Page 62 of I Wish He Would

“Enlighten us, Mother,” Maddy teases.

Mom shoots her a warning look before turning her attention back to me. “Use this time in St. Lucia as your opportunity to show him what a life with you would look like. If he hasn’t fallen madly in love with you by the end of the trip, then he’s out of his mind.”

My sister nods along. “That’s actually not a terrible idea. You can go to all the events together. Swim in the ocean. Dance with him. Do all the things you never have the time or opportunity to do together back home.”

I had a bare-bones plan before. Get Austin here: check. See if the romance is still there between us: in progress. But the more they talk, my confidence builds. This just might actually work.

“Did I also mention we’re stuck sharing a room?”

Mom gasps while Maddy wiggles in her chair.

“Even better. You should tell him you didn’t bring any pajamas.” Maddy grins suggestively.

Mom swats her arm. “She will not be sleeping naked next to her friend.” She whispers the last word like it’s a swear word.

I laugh as lines crease Maddy’s forehead. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Mom. I was implying that he could offer her one of his shirts to sleep in. Guys love seeing a woman in their clothes.”

“Oh.” Mom tilts her head, mulling over the idea. “That might work.”

“What might work?” Austin runs a hand through his wet hair. Water droplets run down his toned torso, and I watch them drip onto the pavement. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m jealous of pool water. I’m brought right back down to reality, though, when I realize what he asked and what we were just talking about.

I shoot a nervous glance at my sister, who blessedly chimes in, “Oh, we’re talking about old wives’ tales on how to induce labor early.”

Austin averts his gaze. “Ah, sorry to interrupt your…lady talk. I was just going to see if the boys are allowed to have a small bowl of ice cream. They have poolside soft serve.”

“Isn’t Elliott with you?” I ask.

“Yeah, but he told me to go ask the boss.”

Maddy laughs. “That’s because he wants me to be the bad guy.” She glances at the time on her phone. “They can share one. I don’t want to spoil their appetite.”

Austin salutes her. “You’ve got it.” He turns to me. “You good?” I nod, and he looks at my mom and sister. “Can I get anyone anything?”

Maddy beams up at him. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Me too. But thank you, Austin,” my mom says.

“Great.” His lips tilt in a slightly lopsided grin as he faces me again. “I’ll find you later.” He heads back to the pool, and we hear the boys cheer when they find out they get ice cream before dinner.

I giggle and turn to mention how cute it is to my sister and mom, but they’re already staring at me. Maddy has taken off her flip-flop and is using it to fan her face. “Are you really going to try to argue that he doesn’t have feelings for you after that?”

“He just asked if he could get us anything.”

“But that grin.” Mom looks like she could burst into happy tears at any moment.

“And the way he said he’d find you later.” Maddy fans herself again.

I shake my head. “Y’all are making something out of nothing.”

“If you really think that, then take my advice. Casually mention to him that you didn’t bring anything to sleep in. Wear his shirt to bed and pay attention to how he looks at you. Then try to tell me it’s nothing.”

I blow out a breath. On the off chance she’s right, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. “I’ll try it. Just don’t get your hopes up.”

“I don’t need to hope when I have intuition.” Maddy turns to our mom with a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes. “We’ll be planning that wedding before you know it.”

I fall back on the bed, my hands resting on my stomach. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this stuffed.”

“Too much jerk chicken?” Alyssa settles on the opposite edge of the bed.