Page 21 of Paradise Pride

“Not quite, but we’ll be on seventy percent occupancy. What are your plans? You’ve got two days off, right?”

“Nothing special.” Without thinking, Florence glanced up at Meghan’s room.

“Are you sure?” Stella looked up too.

“I’m…ehm…” Knowing she was busted, Florence paused. “I’m actually seeing Meghan.”

“Our guest?”

“Yes. I know I’m not supposed to, but we’ve become friends,” Florence said hesitantly. “I just want to show her around town. It’s nothing more, I swear.”Not yet, anyway.

Stella turned to Florence and studied her. “Your face says otherwise. You really like her.”

“I do,” Florence admitted. She sighed. “Am I in trouble now?”

Stella looked up at the balcony again as if hoping to find an answer there. “No,” she said after a pause. “Just don’t tell anyone about it. And from now on, don’t tell me either. I appreciate your honesty, but as long as I don’t know what you’re up to, I won’t have to take disciplinary action.” She shrugged. “I haven’t exactly set the right example myself with Lisa, but I’d do it all over again a million times, so sometimes it’s worth breaking the rules.”

“Thank you. You’re happy with her, aren’t you?”

“So happy.” Stella grinned widely. “Lisa’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Love changes everything.”

“I’m glad it worked out for you. I hope to have what you have one day.”

“You’ll know when you find the one,” Stella said. “And who knows? Maybe it’s Meghan. That’s why I’m not getting involved.” She started piling the used ashtrays onto a trolley. “You’re a flirt, Florence. You and I both know it. But you seem different when you talk about her.”

“She’s straight, though. I think she’s just curious, so it’s unlikely it will go anywhere.”

“Does she give you the impression she’s into you?”

“Yes. I mean, I think so,” Florence corrected herself. “I don’t know her that well, so she might just be playing a game.” She thought of Meghan, who was probably under the shower now, and it made her ache inside. At least she wouldn’t have to tell Stella she was staying over again; she was delighted with their new no-sharing rule. What would Meghan do if she tried to kiss her? Would she welcome it? Would she feel uncomfortable? Would she kiss her back?Let’s see how the night goes.Meghan’s words kept lingering in her mind.

“Then leave it to her,” Stella said. “If it’s meant to be, it will be.”

21

Meghan

Meghan ran a brush through her hair and dabbed on some lip gloss. Turning in front of the tall, chipped mirror that was glued to the wall in her room, she checked herself out. Now that she had a tan, she looked good in the short, white, linen dress that she’d bought especially for the holiday. She topped off her look with a necklace made of white shells and painted her toenails pale pink, then decided to change her lingerie last-minute. Knowing she was doing this with Florence—a woman—in mind was mindboggling. Did Florence even care if she dressed up? Did she care about lingerie? Or was that just something men appreciated?

As long as I feel good about how I look,she thought to herself, swapping her black lace set for a white one. If she was happy with the way she looked, she’d be more confident. Not that she’d ever make a pass at Florence; she was way too terrified to do that. But if Florence did, she wouldn’t turn her down. Every time she was near the woman, her body reacted so fiercely she didn’t know what to do with herself. She wanted Florence, and she was ready to admit it.

A knock on her door made her jump, and her heart started racing.She’s early.Rushing to let Florence in, she was surprised to see Kim there instead. Her eyes were red-rimmed, like she’d been crying.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Did you and Andres have a fight?” She pulled Kim into a hug and squeezed her tightly before she stepped back to let her in.

Kim shrugged and sniffed. “It wasn’t really a fight, but he’s definitely hiding something from me. I just know it.” She flopped onto her bed. The bed Florence was supposed to sleep in.

Don’t think like that. Kim is your friend, and she needs you.

“What did he do to make you think that?” Meghan perched on the end of the bed and patted Kim’s leg. “Did he say something?”

“No, but that’s the point. He kept looking at his phone, and then he said he had to leave for a couple of hours. When I asked him where he was going, he mumbled something about his parents.” Kim sighed. “He promised he’d introduce me to them, so why didn’t he just invite me along? I’m sure he’s seeing someone else.”

“Don’t suspect the worst. It’s probably nothing. Did he say when he was coming back?”

“No. He told me he’d be gone for a couple of hours, but I didn’t want to hang around waiting for him in his apartment while he was off with some other woman. Anyway, it became awkward between us because I kept asking questions and he kept dodging answering, so I left before he did.”

“I think you’re probably making more out of this than there is to it.”

---