Chapter 57 Guilt
The fever meds worked like a charm. By the next morning, Caroline felt energized enough to review the travel itinerary with Erica.
They were deep in discussion about Instagram-worthy spots when a knock interrupted them. Caroline didn't need three guesses to know who it was and headed straight for the door.
Erica watched her with dancing eyes. "Who could be dropping by this early? Could it be your attentive boyfriend starting his daily boyfriend duties?"
Caroline shot her a playful glance over her shoulder. "Jealous much? Get your own if you're that envious."
"Me?" Erica drawled, lounging against the armrest. "Men aren't necessities in my life—more like bedroom accessories."
Caroline pressed a finger to her lips in a frantic shushing motion, terrified Leopold might overhear from the hallway.
Erica's casual approach to relationships was definitely not for the faint of heart.
When Leopold spotted Caroline fully dressed, concern creased his brow. "You're heading out?"
"Yeah, the tour guide just called Erica. He's picking us up in ten minutes."
Leopold pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. "Are you sure you're better?"
"Completely fever-free. I finished all the breakfast you had sent up this morning."
After confirming her temperature was normal, Leopold frowned. "You just recovered. Maybe you should rest a bit longer. Where are you planning to visit first anyway?"
"Deer Isle," Erica answered.
"Deer Isle is a full-day excursion with extensive walking," Leopold explained.
Erica's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Wait, doesn't the brochure mention trams?"
Leopold knew they hadn't done their research thoroughly. "There are trams to the main entrance, yes. But once you're on the archipelago, you're dealing with varying elevations. Most islands are connected by small boats, and exploring requires substantial hiking."
"What?" This caught Erica off guard, and her concern shifted to Caroline. "Can you handle that?"
Caroline smiled softly. "I'll be fine. If I were still sick like yesterday, I wouldn't even consider it."
"You're sure?" Erica pressed.
"Don't push yourself," Leopold added.
Caroline laughed, exasperated. "I've recovered, honestly. And coming to Pinecrest without visiting Deer Isle would be a complete waste. Come on, the guide must be waiting."
Leopold started assessing their gear. "Sunscreen, umbrella, sunglasses?"
"Got them," Caroline confirmed.
"Heat stroke meds and stomach medication?"
"Packed."
"Driver's license? Some areas require ID verification."
"Have it."
"Hats? Water bottles?"
"All set."
"Camera?"
Erica lifted her crossbody bag. "Right here."
"Oh, and cash—several islands only accept cash due to their remote locations."
"Brought plenty."
"Change of clothes?"
Erica finally lost her patience with Leopold's checklist. "Leopold, we're just sightseeing, not relocating. Carrying all this stuff would break our backs."
"Some island reefs have rough waters," he explained. "Getting on and off boats means dealing with waves. Wet dresses aren't just uncomfortable—they can irritate your skin."
"Okay, that's actually useful," Erica conceded.
The women returned to grab extra clothes, and when Leopold saw their overstuffed backpacks, he thought of Maddox.
"If that's too heavy, my friend could accompany you and carry your bags."
"Absolutely not," Erica rejected immediately. "Having a stranger along would ruin our fun."
She shot Caroline a meaningful look. While Caroline didn't fully understand Erica's plan, she agreed it seemed unnecessary to trouble Leopold's friend. "We'll be fine with the tour guide. No need to bother your friend."
"If you insist." Leopold didn't push further, taking their backpacks. "I'll walk you down."
In the elevator, he added, "I'll arrange dinner. Just call me when you get back."
Erica immediately objected, "We don't know how late we'll be. After a full day of touring, we might be exhausted. Can we do dinner tomorrow instead?"
Catching Erica's hint, Caroline nodded. "Tomorrow would be better."
Understanding their point about fatigue, Leopold agreed. "Fine, I'll plan something for tomorrow then."
An SUV arrived to pick them up. After giving the guide specific instructions and asking about the speedboat's identification number, Leopold reluctantly watched Caroline leave.
Once the vehicle was out of sight, Caroline turned to Erica. "What was with all that eye-blinking earlier? What are you planning?"
Erica grinned mischievously. "I've arranged a special surprise for you. Couldn't talk about it with others around."
"What kind of surprise?"
"That's classified information."
The more Caroline pressed, the more Erica withheld, which was absolutely maddening.
"Seriously, what is it?" Caroline demanded.
Erica leaned close to whisper in her ear, "You'll find out tonight."
They spent the day exploring the archipelago, enjoying fresh seafood and capturing gorgeous photos. As sunset approached, they headed back to the hotel in the SUV.
Back at the hotel, Erica instructed Caroline to change into something nice and apply light makeup.
Caroline frowned. "Why do I need makeup just for dinner?"
"Just trust me on this," Erica insisted, practically shoving Caroline into a chair.
After leaving the hotel, Erica hailed a taxi. When she gave the address, Caroline finally understood the secret—they were heading to Bubbly Bar.
She gasped in surprise. "Bubbly Bar? They have one in Pinecrest?"
"Of course. There are only five locations nationwide, and Pinecrest happens to have one of them."
Caroline immediately connected the dots. "Is Cliff performing tonight?"
Erica's smile gave everything away.
"You knew before coming here?" Caroline asked.
Erica could barely contain her glee. "Obviously. Their performance schedules are posted online, and they announce locations during livestreams. Did you really think I traveled all this way to Pinecrest just for seafood and sunsets?"
"That explains your mysterious behavior all day."
"What was I supposed to do?" Erica defended. "Bring Leopold and his friend to Bubbly Bar? How could we possibly have fun with them tagging along?"
While it seemed harmless enough, Caroline felt guilty for inadvertently deceiving Leopold alongside Erica. Deception had once been the thing she despised most, and now she found herself participating in it.
As they stopped in front of Bubbly Bar, Caroline's conscience weighed on her.
"No more lying after this," she said firmly as they exited the car.
Seeing her serious expression, Erica quickly pacified her. "I promise, absolutely no more. Now come on—Cliff's waiting inside!"
The Pinecrest Bubbly Bar was cleverly designed with massive screens creating a dynamic stage backdrop. The sound system vibrated through your very bones as Cliff moved to the music on stage, hands waving above the DJ console while phones captured the moment.
Caroline allowed Erica to pull her toward the front. When they reached Cliff, he caught sight of the familiar faces and gave Caroline a conspiratorial wink.