Page 47 of Little Fury

“No, let’s go to the bar and dance. We can order dessert later if we want.”

Marcus nods, and he places money on the table; grabbing my hand, we head to the big open-air side of the restaurant. We walk down the cobblestone path towards the ocean and the already busy bar. The music is full of bass, and the dance floor is packed with people. Marcus leads us through the crowd to a table in the back corner. He leaves me there and goes to get us a couple of drinks. He's back a few minutes later with a beer for himself and a fruity drink for me. I raise an eyebrow at him.

“What?” He asks innocently. “I distinctly remember Miss Bennett telling you not to drink beer or scotch when out. She said wine, champagne or something on the fruitier spectrum.”

I shake my head at him.“Really?”I grab his beer and take a big sip. He shakes his head and smiles at me, picking up the fruity drink and taking a sip.

“How is it?"I ask.

“It’s horrible. How do people drink these things? “

“No clue. The beer is good, though. Thanks”

Marcus returns to the bar and comes back with a pitcher and another glass, pouring himself a beer.

We people watch for a bit—it's more of a habit trained into us than entertainment. Harry and Sebastian drilled in the importance of knowing your surroundings at all times. Take note of people and exits. Even when there is no threat or danger, you should always be able to get out. I look at Marcus.“Game?”

“Loser stops drinking to drive home?”He challenges.

“Yup,” I reply.

“You go first, Little Fury.”

“Alright, let’s see….” I zone in on a woman with brown hair wearing a pink dress.“Pink dress,”I say, nodding in her direction. I see Marcus clock her. “Just found out her husband had an affair. She booked this trip last minute, planning on fucking her way through every man she can find.”

“Okay.” And he heads over to the woman in question, turning on the charm instantly. He’s gone for nine minutes. I see her touch his arm and make her way out of the bar.

“So?”

“How?” He asks.

I smile.“Easy. She clearly has money. You don't come here if you can’t afford it. But her hair and clothes aren't vacation ready. The dress is a little ill-fitting. But it's designer, so it would have been tailored to fit her better. It's loose in places like her breasts and ass, so it’s easy to guess she’s had some recent weight loss. Her hair, while well-kept, needs a dye refresh. Her fingernails are gorgeous, but again, not vacation nails. You don’t do a set that long for vacation. You go a bit shorter and no jewels. And her toes are not any color a woman gets before vacation to show off her newly acquired tan. She keeps moving to adjust a ring on her left ring finger, but it’s not there anymore, and every time she goes to touch it, its absence startles her before she remembers she took it off.”

“Your turn,”I tell him sweetly while I refill my beer.

Marcus scans the bar and stops at a group of women around a high-top table.“Blonde in the t-shirt and jean shorts.”

“Oh, she’s cute,”I tell him.

He rolls his eyes at me.“She just flunked out of school and hasn't told anyone yet because they are here for her older brother’s wedding.”

I look at him and then back at her. I take a sip of my beer and make my way over to her.

“I love your t-shirt,”I tell her because I genuinely do.

“Thanks, it’s one of my favorites.”

“I’m Ava.”

“Hi, I’m Cam.”

“Hi, Cam. So, what brings you to the Caymans?”

“My brother is getting married.” She tells me.

“Not happy about it?”I ask her.

“No, I am! I love his fiancée. She's amazing. She is a freaking pediatric orthopedic surgeon. She literally fixes little kids and babies’ bones. And she's funny.”I’m not getting any hint of a lie from her.

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