Page 35 of No Such Thing as Serendipity
The hippie, dressed in a flowing skirt, tie-dyed T-shirt, and sporting a bandanna, jumped to her feet. “Let’s get more comfortable, so we can vibe. You know, in a casual setting.”
Like this room was so formal.
Emma smiled. “Katlynn’s cast our first vote for the living room.”
I made a mental note. Katlynn equals hippie.Got it.
“We should stay here,” hot tight ass said.
Emma smiled at Katlynn. “Dana just canceled your vote.”
Katlynn wiggled her hips. “I’ve not lost yet.”
A competitive spark glinted in Dana’s eyes as she broke into a monologue enumerating the reasons her choice was the most prudent. Now I remembered. Dana was a lawyer. Wound tight, but hot in a buttoned-down way. I could tap that. I gave her a smile, hoping to get on her good side.
Emma put her hand on the sad sack woman’s shoulder. “What about you, Helena?”
Helena had been sitting with her elbow on the table, resting her head on her hand. She’d pushed the hair back off her forehead as she leaned against her palm. She gazed up at Emma with vacant eyes. In a soft voice, she said, “I don’t care. Whatever everyone else wants.”
I studied her, wondering what her story was. If it weren’t for her stringy, limp hair and haunted eyes, she might be pretty.
“I guess that leaves it up to you and me,” Emma said to Annie.
“Common room,” Annie said without hesitation.
Emma smiled. “I second that vote.”
“Hey, don’t I get a vote?” I said, joining the conversation.
Emma gave me one of her angelic smiles and shook her head. “No, you don’t, honey,” then proceeded to inform the others why I couldn’t vote.
Thinking I could score a few points as we made our way to the common area, I whispered to Dana, “I would have voted with you.”
Dana turned and looked me up and down. “Does your sister control everything you do?” Then she licked her lips, making clear her meaning.
I swallowed hard.Shit just got real.Maybe this experience wouldn’t be so bad after all.
The yellow and orange flames licked at the wood. I stared at the blue flames at the base of the fire, mesmerized by the dance. A loud pop drowned out the crackling fire, and tiny sparks flew into the air. I breathed in the burning wood’s scent. A smell I hadn’t experienced since I was a kid.
“Earth to Blake,” Emma called from across the firepit.
I glanced up. The flickering glow cast a shadow on the faces sitting around the circle. Several women had already retired to their villas, while a handful remained, clinging to the warmth of the fire.
Dana had gone twenty minutes ago, shooting me a suggestive comment before she left. I would have followed had Emma not given methe look.Surely, I could convince Emma that Dana would be a pleasant distraction, but I’d have to get her alone first.
“What did you say?” I asked.
“Are you up for s’mores?”
“Geez, we haven’t had s’mores since Auntie…” I glanced at the fire, remembering how much fun we used to have.What the hell?The fire must be hypnotizing me since I wasn’t prone to sentimentality.
“You always did the marshmallows,” Emma said.
“That’s because you’re the devil and don’t have roasting skills.”
Emma shoved four marshmallows onto a long fork and moved as if she were about to shove them into the flames. “Light ’em up and put ’em out.”
“No.” I jumped from my seat. “You beast, give it to me.”
