Page 9 of Paradise Pride

“Deal.” Meghan’s face pulled into an amused expression. “But I’ll still be straight on Monday, so if you get a better offer over the weekend—”

“Then I’ll tell them I already have a lovely, purely platonic date planned. And if you decide to venture out into town and you get a better offer from a handsome young man, then—”

“Then I’ll tell them the same,” Meghan said. “Monday is on, no matter what.”

“Good. I’m already looking forward to it.” Florence inched back when she saw her manager, Stella, crossing the poolside. “They’re expecting me downstairs soon. Do you mind if I use the bathroom first?”

“No. Please, go ahead.”

“Thank you.” Florence slipped past Meghan, and again she felt a flutter as her leg brushed Meghan’s thigh. When she turned on the shower and condensation settled over the mirror, she chuckled. There was another smiley face next to the one she’d drawn last night, and this one had a winking eye.

9

Meghan

“Which one?” Kim scanned the poolside from the balcony. “Her?”

“Yes, the one with the curly hair behind the first bar.” Meghan studied Florence as she moved effortlessly, whipping up cocktails and delivering them to patrons, always with a dazzling smile. “She’s so nice.” She’d filled Kim in on last night’s happenings after Kim had finished her hour-long monologue about Andres.

“How lovely of her to stay here with you.” Kim rubbed Meghan’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry about that. I didn’t think of how scary it must have been for you on your own in an empty hotel.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Meghan said. She’d never told Kim about her hotel anxiety, and Kim didn’t need to know why she panicked. Dealing with it the best she could, she hoped her trauma would heal eventually, and that one day, she’d be fine on her own again. Apart from her parents, the police and her therapist, she hadn’t told anyone what had happened two years ago. The past was in the past and there was no point reliving that awful night just for the sake of telling someone. “Neither of us saw it coming,” she continued. “Not the empty hotel, and not this…”

“No, certainly not this.” Kim chuckled as she spread her arms and gestured to the women below. They were wearing rainbow bikinis, T-shirts, outrageous shades, hairpieces and wigs. The poolside was quickly filling up, with half of the sunbeds already taken, and the DJ was just setting up for her first set. “It’ll be fun. Something different for a change, right? Or would you rather go to the beach?”

“No, no. I’m happy to stay,” Meghan quickly said with more enthusiasm than she’d meant to. “Shall we go grab some breakfast before we find a spot?”

“God, yes, I’m starving.” Kim grinned. “I’ve been up all night playing with Andres’ glorious—”

“Spare me the details, please. I’m happy for you—delighted, in fact—but just fade to grey, will you?” Meghan tied a sarong around her waist, grabbed her straw beach bag and put on her shades. “I don’t want to picture my best friend in action.”

“Boring,” Kim shot back at her. “Who else am I going to tell about my new experiences with tantric sex? The ladies downstairs won’t be interested.”

“You never know. Why don’t you try them?” Meghan turned to her as they headed out of their room and called the lift. “So, when am I going to meet your man?”

“Whenever you want.” Kim sighed dreamily. “He’s so passionate, Megs. I just can’t believe this is happening for me. He’s perfect in every way, and he loves me.”

“Aww, Kim…” Meghan pulled her friend into a hug.

“He said it to my face this time, and it felt different.” The nervous and neurotic Kim from the past weeks was gone and here was a brand-spanking-new Kim, who was still talking Meghan’s ears off about Andres but in a happy and excited way, and that was adorable. “And I said it back, of course. And now we’re, like, super official.”

“I think it’s safe to say I won’t be sharing this room with you, then.”

Kim winced. “Probably not. But you’ll be okay, right? Now that there are guests here?”

“Of course.” Meghan painted on a smile. Even with a hotel full of women, she wasn’t sure how she’d feel, as she hadn’t tested the theory yet.

“How about Monday night? We could have a drink somewhere in town, the three of us? I just know you’ll love him. He’s super funny and sweet.”

“I can’t do Monday, but any other night works for me.”

“You have plans?” Kim frowned. “With whom? You don’t know anyone here.”

“With Florence, the woman who stayed over last night. She’s taking me out,” Meghan said, then corrected herself. “I mean, we’re going for a drink.”

“Oh, that’s nice.

“Uh-huh.” Meghan took Kim’s hand and pulled her out of the lift towards the breakfast buffet. “We get along, and I figured since you were busy with Andres, why not?”

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