Page 123 of Body Shot

“I’m supposed to be happy for you, I guess. Congratulations! I don’t know anything about this place. But . . . Geez, I’m kind of shocked. I had no idea . . . What am I going to do without you?”

“You’ll be fine. You have Beck.” Carrie’s smile is warm.

“That’s not the same. You’re my best friend.” I reach for my friend’s hand and grip it. “This is an amazing opportunity for you. But I’m going to miss you!”

“I’m going to miss you too.”

“When do you leave?”

“Not for a few months. The term starts in October.”

“Oh.” I draw in a breath. “Okay.”

“I can teach you to speak Spanish,” Marco says to Carrie.

Carrie gives him a dismissive look. “They don’t speak the same kind of Spanish in Spain.”

Marco frowns. “Well, the way Spanish people speak is stupid.”

Carrie lifts an eyebrow. “Uh, no. You know who’s stupid? Y—”

“It’s going to be amazing in Spain!” I break in hurriedly. What the fuck? What is with Carrie and Marco?

“I have work to do,” Marco mutters, and moves away.

Carrie watches him walk away with a scowl.

I meet Beck’s eyes and we both make a face. “He’s been kinda pissy lately,” Beck says with a shrug. “Don’t know what’s up with that.”

“Let’s try some of the new chipotle chicken wings,” Carrie says brightly.

“Sure. I’ll put an order in.” Beck moves away.

“What is with you and Marco?” I round on Carrie. “Why are you so rude to him all the time?”

“He’s an asshole.”

“No, he isn’t!”

“ ‘The way Spanish people speak is stupid’?” Carrie rolls her eyes. “He’sstupid.”

“No, he’s not! He’s a great guy.”

“Whatever.”

I sigh. “Okay, tell me more about this school in Madrid.”

An hour later, we’ve talked about Carrie’s scholarship and moving to Spain, and consumed some not bad chicken wings and a couple more cocktails. Marco is staying away from us, and I’m still trying to come to terms with Carrie moving across the world. Sure, I have Beck, but Carrie’s my best friend. God! What will I do without her? The idea makes a panicky band tighten around my chest.

“Hey.” Beck stands across the bar from me. Carrie is talking to Dussen. “I have something special for you to taste back in the office.”

I give him a slow smile. “Oh, really.”

“Yeah.” Our eye contact is sizzling. “Come on.” He jerks his head.

I slide off my stool and touch Carrie’s back. “Be right back.”

I follow Beck down the hall to the office. Where this all started, in a blaze of fiery sexual chemistry.

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