hold on a second," he says panicking. "Who told you about that?"

"Jo did," I snap, truly annoyed with him at this point, "since you never would."

"Don't be mad at me," he says quickly. "Can we talk about this inside? I'd rather not let everyone see us fight."

"Fine," I huff.