“Me too,” Christian said, shrugging. “Not to be rude, and I'm sure both of you would disagree, but I feel as though I've done everything that there is to do on this island at this point. It's been a few weeks here now, and I've run out of ideas.”
I snorted, and Mina shook her head. “You're just getting started,” she chided. She looked over at me. “Have you taken him up to the caves yet?”
I gave her a sharp look. She knew that the last time I'd been up to the caves, it had been with Lino. I couldn't believe that she had brought that up.
Except that, of course, she was always pushing me to get over Lino. Maybe she thought that things like that, getting rid of our special places and writing new memories for myself, would do the trick.
I shook my head. “I don't want to go up to the caves today,” I said. “These next few days are supposed to be all about relaxing. Taking a hike is not a relaxing thing to do.”
“So, what, you're just going to chill out down at the beach for three days in a row?” Mina asked, looking skeptical.
“Maybe,” I said, almost defensively, causing her to laugh again.
“Gretchen, you know as well as I do, and Christian knows that you aren't the type of girl who can spend three days just lazing around on the beach,” she said.
“So maybe I'll go surfing or something,” I said, hating the almost petulant tone of my voice. “Just because I want to be down on the beach, it doesn't mean I have to just lie there and tan or whatever. Anyway, maybe I'll bring a book. You know I can sit for hours when I'm reading.”
Mina just shook her head again. Then, she turned to face Christian. “Is it still true that you're thinking of heading back to New York in the new year?” she asked.
“Mina, come on,” I said to her, putting a hand on her arm. I glanced over at Christian. “You don't have to answer that, don't worry. It's none of her business.” I wasn't sure, though, if I was telling him not to answer because it was none of her business or because I didn't want to hear his answer. Things were going so well between us, and I wanted to have a nice three days with him, without the shadow of his impending departure hanging over us. If he was planning on leaving in the new year, I didn't want to know it yet.
Christian chuckled though. “It's okay,” he told me. He shrugged at Mina. “I'm still not sure when I'll be leaving,” he said easily. “Haven't even started looking at flights or anything. I mean, sure, eventually, I'll have to go back, if nothing else so that I can sort out my affairs and-” He broke off with a grimace.
Mina looked shocked. “You mean you're not planning on going back to Sunrise Real Estate?” she asked.
“No, that's not what I mean,” Christian said, even though he looked like he didn't know what he was saying. He shook his head. “Look, it's complicated.”
“But what does that mean for the company?” Mina asked. “Are they the ones getting rid of you, or are you leaving them? And are you looking to start your own real estate business then? Would you still be living in New York, or-”
“Mina!” I said sharply, giving her a scolding look, even though I wanted to know the answers to all of those questions just as much, if not more than she did. She was motivated by a desire for gossip. I wanted to know what this meant regarding Christian's and my relationship.
Not that we had a relationship, per se. We were just having fun and going on dates. Occasionally having sex. It was nothing more. It couldn't be anything more.
Christian's phone chose that minute to start buzzing, and he looked down at the screen with surprise. “I have to take this,” he said. “Speak of the devil. It's one of the guys from work.” He looked over at me. “Why don't I go back to the hotel and let the two of you have a girls' day? Then, I'll swing by and get you for dinner tonight around six?”
“That sounds great,” I said weakly, hoping he wasn't too upset about the turn in the conversation.
As soon as he was gone, I whirled on Mina. “What the hell was that?” I asked.
Mina had the decency to look a bit sheepish. “Sorry,” she said. “I know I shouldn't have grilled him like that, I just…” She shook her head. “Can you imagine what might happen if the great Christian Wall decided to walk away from his multimillion-dollar company to be with a masseuse from Hawaii?”
I snorted and shook my head. “That's never going to happen,” I said to her. “We're just having a bit of fun, and-”
“I don't know,” Mina said slowly. “I mean, you know me. I've never really believed in the idea of love or any of that stuff, but from the things that I've heard him saying just now I want to believe.”
I shook my head. “He doesn't mean any of it,” I said. “He's just confused about what he wants, and-”
“Are you just telling yourself that because that's what you need to believe?” Mina asked quietly.
There was a long moment of silence between the two of us, and I could see Mina's look grown increasingly knowing. “You're the one who's always reminding me that he's going to have to go back home eventually and that I shouldn't get too attached,” I said finally.
“True,” Mina admitted. “That's because I never really expected him to stick around. But hearing him talk like that-”
“Can we just forget about that for now?” I pleaded with her. “I just want to enjoy the next few days together, worry-free.”
“Sure, of course,” Mina said. “Sorry to go on about it already, I was just surprised. But no more of that, I promise you.” She grinned at me. “So, what are we going to do with this ladies’ day that we're supposed to have? We got mani-pedis last time, and although mine could use a bit of a touch-up, I'm wondering if maybe we shouldn't try something different like a total spa day? It is Christmas Eve, after all.”
I shook my head. “It's Christmas Eve,” I echoed. “I'm sure all the spas are full for the day.”