Page 40 of The Tropical Romance Test

“Sorry, can’t stop!” I exclaim, barely slowing. “If there’s a problem, we can fix it in the morning!”

“There’s no problem,” he says, to my relief. “We located your luggage. I just delivered it to your room.”

“Great! Thank you!” I call behind me. “I appreciate it, really I do, I just?—”

Have an appointment with a hot man and way fewer clothes.

“Good night!”

I’m practically speed walking now, winding my way down the jungle path. I’ve been trying to avert disasters since the moment I woke up this morning, now all I need is a couple of uninterrupted hours of my own. Time to relax, and see if this chemistry with Josh can really live up to the?—

My phone buzzes in my pocket. “Come on!” I exclaim in frustration. I pull out the handset, ready to send the caller straight to voicemail?—

It’s Lottie.

I take a deep breath. Mom duties come before getting laid, every time.

Even if I really,reallywant to go get laid.

“Hey, sweetie, what’s up?” I answer, trying to switch my brain from raunchy sex thoughts to motherly concern. “Isn’t it past your curfew?”

“Jinny’s not feeling good,” Lottie reports, naming her roommate. “She keeps getting up to go vomit in the bathroom.”

“I’m sorry.” I wince. “Was it something she ate?”

“Maybe. We all had a clambake tonight, but I just ate pizza, and I feel fine.”

“Try giving her some ginger ale and saltines,” I suggest. “I hope she feels better soon.”

“Me too,” Lottie sighs. “I’ve got an early workshop tomorrow, and I need to sleep!”

I smile. Of all the things Lottie loves about space camp, dorm-style sleeping is not one. “Can you go crash with anyone else?” I ask.

“I’ll go see. How’s Avery?” she asks. “Uncle Reeve sent me the video of the slime wave. It looked so much fun!”

“That’s one way of putting it,” I reply dryly. “Listen, you should try and get some sleep. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

“OK.” I hear her yawning. “Love you.”

“Love you more.”

I hang up, finally rounding the bend to our bungalows when?—

Laughter echoes from the beach.

“She’s going to freak when she sees it!” one of the bridesmaids is exclaiming.

“No, she’ll love it, you’ll see!”

They’re coming.Shit.

Before I can think twice, I dive behind Josh’s bungalow, and crouch down as the pack of bridesmaids approach, drunkenly giggling over some stunt.

“She’s being so brave.”

“Sobrave!”

“If everyone saw me covered in slime like that, I’d justdie!”

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