Page 16 of A Win-Win Situation

Did she throw anything intheirfaces?

Get a grip.

Another voice chimes in, "Girl, I think I found my first, second,andthird husband yesterday."

They all laugh and clink their glasses together, the sound echoing in the noisy room. I roll my eyes and take another sip of my whiskey, feeling a sense of disinterest wash over me. A few minutes pass—or maybe more, I’m not sure—and I’m just about to leave when Leora's phone makes a sound, interrupting their conversation. I watch as her face immediately falls as she reads the message.

I lean forward a bit to hear them better.

"It's John," she says, her energy draining. From her reaction, he’s probably a dickhead.

"What does he want?" her friend asks with disgust dripping from her tone.

"He’s asking when I’m coming back."

The dark-haired friend notices the change in her demeanor and says, "Girl, delete that message and block him. You’re not answering or entertaining him. His negativity is not needed in your life."

How poetic.

"You're right," Leora nods and starts typing away on her phone. "Done! The only thing I need now are you two and, hopefully, a new job." Her shoulders drop as she continues, "I actually applied to a few roles before we came here, but most of them rejected me. Apparently, I don’t have the 'marketing experience' they’re looking for."

I take another sip of my whiskey. So she’s unemployed and is looking for a marketing role.

What about the marketing role at the hotel?

I quickly shut down that thought. Why would I do that? Give a stranger a chance to ruin more than just one of my shirts? No thanks.

"It will come, don’t worry about it." Her friend soothes her.

"Yeah," she huffs the word out before she jumps down from her chair. "I need to use the restroom." She stands up and collects her bag.

I turn to look around for the bathroom and lo and behold, the WC sign is right in front of me.Fuck, my luck is just not it.

When I turn to make a swift exit, I’m met by Leora's piercing gaze which is locked on me. Her eyes are ice cold.

"Fancy seeing you here." I say with a wry smile.

"Are you stalking me or something?" Her arms cross in front of her chest.

I look at her in disbelief. "Stalking you? Please. I have better things to do."

"Then why are you here, blocking my way?"

"I work here, darling, and if I happen to remember correctly,youwere the one who was staring at me when we first met.And the second time we crossed paths?Youcame up to me." I lean forward slightly, wanting to make a point. "Youseem to be stalkingme."

Leora opens her mouth to argue back, but then thinks better of it, clearly a bit embarrassed. As she should be.

"Whatever. Just leave me alone, okay?" she says before storming past me to the bathroom, her shoulder colliding with mine on the way.

I really need to start avoiding this girl.

SEVEN

LEORA

It's strange how we can lose ourselves over time, sometimes completely unaware of the negative effects others can have on who we are. It’s taken me weeks, but I’m finally coming to terms with the realization that my past relationship had stripped me of some of the things I loved about myself.

I guess that’s what happens after being freed from a relationship.

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