Midnight Heat (Firework Girls #2) by J. L. White Page A

for the rest of the week. “I’ll text them and let them know I’m not feeling well so you don’t have to make excuses for me. Tomorrow, I’ll be ready to go.”
    Ashley watches me carefully. “You sure?”
    I nod, then smile. “It’ll be okay. It’ll be a fun week, right?”
    I don’t believe that yet, but I’m determined to believe it by tomorrow.
    After Ashley leaves, I send out a few texts and order room service. By the time I’m curled up on the bed watching TV and eating a most delicious chicken and mushroom quesadilla, I damn near have myself convinced it really is going to be okay.
    I’m a stronger woman now. I can do this.
    Right?

Chapter 9
     
    The next morning as I’m getting ready, a rather terrifying thought occurs to me. I immediately dive for my phone and text Ashley.
    Me: What if he told Sam?
    My heart pounds as I watch my phone, waiting for her reply. What if he told Sam? What if she’s mad at me for not telling her first? My phone dings.
    Ashley: Has Sam said anything to you?
    Me: No.
    Ashley: Then she doesn’t know.
    That’s true. If Sam knew, I’d know it. God, I hate this.
    Ashley: If he was going to say something, I think he’d done it by now.
    Me: Yeah. Okay.
    I’m relieved, but not. I don’t know that I like keeping this from Sam.
    I go through all my reasoning from last night to see if it still holds. Should I just go ahead and tell her? But in the end I come to the same conclusion. Saying something would only mean drama for Sam, Grayson, and possibly Isabella, and for what? To spare my feelings over a guy I can’t even have? I need to just suck it up and eventually Grayson will be out of everyone’s life and it’ll be over.
    My heart clenches at the thought of Grayson being out of my life again, but then I snap myself out of it. It’s not like he’s in my life now. He’s here with Sam, and I just need to deal with it.
    I consider skipping the zip line and going to the beach with Isabella and Ashley instead. I know Sam and Grayson are going on the zip line. I’m not sure I can handle being that close.
    But after a few minutes’ consideration, I decide against it. That’s what the old Chloe would do: run. Go the safe route. Trying out the zip line is the thing I’ve been looking forward to most, aside from seeing Isabella marry the man of her dreams. I’ve been wanting to go, so I’m going.
    I can do this.
     

     
    The resort’s massive and luxurious lobby is humming with people, including a crowd that’s here for Isabella’s wedding, from what I can tell. Among the many strangers, I see familiar faces: Isabella and Shane, her parents, a few other family members I met yesterday, my brother, my girls and, yes, there’s Grayson too. The crowd seems to be roughly divided into two groups, though one is significantly smaller than the other.
    I go to Isabella’s group first, to apologize for missing dinner last night.
    “Are you feeling better?” she asks and I nod. She looks stunning in white shorts and a blue midriff top. She’s obviously wearing a string bikini underneath, since the tie behind her neck is visible. Shane has his arm around her waist. They’re both positively glowing and I can’t help but smile at it. I wonder again if I should go with them. Seeing her so happy is lightening my mood, for sure.
    But I really did want to try that zip line. If I don’t go, I’m just going to feel like I’m chickening out.
    I chat with them a minute, then excuse myself. I take a resolute breath and go up to the other, smaller group. I stop on the outskirts even though Sam and the others are still several feet away from me.
    No need to get too close.
    “Is this for the van to the zip line?” I ask the guy next to me. I think he’s one of Isabella’s many cousins, but I’m not sure. He looks maybe a couple years younger than my brother.
    He says yes just as Sam catches my eye and waves me over. Grayson’s standing right next to her but they’re not touching,