arm tightly. “I don’t think any of this is about you. Not one bit. You have to know that.”
Abby couldn’t process all the information . Poor Ben, she thought. That’s a lot for one person to go through. Hell, it’s a lot to go through if you are in the States with your family and friends around you, but to be on a remote island without close family? How has he made it this far by himself?
The water was lapping at the shore in its usual hypnotic way. Abby was zoned out watching the waves slap onto the beach and drag back sand, pulling it as if gifting it back to the Caribbean, thinking about her new roommate’s plight.
Abby was sure Leigh had no idea that all of this was happening. Abby knew she needed to try to get in touch with Leigh again to get her to understand why Abby wanted out of the pool house. Not because of her own space this time, but because she wanted Ben to have his.
“Wow. I feel so selfish and immature right now. I made this whole thing about me, not even thinking of the fact that Ben was going through his own drama.” She shook her head, annoyed with herself. “I owe him a huge apology.”
Tracey’s reaction surprised Abby. “No! Do not let him know I told you. He didn’t want you to know. I think his ego is bruised from everything, and he doesn’t want someone he just met to see him as a failure.”
“Failure? Hardly. That’s a traumatic experience to come out of, and he’s still going? And pushing forward with some laser-beam focus, I might add. Granted, some of that focus is to make me crazy.”
“Please, Abby, don’t let him know that I told you. If he wants to tell you, let him.” She was starting to gather her things and put them in her backpack so they could leave. “Hell, I failed last semester, too. Not because I was stabbed but because I failed an important test. A few of us did, actually. They call us ‘Team Repeat.’”
“Team Repeat?”
“Yep. We’re all busting our butts to get through this semester and get the hell home. It’s not easy down here. Well, to live here. I miss my family and my farm. I want to go to a 7-Eleven or anything but the stores here. I want winter again.”
Abby was beginning to gather her things as well when Tracey stopped her.
“You know what’s funny? You and Ben are a lot alike.” She was laughing as she said it.
“What do you mean?” The last thing Abby wanted was to be compared to her arch-nemesis.
“I can’t put my finger on it, Abby, but you’re not as different as you may think. Even the way you order your food. I’ve never met two people that love to smother everything they eat in ketchup.” Tracey was thoughtful as she added, “Not to mention, you’re two of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met in my life!”
Abby smacked at Tracey playfully. “Whatever.”
“Hey, do you want me to take you to the airport tomorrow so you can get your license?” Abby wasn’t sure, but it felt like Tracey was changing the subject.
“I guess so. Will they make me take a test or anything?” Abby had feared getting behind the wheel on the island. Everyone drove like maniacs, passing each other without abandon and driving at all speeds. She was sure there had to be a set speed limit but that no one had shared such info with anyone else.
“Oh, God no! You give them some money, and you have a license. Well, show them the one you have from the U.S. That way, they know you’re at least kind of competent.” She grinned.
“Let’s do it. Maria keeps offering for me to use her little car if I want to get around. I may as well make the most of it while I’m here.” Abby was throwing the last of her things into her little pink Puma bag when she stopped. “Tracey, thank you. For everything. The tours, the background on Ben, pushing me to do things like get a license or come out and chill or get away from the other side of the island while you study. I mean it. Thank you.”
Tracey shrugged her shoulders as if to get
Abby couldn’t process all the information . Poor Ben, she thought. That’s a lot for one person to go through. Hell, it’s a lot to go through if you are in the States with your family and friends around you, but to be on a remote island without close family? How has he made it this far by himself?
The water was lapping at the shore in its usual hypnotic way. Abby was zoned out watching the waves slap onto the beach and drag back sand, pulling it as if gifting it back to the Caribbean, thinking about her new roommate’s plight.
Abby was sure Leigh had no idea that all of this was happening. Abby knew she needed to try to get in touch with Leigh again to get her to understand why Abby wanted out of the pool house. Not because of her own space this time, but because she wanted Ben to have his.
“Wow. I feel so selfish and immature right now. I made this whole thing about me, not even thinking of the fact that Ben was going through his own drama.” She shook her head, annoyed with herself. “I owe him a huge apology.”
Tracey’s reaction surprised Abby. “No! Do not let him know I told you. He didn’t want you to know. I think his ego is bruised from everything, and he doesn’t want someone he just met to see him as a failure.”
“Failure? Hardly. That’s a traumatic experience to come out of, and he’s still going? And pushing forward with some laser-beam focus, I might add. Granted, some of that focus is to make me crazy.”
“Please, Abby, don’t let him know that I told you. If he wants to tell you, let him.” She was starting to gather her things and put them in her backpack so they could leave. “Hell, I failed last semester, too. Not because I was stabbed but because I failed an important test. A few of us did, actually. They call us ‘Team Repeat.’”
“Team Repeat?”
“Yep. We’re all busting our butts to get through this semester and get the hell home. It’s not easy down here. Well, to live here. I miss my family and my farm. I want to go to a 7-Eleven or anything but the stores here. I want winter again.”
Abby was beginning to gather her things as well when Tracey stopped her.
“You know what’s funny? You and Ben are a lot alike.” She was laughing as she said it.
“What do you mean?” The last thing Abby wanted was to be compared to her arch-nemesis.
“I can’t put my finger on it, Abby, but you’re not as different as you may think. Even the way you order your food. I’ve never met two people that love to smother everything they eat in ketchup.” Tracey was thoughtful as she added, “Not to mention, you’re two of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met in my life!”
Abby smacked at Tracey playfully. “Whatever.”
“Hey, do you want me to take you to the airport tomorrow so you can get your license?” Abby wasn’t sure, but it felt like Tracey was changing the subject.
“I guess so. Will they make me take a test or anything?” Abby had feared getting behind the wheel on the island. Everyone drove like maniacs, passing each other without abandon and driving at all speeds. She was sure there had to be a set speed limit but that no one had shared such info with anyone else.
“Oh, God no! You give them some money, and you have a license. Well, show them the one you have from the U.S. That way, they know you’re at least kind of competent.” She grinned.
“Let’s do it. Maria keeps offering for me to use her little car if I want to get around. I may as well make the most of it while I’m here.” Abby was throwing the last of her things into her little pink Puma bag when she stopped. “Tracey, thank you. For everything. The tours, the background on Ben, pushing me to do things like get a license or come out and chill or get away from the other side of the island while you study. I mean it. Thank you.”
Tracey shrugged her shoulders as if to get
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