Page 114 of When We Burn

“Anyway, he was kind of nerdy, with glasses, but also tall and broad, with muscles for days, but he wasn’t really my type.”

“Tall with muscles for days isn’t your type?” I ask. “Come on, Bee, aren’t your standards a little high?”

“No, I just mean, in general, he wasn’t really my type. Looks wise. I know that’s superficial, but?—”

“You’re amongst friends,” Skyla says. “I have to admit, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were talking about my brother, but he left yesterday afternoon.”

“Not him, then, but we get so many tourists here, from all over the world.” Bee takes a breath. “So, this guy was nice. He asked me out to dinner, and I’ve been so consumed with my shop over the last few months that I decided that I should get out there and date. Even if it’s just one date, you know?”

We all nod in encouragement.

“He took me to Ciao, the Italian place for dinner. Which, by the way,yum.”

“So good,” I agree.

“Oh, I have to try that,” Skyla says. “Go on.”

Bee takes a long, deep breath, and then in one run-on sentence, says, “And then I went back to his hotel with him, and he fucked me six ways to Sunday all night long, and I didn’t know my body was capable of that, and holy shit, I need an ice pack for my vag.”

We all stare at her for about four seconds, and then we bust up cackling like loons.

“Holy shit, you had me scared there for a second,” Millie says, wiping a tear from her eye.

“Me, too. I thought I was going to have to tell Bridger he had to beat someone up.”

“I want more details,” Alex says, leaning closer against the table. “First of all, you were safe, right?”

“Of course.” Bee nods and sips her coffee. “He wrapped it up, and I’m on birth control.”

“Good,” Skyla says, squeezing Bee’s hand. “And he was obviously nice to you.”

“He wasso nice.Made sure I came first. Checked in with me to make sure I was okay. He did all the right things. But—” She bites her lip, narrows her eyes, and stares off into the distance.

“But what?” I ask her.

“I’m not sure. Something, but I don’t know.”

“Did you get his number?” Millie asks. “Or did he ask for yours?”

“No. And he was gone when I woke up this morning. That’s why I sent the SOS.”

We’re all silent again, pondering this news.

“Did that hurt your feelings?” Skyla asks with a soft voice.

“A little bit, yeah. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t make any promises at all. We had a good conversation at dinner, which he paid for, by the way. And the sex was great, like I said.” She nibbles on her lip, pondering it. “So, I guess this was my first one-night stand with a hot stranger.”

“Whatwas his name?”

Bee’s cheeks darken at Alex’s question.

“YOU DIDN’T GET HIS NAME?” I demand, completely shocked. “I don’t know who you are. This isnotmy best friend.”

“I don’t remember if I asked him his name, and it just never…came up.”

“One-night stand with a hot, possibly European stranger,” Millie says. “Wow. If my husband wasn’t the sexiest man on earth, I might be jealous.”

“I’m totally jealous,” Alex says.

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