Page 11 of Alpha Bait

"God knows. The opposite really."

"Good. This isn't about the Holloways. We're here so we can be seen."

"By Natalia?"

"Shut up," I grumbled.

"Won't you give it a rest, Rich? Natalia isn't worth it."

"She's hot."

"So is every chick in this place. We're in the Hamptons. If you were born ugly, you can just buy a whole new nose, a whole new set of tits. You're golden. Find another chick."

"Whatever," I scoffed, "Enough lecturing, lets hit the bar."

"Done."

Ames and I sauntered over to the bar and flashed winning smiles as we ordered old-fashioned cocktails and dipped jumbo shrimp into cocktail sauce.

"This is delicious," Ames replied.

The yacht sounded a loud honk and a cheer went up as the captain pulled us away from the port. The music started, and the celebrity DJ started spinning. The cocktail bared grazed the surface of how drunk I planned to get.

Ames and I spent an hour talking to a few hot but air-headed blondes that had come in from Manhattan -- Jamal's friends from his first job after Princeton. They were cute, but the only woman I could maintain an interest in was Natalia.

Once the blondes left our side in favor of vodka sodas, I nudged Ames.

"Do you see Natalia?"

"No."

"Think Selena lied?"

"No. Maybe she couldn't make it."

"Shit."

"Natalia stole from you, bro. She isn't worth it."

"Whatever."

I downed my drink and separated from Ames. If he was going to be a downer about my planned reunion, I'd find someone who would at least be willing to support me. Selena had done far more mingling on the yacht, so I figured she'd have seen Natalia if she'd come.

Selena and her girlfriends were already plastered on the dance floor, twirling around and screaming with some of the Carters and a few of Jamal Holloway's cousins. I tapped her on the shoulder.

"Can I steal you for a sec?"

"Weeeee!!"

This would be fun...

I grabbed Selena by the arm and led her off the dancefloor.

"Have you seen Natalia?"

"No!" She squealed, spinning around in a circle with her arms out.

"Compose yourself, S. You're drunk."

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