Page 5 of Sweet Poison

“Get her a Sex On The Beach. That’s the only sex she’ll be getting.”

“Cranberry vodka,” I said dryly and pulled out my phone to check if my father had sent a message.

“No!” Pearl snatched the device out of my hands. Before I could even begin to protest, it was already locked away in her purse.

Really?” I complained, but she didn’t give a damn.

“Yes, really,” she replied authoritatively. “I successfully drag you out once a week and you’re not going to cheat on me with your phone.”

Kelly sashayed away and we focused our attention on Natalie. “Go on,” Pearl said, “tell us why you’re avoiding Jack.”

“I … I think he’s planning on proposing.”

Pearl screamed and almost exploded with excitement. Nothing about marriage thrilled me that much so I couldn’t work up the same enthusiasm, but I was quietly happy for her.

“Pearl looks more excited than you,” I noted. “It’s about time, isn’t it?”

“I guess so, but …” Natalie sucked her breath through her teeth.

“Uh oh, are you having doubts?” Pearl asked, wide-eyed.

“I still love him, of course, but-”

“But what?” Pearl pushed.

“I thought he’d be more by now, you know. We had big dreams, dreams of getting the fuck out of here. He said he was only getting a job at the Lake club to learn from their top-class Chef, but now ... he seems … so content. Sometimes I think he would be perfectly happy to rot in this small, nothing-to-do town forever, but me, I’m restless and bored. The way I see it, it’s only downhill from here. Sedimentary and dull.”

Kelly returned, accompanied by Jeff, the bartender of her wet dreams.

“French Martini for Natalie and Pearl,” she directed, “and cranberry vodka for Montana.”

“Thank you,” we all chorused.

Jeff winked and went on his way.

I took a sip of my divinely refreshing drink and looked at Kelly. She was standing by the table without a drink in her hand. “What of you?” I asked.

“Oh, uh, I’ll go back. Jeff says I should come back so I can watch him make mine. There’s a special technique and a new rum he wants to try. So, a taste test.”

“We already know who’s going to be having the most fun tonight,” Pearl teased.

Kelly stuck her tongue out cheekily before whirling around and returning to the bar. We watched Jeff and Kelly flirt with each other for a few seconds before returning our attention back to Natalie.

“See?” she said. “That’s what I mean. That fire is what I want.”

“That fire is called new lust. It’ll fizzle out in a couple of weeks,” Pearl dismissed.

“I’m sorry, but I disagree. That spark is important to me. I believe it’s kept alive when couples grow and improve together, not just settling like dirt at the bottom of a well.”

I looked at her curiously. “If he does propose, and you say ‘I’m not sure, let me think about it,’ it’ll be curtains on your relationship, won’t it?”

“Montana’s right. Jack’s a proud man,” Pearl chimed in. “You have to bring your concerns up now and work on it together, or else it will be too late and you’ll have to break up.”

Natalie took a long sip of her drink as she processed this. “You’re both right. It’s partly my fault. I need to talk to him. Tell him I’m not happy with the way things are currently.”

“Do it tonight,” Pearl urged. “Before you overthink it and chicken out again. Do it while the intensity of this pep talk is still fresh and you’re motivated.”

“Okay,” Natalie promised breathlessly.

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