Page 74 of A Quick Stop in Paradise

“That’s not true,” I said lightly. “I’ll bring around someone of any gender I’m sleeping with.”

“Okay, point taken. I did not mean to limit you.” She scribbled something on the clipboard before setting it down, looking at me. “You’re going to get us in some trouble, getting in the middle of a family like that and getting them all breathing down our necks. I had to talk to a police officer last night. He was understanding and didn’t make it difficult, but still… could you try not falling into bed with so many people it gets the police kicking down the door?”

“I can’t help how irresistible and seductive I am. Can I have a caipirinha?”

Greer let out a deep sigh. “You got it. I swear…”

She could complain, but I knew she still loved me. Iwasher best employee.

My head was filled with thoughts of Ryan as soon as I sat at the bar, despite my best attempts to distract myself, sipping my drink and swaying from side to side, making small talk with Greer and Ramón in between the guests here early for a Friday. Ryan and I had spent a long night together last night, the tips of her fresh new haircut brushing my face as she fell asleep in my arms, and she’d woken up with a clear resolution,I’m talking to my parents.She didn’t say it out loud, but her coming-out conversation with her siblings had clearly switched gears in her head, and I didn’t think she was coming out to her parents—not yet, at least—but she was clearly set on speaking her mind to them.

Which meant now I was hovering here worrying about her. I wasn’t normally like this with a hookup. But I wasn’t going to entertain the thought of catching real feelings for her. She was just like the others—someone fun to be inseparable from for a week or so, and then gone for good.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I’d have missed Allison slinking past if it weren’t for Ramón saying hi to her, lighting up and waving—Allison was clearly trying to move through the crowd without being noticed, and Ramón, the most extroverted human being alive, didn’t realize somebody might have not wanted to have a conversation, which meant I got to spin around and catch Allison freezing up from where she was slinking.

“You’re not on the schedule today,” I said lightly. “What, couldn’t help wanting to see me?”

She turned, scowling at me, her hands on her hips. “What areyoudoing here, anyway? You’re not on today, either. Don’t tell me you had a fight with your girlfriend and that’s why you’re drinking alone at the bar…”

She was wearing the same clothes she was yesterday.Thatwas a fun realization. I smiled broadly at her. “Ryan’s inside talking to her parents. I’m on standby for emotional support.”

Her shoulders fell. “Oh… well, aren’t we big softies?”

I tried my best to suppress my smile. I didn’t do a very good job. “So, where’s Stella?”

“Uh—” She went red, looking sharply away. “I dunno? I’m not her keeper.”

“She didn’t tell you where she was going?”

“Why… why would she?” She shifted from one foot to another. “I dunno. Ask Ryan. I’ve gotta get back to my place.”

“What, Stella kicked you out?”

“She wasn’t—”

“Oh—” I relaxed. “She just had to go for the family meetup, right?”

“Yeah.” Allison realized her mistake too late, going wide-eyed, blanching. I smiled, and she cleared her throat. “We were, uh—hanging out.”

“Congratulations.”

“There’s nothing to congratulate,” she said, blushing so violently now it was almost purplish. “I just came around to see her!”

I knocked back the rest of my drink, standing up and shooting Allison a grin. “You don’t think I’m letting you get away without telling me more.”

“There’s nothing to tell!”

“Come on. We’ll go to a quieter corner where your coworkers can’t overhear.”

“There’s nothing to overhear!”

“You can tell me in confidence, or I’ll speculate with Ryan.”

Allison went with me. A second later, we sat at a table in a quiet corner of the courtyard, tucked behind the pool and the thatched walls of the bar, our backs against the corner, the only place that was cover enough for Allison, who looked like she’d combust.

“Ryan had told me that Stella might have been curious,” I said lightly once we were safely absconded in a corner. Allison put her hands over her face.

“I don’t know what the fuck is happening.”

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