Page 52 of Paradise Pride

Her short answer wasn’t taken lightly, and Kim totally lost it. “Listen, Megs. You’ve been avoiding me all week, and I let it slide because I was distracted with Andres. I’ll admit it. Maybe I should have been around more. I feel guilty about that in particular, but you haven’t really talked to me once.” She slammed a hand on the folding table in front of her. “Not once. Come to think of it, I feel like you stopped talking to me years ago. Suddenly you were like a closed book. I share everything about my life, but you never give me anything in return. It’s like you don’t trust me anymore.”

“I’m sorry. I do trust you, but there’s nothing to tell. I changed my mind. I don’t want to be with him.” Unable to explain, Meghan knew a simple apology wouldn’t suffice, but she had no idea how to answer.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re sorry. Whatever.” Kim turned away from her and curled up against the window. “I don’t even know why we’re friends anymore,” she mumbled before closing her eyes.

Meghan watched her friend zone out, mentally expanding the space between them. Kim was right, but that didn’t change anything, and she felt even worse now, if that was possible. She’d hurt the two people closest to her. Her best friendandFlorence, her new lover, who somehow knew and understood her better than she understood herself. She’d pushed them both away, and she had no one but herself to blame.

Was Kim right? Had she been closed off for years? She supposed she’d been more withdrawn after the robbery in Paris, afraid to dig into her feelings in case she hit a nerve and everything resurfaced. And yes, she’d had her guard up and steered away from emotional topics in conversations, even with Kim and her mother, but that guard had crumbled to dust with Florence. Over the holiday, her tears had flowed like never before, and she was starting to suspect it might not only be her sexuality she’d been struggling with but also the suppressed trauma she hadn’t dealt with properly. Her parents knew what had happened, and she’d seen a therapist, but she’d stopped going to the sessions because she’d dreaded them days in advance. Now, here she was, unable to talk about anything with anyone—apart from with Florence.

“I will tell you,” she said to Kim. “I promise I’ll talk to you, but I can’t just yet.”

Either sleeping or pretending to be sleeping, Kim didn’t acknowledge her comment. Meghan shifted in her uncomfortable seat and inched away from the woman to her other side, who was leaning against her. Something had to change, and it was time to face her demons.

52

Florence

“Florence, can I talk to you?” Stella beckoned her over the moment she arrived back at work after her week off.

“Sure.” Florence’s first reaction was to assume she’d done something wrong, as Stella rarely called her into one-on-one meetings, but the friendly smile on her boss’s face told her she had nothing to worry about. “Do you want me to set the poolside up first?”

“No, we won’t be that long, and I’ve got someone on it already.” Stella handed her a coffee, and Florence gladly accepted it after a long, sleepless night. “You look tired. Are you okay? Meghan left this morning, right?”

“Yeah, she left. And no, I’m not great,” Florence admitted as they headed for the second bar behind the pool. It didn’t open until midday and was generally used for morning meetings. “It didn’t work out.”

“I’m very sorry to hear that.” From the way Stella said it, Florence believed her, and she tried not to choke up as she met her kind eyes.

“Shit happens,” she said with a shrug, and took a seat on one of the stools. “What’s this about?”

“It’s about next season. I’d love to have you back on the team, and not only that, but I was also wondering if you’d be interested in a permanent contract.”

“Really?” Florence had never considered working somewhere full-time. When she was younger, she’d started spending time between the UK and Spain because of her parents, but it didn’t really matter anymore. Her father didn’t need her around, and they could always visit each other.

“Yes. We won’t be giving them out until next season, so you’ll have lots of time to think about it. Now that we’re finally more stable after the pandemic, the board is pushing us to take people on full-time again, so I have the pleasure to handpick my best employees.” Stella smiled. “And you’re one of them. You’ve been a bundle of positive energy all summer, and the guests adore you. Besides, you’re agile in your role, as you can switch between the bar team and the animation team, and you have your first-aid certificates and lifeguard diploma. I’d be silly not to ask you.”

“Thank you, I feel honoured.” Florence hesitated. Her mind was a fog, and she was in no state to make decisions of any kind today or even in the near future. “I’d have to think about it, though. It would be a big lifestyle change.”

“Of course. I don’t need to know until February.” Stella handed her a file. “Take this home with you and read it through. It has your proposed new role, perks, pension, salary and hours, and if you have any questions, you know where to find me.”

“Are you in the position to tell me who else you’ve selected?” Florence asked.

“No. Not until someone confirms, and I’d appreciate it if you could keep this between us, as I don’t want any friction in the team.” Stella gave her a knowing look. “That includes Manuel. I know you two are close, but even if you don’t talk to other team members, he might.”

“Sure.” Florence flicked through the file but didn’t take much in, and even though this was a flattering conversation, she had no idea how she’d get through the day. Glancing at the sun loungers where Meghan and Kim used to sit, she felt a stitch and averted ger gaze.

“If you don’t feel like talking to people today, I can put you on cleaning and stocking duty,” Stella said. “But the distraction of new arrivals might be good for you. It’s up to you.”

“I’ll be okay.” Florence put on a brave smile. She would have to get on with things, especially since she’d just had a week off. “Manuel asked me if I wanted to help with his ridiculous dive-bombing competition, so I think I might do that.”

“No better distraction than that.” Stella laughed. “And someone needs to keep him in check. I’m not sure if the health and safety procedures are being followed.” As if on cue, Manuel arrived. With a beaming smile and heaps of energy, he greeted their other colleagues with great enthusiasm and waved at Stella and Florence from across the pool. “Morning, guys!” He looked at Stella specifically and yelled, “Is there a funeral going on here?”

“Not that I know of. Why?” Stella asked.

“Because it’s so quiet, I can hear myself fart. Can I turn on the music?”

Stella chuckled. “Sure, go ahead.”

“I don’t understand how he keeps going,” Florence said, lowering her voice. “He was so drunk last night, he could barely stand when he came in.”

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