Page 30 of Strange Seduction
Jayda blinked. “Girl.Do youknow how expensive Elliot Sawyer is?”
Izzy cackled. “Yeah, I thought Theo paid for everything.”
“You’re both missing the goddamn point,” I groaned.
Jayda held up a hand. “We get it, babe. We’re just trying to figure out what’s going on. Did y’all argue?”
“No,” I said, not sure if I should explain it to them. It was tricky being in a friend group where everyone dated each other. When one couple had issues, it magically became the group’s issues. So for now, I’ll keep the details of our issues between us. “Not really. We just… I don’t know.”
Izzy gave me a look. “Carmen. YouknowTheo. If he’s in his feelings, you gotta talk to him. He’s not gonna magically bring it up.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to fight,” I said, my voice a little smaller. “I came here to have the perfect trip. I want to eat, drink, get dicked down, and take pictures by the water. I want to pretend our life is easy for once. I just… I don’t want to argue.”
“A fantasy,” Jayda snorted. “If he’s anything like his friend, I can tell you they never make it easy.”
I hoped Tyler and Jayda weren’t fighting again.
“It’s not just him,” I said, a little softer now. “We spent so much time apart. Now we’re finally getting time together, and it’s…weird.”
Izzy tilted her head. “You think it’s nerves? Maybe you both are just overthinking it.”
“I don’t know. Maybe. But last night I felt like I was throwing myself at him after dinner, and he just… pulled away.” I dragged a hand down my face. “Look, I know I’m not perfect, and I don’t always get it right when it comes to our relationship. But I love Theo. I love him so much. I just hope we can get our act together. This trip shouldn’t be like this.”
Jayda softened. “I get it. At least you’re trying.”
“I am,” I whispered. “I’m tryingso hard.”
“You’re allowed to want this trip to feel good,” Izzy added. “And you’re allowed to feel disappointed when it doesn’t go that way. But it’s been a while since you’ve been in the same room. It will take some getting used to, Carmen. I just hope you two make the best of it.”
Jayda nodded. “And please don’t kill each other.”
There’s a thought.I scoffed, “I’ll try my best.”
“Did he say anything before he left?” Izzy asked.
“Nope,” I looked at the card on the nightstand. “Well, he left me this and a note. Said I should use it to cheer myself up.”
Izzy leaned into the screen as I held the Amex up. “He left you his card?”
I nodded.
Jayda smiled. “Good! After holding out last night, disappearing in the morning and leaving a fucking note, it’s the least he could do.”
Izzy shook her head in agreement. “Exactly! Max that motherfucka out!”
I gave her a look. “The card has no limit.”
Jayda laughed. “Even better!”
I tried to laugh, too, but it didn’t quite land. The more I thought about our situation, the more I realized I needed the retail therapy to take my mind off things.
He said to cheer myself up, right?
“Maybe, I do need cheering up. Something to take my mind off last night.”
Izzy added, “Good. Swipe that card, girl!”
“Let us know how it goes!” Jayda beamed.
