Page 38 of A Quick Stop in Paradise

She looked me over. “Don’t count yourself out, though. You’re not too bad to look at, yourself.”

“I don’t think I’m hideous, but I’m certainly not Brooklyn Sterling.”

She laughed. “Ah, you’re such a lesbian.”

“I’m bisexual.”

“You’re such a sapphic. You can have literally the hottest girl in the world look at a woman and be likeoh, shit, she’s too pretty for me.She’s hot, but I’m pretty sure she’s soout of your leagueto you because you’re into her. Bet you she feels the same way about you. It’s just a vacation. Can’t hurt to ask, right?”

“Brooklyn took me here to help me hook up with a girl, not… not the other way around.”

She grinned. “Yeah, well, you’re looking across the floor like you want to have that blonde girl’s guts for garters as long as she keeps talking to Brooklyn, so I think it’s settled science that you want to fuck Brooklyn. Go try it out.”

“She and her friend are, like… the only people I have around here,” I mumbled. “I wouldn’t be able to look her in the eye if she turned me down.”

“Yeah, you would. Sounds like Brooklyn’s a professional. If she’s a regular here, she’s probably turned down girls a million times and knows how to not freak out or make it awkward. Worst case scenario is that she says no and makes a note what your type is and helps you find a girl like her. Best case scenario, of course, is that she makes you absolutely lose your fucking mind in bed tonight.”

I busied myself with a long sip of my drink, trying not to think of Brooklyn, uh, well, making me lose my fucking mind in bed. The problem was just that trying not to think of something inevitably made you think of it, so, well—I thought of Brooklyn in bed. I felt a little quivery in my stomach at the thought, and not at all in a bad way. “You’re very forward,” I said.

She laughed. “Ah, what the hell, you know? We all know what we’re here for. You want to get laid. Specifically with her. No sense beating around the bush. Now go get your girl.”

“She’s—” I gestured vaguely in Brooklyn’s direction. “She’s busy with another girl right now.”

“Yeah, because you won’t make it clear what you want. C’mon, I’m invested in your story now. Don’t let me down.”

Well, I didn’t want to let her down. Ugh. Dammit. I hated that the blonde girl talking to her should have been my reason not to approach Brooklyn but was instead ninety percent of the reason I felt like I needed to march across this club right now and walk Brooklyn out of here.

When I got back across the club to Brooklyn, she turned to me with a curious smile, setting her empty glass down. “Didn’t pan out?”

“Nah, not this time,” I said, trying to keep it light. “She was sweet, though, just… I dunno, wasn’t feeling it.”

“That’s your gut speaking. I’m glad you listened to it. It’s almost always right. So, onto the next one?” she said, a teasing tone in her voice that I didn’t want to try working out the meaning of, and I shrugged.

“Feel like I exerted myself a lot more than I did. I’ll just stand over here for a bit before I get back to it. Unless you, ah, you and your friend want some time alone? I can leave you to it.”

Brooklyn grinned, looking between me and the blonde girl before—Brooklyn stepped closer to her side, putting a hand on her back, and I felt it like a punch to the gut. “You don’t need to leave,” she laughed. “Cici is a sweetheart.”

Ciciwas my worst enemy. I forced a smile her way. “Hi—sorry if I’m getting in the way of anything. It’s nice to meet you.” My voice came out as pointed as I felt, which was infinitely more than I should have been right now. Cici laughed, tossing a perfect lock of stupid blonde hair over her shoulder.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” she said, her voice deep and warm. So that was Brooklyn’s type, not my stupid airy voice I’d tried to fix so people would take me more seriously.Ugh.“So you’re Brooklyn’s friend?”

“Best friend, mm-hm,” I said playfully, trying to give her a casual smile that hid my murderous intent. I don’t think it worked. “We just met and now she can’t carry on without me.”

Brooklyn smiled wider at me. I couldn’t read that playful look on her features. “She’s a great friend,” she said, not taking her eyes off me. “So, what didn’t you like about the redhead?”

Who? Oh. Right. I shrugged. “Just didn’t click. It’s natural, right? Or can you not help clicking with everybody you see?”

Brooklyn laughed lightly, a glance Cici’s way. My throat felt tight, and it only got worse when she said, “I click with a girl pretty easily…”

I forced a smile, standing up taller. I wanted to throw up. Partly because I was jealous and partly because I hated how jealous I was. “Going to at least wait until I turn away to start flirting with another girl?”

“When I’m this irresistible?” Cici said, and I hated her.

“Don’t worry,” Brooklyn said. “I’m not shy. Unless you’re getting jealous?”

I raised my eyebrows high in an attempt at casual, probably the worst attempt at anything. “Jealous? No… Cici’s pretty, but she’s not really my type.”

Cici laughed—a short, sharp laugh, and then she hung her head, bursting out in laughter. “Relax, honey,” she said. “I’m not stealing your girl. Brooklyn and I are old friends.”

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