Page 5 of Not Your Basic Love Story

Several minutes of pacing later, the phone rang. It was the concierge. They found the person who had my bag, and they were staying at another resort in the area. All I had to do was bring the incorrect bag to the front desk, make the swap, and then I could move on with my day.

I looked down at the floor where my dirty clothes were piled in a heap. The absolute last thing I wanted to do was put them back on. Thankfully, I found a fuzzy white robe in the closet and donned it. Hair still up in my towel, improper luggage zipped and rolling, I walked back to the front desk.

This was the last thing I needed. I hated being late. I’m always the friend who shows up fifteen minutes early for everything. I hugged myself in my robe and shifted from foot to foot while I waited, doing my best to remain calm, hoping I wouldn’t bump into anyone from Miranda’s wedding while I was half-naked.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long. In walked none other than Dev, wheeling a gaudy bright pink plastic luggage case with lime-green palm fronds behind him.

Oh God…

He took one look at me and stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide in shock.

“Hi,” I mumbled, feeling naked in my robe and silly with the towel on my head.

He pushed my suitcase towards me, and we fumbled to grab the opposite handles without dropping anything or touching one another.

“Hey,” he said. He had on a flamboyant shirt with ‘Cancun’ on the front and hideous shorts which were far too big, obviously purchased from a tourist shop to get out of his nasty airplane clothes. Despite his hilarious attire and everything that had happened, his smile was still completely disarming.

“You didn’t… open this, did you?” I asked, finding my voice, unsure if my face could get any hotter.

“Um, no! No, I didn’t. I saw the name, and I didn’t open it or see anything.”

He was lying. I was thankful for that.

“Okay, well, thank you. I have to go get ready…”

I turned and began to walk away, eager to put this all behind me and have about ten more beers.

“Wait,” he called.

I looked over my shoulder as he took three steps with his long legs to catch up to me.

“Let me make it up to you,” he said. “Please.”

I waved a hand dismissively. The last thing I wanted was to be asked out right now, half-naked in a robe with a towel on my head while late for my BFF’s party. “I took your luggage, not the other way around. Trust me, it’s fine.”

“No, I mean, for the airplane. I’d already been drinking quite a bit with my cousins.”

“I could tell.”

“And I’d like the opportunity to make it up to you. Maybe dinner later? I could pick you up here at seven.”

I hardened my facial expression to make it obvious this was a polite, yet firm, no. He persisted, staring at me with those giant brown eyes and ridiculously long eyelashes. He was going to make me say it, wasn’t he? “Sorry, I have plans tonight. Honestly, it’s fine. You barely got any on me and—”

“I got some on you?” He hid his face in his hands and then peeked out at me between his fingers. A bit immature. I was growing tired of this.

“It’s fine, don’t worry,” I tried to assure him.

“Let me at least pay for the dry cleaning.”

I hesitated. “Fine. Yes, that would be nice.”

He grinned. “Thank you. And I’m sorry. I’ll go talk to the front desk. You have a lovely night, Rebecca.”

I turned and walked away, wheeling my luggage behind me, eager to get into my room and crack another beer and put this whole strange exchange in the past.

Back in my suite, Miranda had texted me. ‘Not ur luck, babe! Hurry up, I can’t wait to see you!!!’ Another string of emojis. I was going to need to catch up.

I unzipped my suitcase to see nothing out of place, my vibrator right on top exactly as I had left it, which was a stupid mistake. Even though female masturbation is nothing to be ashamed of, my cheeks reddened, knowing Dev had likely seen my purple rabbit. I tucked it into the drawer next to the bed, you know, for convenience later.

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