The odd thing was that I missed Jack more than Michael.

“Who could think of Michael with Jack as a distraction?” I smiled.

“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself with him. If you’re done, can I have him now?” Sienna teased.

***

A quiet day on the beach was just what I had needed. We soaked up the sun, went for a swim, had pina coladas and read trashy magazines together. It was girl heaven. By early afternoon the sun was scorching and Sienna decided that we needed to go island shopping for our show that night. We hopped on the hotel shuttle bus and headed downtown to the shopping district that rivaled most big cities.

As was our tradition since sixth grade, and we were allowed to go to the mall ourselves, we spent the first hour of our shopping excursion picking out outfits for the other to try on. I always found frumpy things for her to try on and she always made me try on the sluttiest dresses she could find. We wandered in and out of stores; our arms linked and faces smiling, as we got lost in our own little world.

We eventually settled on coordinating outfits. We didn’t match our outfits when we performed together, but we always coordinated something between what we wore. Some times it was a similar color, or a similar style, this time we had found a coordinating flower and skirt length. I picked out a simple white strapless dress that hugged my curves. It was short, but not too short where I would be giving the front row a private show if the stage were more than a foot off the ground. Sienna picked out a black tank dress, with a dozen chains around the waist that hung as a belt around her hips. We bought two large hot pink flowers to put into our hair and tie our outfits together. It worked to tie our outfits together and gave us an island look.

***

We worked up a set list with the band that was half their regular songs and half our picks. The crowd was light at first, but the party started early for a vacation schedule. By ten thirty the crowd was big and we were getting lost in our performance.

We took a break and had some water and then our first song back was one of our own originals. It was a ballad, where I sang the lead and Sienna joined in on the chorus. We wrote the song in our senior year in high school, when things seemed much simpler.

“Missing half” was about a couple that meets and falls in love, and they realize that each was the other’s missing half. I closed my eyes as I sang it and let the emotion of the words wash over me.

When the last note played, I felt drained and opened my eyes to a huge ap-plause from the crowd. I smiled and looked around, spotting Jack leaning against the corner of a doorway staring at me. My heart skipped a beat when our eyes locked. Everyone else seemed to be applauding or smiling, but he just stood there watching me with a serious look on his face and a drink in his hand. I directed a small smile at him and tiled my head in question toward him. He held up his drink in cheers and I watched as he drank the full glass empty.

Sienna knocked me out of my monetary haze. “Hey, that was incredible, Syd. We should do a cover song now to bring the crowd into the show. Something they know so they could join in.”

I nodded and we picked an upbeat song that was popular with the drunken sing-a-long crowds. Sienna and I took turns singing to each other and harmonized at the chorus to the song. When it was Sienna’s turn to sign, I scanned the crowd looking for Jack, but he was gone. I tried not to let it upset me that he disappeared as fast as he came, but I couldn’t help but look for him the rest of the night.

We sang our last song some time after midnight and the house band continued to play. Sienna was on a high from the show and, although I had a great time, I was still a little disappointed that Jack hadn’t stayed.

Sienna ordered our usual post show shots and a crowd gathered around us to tell us how much they enjoyed the show. A couple recognized Sienna from her days with the band and they bought our second round.

Two handsome men complimented me on the show and asked if they could buy us our next round. Sienna accepted for both of us and we sat around talking for a while. My heart wasn’t in it, but they were nice and I didn’t want to be rude.

The taller of the two men asked me to dance when a slow song came on, and I politely declined. He grabbed my hand and tugged playfully at me to follow, but I was reluctant and really didn’t want to go.

“Get your f**king hands off of her.” Jack’s voice from behind me sent a shiver up my spine.

“Mind your own business ass**le, we are just being friendly.” The poor guy must have thought a random man was coming to my rescue after misreading the situ-ation when he tried to pull me to the dance floor.

Jack turned me on my stool to face him. His green eyes blazing, “You want this guy touching you babe?” His face was serious and I could see the rage barely beneath the surface.

“No, but…”

His eyes didn’t leave mine but his voice was clearly directed at the guy. “Get.

The. Fuck. Away. From. Her.” Through the corner of my eyes I saw the guy take a few steps back, but I didn’t dare look away from Jack.

“You coming with me, or do I have to carry you out of here?” I searched his face, and I knew he was serious, yet my legs weren’t moving.

He leaned in close to me, “5, 4, 3…” I jumped up and he wrapped his arm tight around my waist, pulling my body flush against his. He leaned down and kissed me. A hard, passionate and demanding kiss. He released my mouth and his arm was still wrapped tight around my waist. His other arm reached down behind my knees lifting me up into his arms.

“What are you doing, I got up to come with you?”

“You took too long.” Jack started toward the door and I heard Sienna laugh and yell “Bye guys!”

***

I wrapped my arms around his neck as he walked and he carried me all the way to his room. He managed to unlock the door and open it without ever putting me down. “Did you have a good time today on your trip?” I was suddenly nervous and felt the need to talk.

“Yes.” He opened the door to the bedroom and walked toward the big bed.

“How was the fishing?” I had no idea why I was desperate to suddenly make small talk.

“Good.” He gently placed me down on the bed and began unbuttoning his shirt, watching me intently as I watched him.

“What did you catch?” The corners of his mouth turned up and he looked amused.

“Wahoo.” He threw the shirt on the floor and reached for his belt, undoing it at a slow and steady pace.

“Did you go out on a big boat?” I must have sounded like a kid trying to stall for time to figure out what she was going to do.