Page 30 of Body Shot

She shrugs. “There’s not a girlfriend, but there’s someone.”

“We figured.”

“He says he likes her, they share the same language, culture, etc. But he wasn’t expecting to meet someone like me.”

“What does that mean? You’re prettier? More exciting? Readily available for the next week?”

“I don’t know.” She makes a face. “I told him I wasn’t interested in being the back-up girlfriend or some kind of homewrecker. They’re not exclusive, but it still gives me the ick.”

“Agreed.” I pause. “Do you really like him? He’s so not your type.”

“I know, but bad boys always break my heart. He’s different. And despite being a little dorky, he’s got a smokin’ hot body. He’s smart. Quirky. All things I never usually give a chance.”

“Maybe this is the universe telling you why.”

“Perhaps. Anyway, I told him we can be friends. I’m leaving in less than a week anyway.”

“I know.” I let my gaze travel across the boardwalk to where Anders is talking with Felix, Jordan, and Jace.

He’s strikingly handsome.

What on earth does he see in me?

“They’re nice to look at, right?” Hana says, following my gaze.

“Yeah. But I’m leaving in a week too.”

“At least you live in the same country. I’m going all the way to Slovakia.” She sounds wistful as she says it.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Don’t you want to go?”

She sighs. “I know how this is going to sound, and I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but I’ve been lucky enough to see the world. Travel. Study abroad. The issue is that after all of that, Bratislava seems small. Boring. I want to be…here. Where there’s life and energy and options.”

“Let’s find you a job,” I say after a moment. “Let me talk to the owners of my new job. It’s a startup so they probably need more people. I don’t know how the visa situation will work, but maybe we can make it happen.”

“You’ll talk to them?” she asks softly.

I smack her arm. “Of course! I’d do anything for you.”

“I don’t have a master’s degree like you do.”

“No, but you went to MIT just like me. That counts for a lot.”

“Don’t say anything to Johan, okay? If he finds out, he’ll just want to hire a lawyer and pay to get me a visa. But I need to do this on my own. If I do it, it has to be on my terms. I can’t have my big brother taking care of me for the rest of my life.”

“How about your bestie? Can she give you a hand?”

She grins. “Yes. I can accept help and support from my bestie.”

“Good.” I look up as the guys join us.

“Who’s going first?” Jordan asks.

“You,” Hana tells him, laughing.

He nods. “Cool. I like it.”

A crowd has gathered on the beach. and Tawny and Scarlett come out, setting us up in a semi-circle.

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