Page 16 of All at Once

IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO call Georgia and that’s not only because I’ve yet to hear from Enrique regarding tonight’s plans. It’s tragic not having someone to share drama with during crucial times like this.

Grateful she picks up right away despite the 9-hour time difference, I look through the pile of clothes that I packed for the trip as I greet her. “Hey.”

“Hey, how’s everything so far?” she says, her voice instantly soothing me.

I try to summarize the past two fluctuating days to the best of my ability. “Things started off pretty strange actually.”

“What happened?”

“I bumped into this guy who I spilled drinks on as soon as I got to the resort.”

“Wait.” Her laugh echoes through the line. “That’s hilarious.”

“Yeah hedidn’tthink that,” I say. “He was so pissed. Which I get. But I think he overreacted about the whole thing. And that’s not even the best part.”

“What do you mean?” she says.

“It turns out that he’s Enrique’s best friend,” I explain, “which I learned this at breakfast earlier today when I saw them together.”

“What?” She gasps. “Really? What a coincidence?”

“I know. I’m pretty confused since they seem nothing alike,” I add.

“I mean, you also barely know either of them,” Georgia reminds me.

“Yeah but from what I do know about Enrique and now his friend Luca, I don’t see why they’re friends. Enrique is sweet and charismatic.” I pause, trying to figure out how best to describe his friend. “And Luca is just…I don’t know?Aggravating.”

“Aggravating?” The amusement in her voice is evident. “Maybe you’re judging him a little too soon.”

“I doubt that considering how we pretty much spent the entire day together just the two of us, and he was fucking annoying for 95% of it.”

She chuckles. “Well is he cute?”

My temperature rises again, reminded of the unexpected and forward comment I gave Luca just minutes ago. And more so the indirect compliment he threw back at me.

“Did you just hear everything I said?” I ask, brushing off the distracting though meaningless moment.

“Sohe’s cute,” she concludes.

I quickly add, “That’s irrelevant.”

“So he’sreallycute…” She elongates the word “really” on purpose to get under myskin.

“Are you done?” I say.

“Yes.” I hear her bite back a laugh.

Remembering the guy who Georgia just started seeing, I tease, “So how did your date go with Prince Charming?”

I can almost feel her roll her eyes when she snorts. “I wouldn’t know. Pretty sure I just had dinner with a jester.”

I laugh. “At least you actually went on a date.”

“So Enrique hasn’t asked you out yet?” she guesses.

I sigh, still waiting for this to happen. “No. Not yet. We were going to spend the day together, but he got busy and had to leave before I even had a chance to sit down for breakfast.”

“Busy with what?”

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