I sigh miserably.Breaking: The Playboy of Paradise is Lovesick. That should be the headline.
"How is Leilani, anyway?" Nat asks. "I haven't seen her around."
I toss the paper aside and take a gulp of my coffee, scalding be damned. "Guess she's busy. I dunno."
"Shut up," Nat leans in. "Don't tell me you two broke up."
I shrug.
"What did you do to her? So help me, if you messed around on her and broke her heart, I'm going to stab you with this fork right here in this diner. She's the sweetest person I've ever met. Well, other than Isabella. And Kate. I don't know how you clowns keep finding decent people to partner up with, when I can't find a halfway decent date on the apps."
My sister picks up a fork. I think she's joking about stabbing me, but I'm not a hundred percent sure.
"I don't know when you appointed yourself in charge of my love life, but for your information, I did not mess around on her. I was completely faithful. Like a puppy." I lean back and fix a tired glare on my sister. "She broke my heart."
Nat rolls her eyes. "Please."
"Truth." I press a hand over my heart.
She humphs in response.
"I didn't come to Ma's because I didn't feel like talking about it. Didn't want everyone asking about Leilani, because I know you all adored her."
"We did adore her. Do adore her. What happened? I don't get it. You two seemed perfect for each other."
"I thought so too. And I thought we had a... you know. A thing. An understanding."
Nat lifts an eyebrow. "A thing?"
"Yeah, casual. Yet respectful. Fun." A breath hisses from my mouth, and the bottomless chasm of shame is back in my stomach. "I can't believe I'm telling you this. I'd mentioned to her that I didn't want to lose my freedom. Didn't want to get into a relationship that killed spontaneity. Like Tate and Max have."
"You idiot," she snorts. "That's where you screwed up. Good relationships don't do any of that."
I slurp my coffee. "So she broke up with me. Said she was falling for me and that she wanted something more. Happened the night she won the Chamber contest. I'd gotten a suite for us at the resort and everything."
"What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything. I was so shocked. I'd thought that she wanted the same thing I did. Thought she felt the same way I did, about being free and all that."
My sister shakes her head. "You are so obtuse. Honestly, you're a child when it comes to women, you know that?"
I let out a snort. "No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are. And on top of that, you're a Hastings. You think it's an accident Damien fell for Kate in what, a month? Max lasted maybe two weeks before he was gone for Lauren. Tate proposed to Isabella inside of six weeks. It's the springs, Remy. It's always been the springs. Hastings men don't get to play around. You meet your person, and that's it. The water decides."
"Oh, come on. That's Ma's old wives' tale."
"Is it? Four for four. Well, five for five, if you include our parents. You really think you're the exception?"
I drop my gaze to my coffee cup. Just as I'm about to retort, Joey appears with plates filled with food. He sets my western omelet in front of me and Nat's waffle with berries near her.
"More coffee?" he asks, and I wave him off.
Nat immediately tucks into the waffle, and I push my food around with the fork. I haven't been hungry lately. Haven't felt like doing much of anything, other than lying around on my boat and drinking beer, feeling sorry for myself.
"Where did I go wrong with her? I gave her flowers and gifts. Spent lots of time with her. Gave her foot rubs, even."
I saw into my eggs with the fork. Deep down, I know what happened, though. I was a jerk. And I don't deserve someone like her. Which is why I haven't contacted her, haven't been able to press send on any of the texts I've written.