Page 56 of What Happens in Paradise
“Obsessed,” Tilda says. “I’m trying to do every hike on the island this year.”
“I told Maia I’d do the Esperance Trail with her,” Cash says.
“To see the baobab tree?” Tilda says. “I haven’t done that one yet!”
“Well, let’s plan a time and you can come with us,” Cash says.
“Are you asking me on a date?” Tilda says. She leans into him, much like Max did at lunch, but instead of being irritating, it feels nice. Tilda smells good. She’s tomboyish, which he finds sexy. Her short hair draws attention to her light brown eyes.
“A date?” Cash says. “Aren’t we on a date now?”
“Are we?” Tilda says.
“I don’t know, aren’t we?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t examine it too closely,” Tilda says.
“Maybe you’re right,” Cash says. “The hike would be with Maia. So I don’t know how romantic it would be.”
“No kissing under the baobab tree?” Tilda says.
Cash puts his hand over Tilda’s. “I wouldn’t rule it out.”
Tilda turns her hand so that it’s clasping his. Cash feels a rush. Does he like Tilda?
“Just do me one favor,” Tilda says.
“Okay?” Cash says.
“Don’t use me as a substitute for Ayers.”
“What?” Cash says. “I know what I supposedly told you in the car, but I was very drunk. Ayers and I are just friends.”
“I’m not stupid, Cash,” Tilda says. “And I don’t blame you. I get it. Ayers is a queen. She’s the complete package. I know you and your brother both have a thing for her—”
“Baker might,” Cash says. “But I—”
“You do too,” Tilda says. “Trust me, I get it. If I were still in my lesbian phase, I’d go after Ayers.”
Cash takes a deep breath. This has been a very long, very strange day. “Lesbian phase?”
“High school,” Tilda says.
“Max?” Cash asks.
Tilda swats him. “Come on, let’s get a nightcap.”
They walk hand in hand over to La Tapa.
“It’s kind of a thing we do,” Tilda says. “Whenever we’re out on our nights off, we stop in for a drink.”
“I would think it’d be the last place you’d want to go,” Cash says.
“Except we all love it,” Tilda says. “It’s so gratifying to watch everyone else work.”
“Ohhhhkay,” Cash says. He wonders if Ayers will be there and, if she is, what she’ll think when she sees him with Tilda. Will she be jealous? She had been jealous of Cash’s attention to Max, that’s for damn sure.
Cash worries that he is using Tilda. But he likes Tilda and he doesn’t want to stop holding her hand.
