Page 35 of A Quick Stop in Paradise

“How’s it going, BB,” he said, coming over to me with his gigantic water flask in hand. “You brought the little feisty demon child in again.”

“Believe it or not, Allison’s actually pretty mild outside of the gym.”

“Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it. Who’s the other girl? You seem a little more serious with her than the usual, huh?”

“Ryan’s just a friend,” I said. He raised his eyebrows, quirking a smirk.

“Yeah, sure. You were checking out her ass the entire time.”

I looked away. “She gave me permission to.”

“See, that’s sounding less and less likejust a friend.She’s cute. Ryan, huh? How long’s she in town?”

“Through the weekend. Came here with her family, but they all suck shit, so we’re hanging. You should say hi, but only if you’re not going to be a creep about it.”

“Dude, I’m not the one staring at her ass.” But he put the water away, and he joined us for our climbs, stopping to chat with Allison and Ryan in between climbs. Ryan got on well with him, because—obviously. That girl could talk to a stone wall and make it interesting.

We were quick enough that Anthony was still going when we packed up, and he caught us on the way out.

“Bailing already?” he said, and Allison decided to throw stones in a glass house, because she jabbed a thumb at Ryan.

“Yeah, this one wants to hit the club and pick up girls.”

Ryan smiled serenely. “And Brooklyn asked my help in helping Allison pick up a girl, too, when Allison went around begging her likeplease I’ll never get a girl without your help—”

“I don’t know why I go anywhere with you two,” Allison huffed, arms folded as she looked away. Anthony just smiled half-confusedly as he looked between us all.

“Well, I guess… enjoy the girls, girls. It was nice meeting you, Ryan. Brooklyn… have fun,” he said, with that loaded, cautious way that implied some things that he did not need to go around implying. I rose above it with the patience of a saint.

“See you, Anthony. Remember to eat and sleep and talk to your family.”

“Eh. I got walls and stuff.”

“Healthy attitude,” Allison said under her breath, and Anthony pretended he didn’t hear.

When we got out into the warm nighttime air, heavy with humidity, Allison rolled her eyes at me and Ryan both stopping by my car.

“Oh, you got Brooklyn chauffeuring you and everything,” she said. I cut in.

“I’d drive you too if you didn’t spill lemonade in my car.”

“You still drive Laura around even though she literally threw up in your car twice. You just wanna pick on me.”

I laughed. “Okay, yeah, I do. For real, though, Ryan was just at my place before this, so it made sense. Do you want me to drive you home so you can feel special?”

“Nah. You two get yourspecial timetogether,” Allison said, raising her hand in a wave. “Enjoy your clubbing, weirdos. Text me the updates on how it goes.”

Ryan nudged my side once Allison had made it across the lot back to her car. “I think she’s jealous of me getting time with you,” she said. “She really does love you.”

“Who doesn’t love me?”

She gave me a dry smile. “My aunt, from the sounds of things.”

“I’m… devastated. Shall we go get you a hot hookup for the night to help us all move on?”

She laughed, suddenly turning shy again in a blink, ducking her head as a soft flush spilled over her cheeks. “Yeah, why not? Um… lead the way.”

Ugh, Allison was right. Anthony too. I was more into this girl than I was with the girls I hooked up with. I was going to get jealous watching her have a fling with someone.

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