“That sounds good,” Amber said, although she knew she probably didn’t sound quite as enthusiastic as she should. Going to Laguna Beach felt so…permanent. While they were here in Costa Rica, she could pretend this was simply a sort of way station, a stopping place while they figured out what they were going to do next. Once Bariq had taken her back to Southern California, that would be the end of it. There would be no chance of anything turning out differently.
There isn’t a chance now, she told herself. You made your choice, and you can’t change it. So stop acting like such a wet rag and get with the program.
Bariq was looking at her with some concern, so clearly her lack of zeal had been obvious to him as well. To try to make amends, she shot her most brilliant smile at him and added, “
