Page 13 of Brassy Bigwig

“Thank you for the drink,” Genevieve offers with a grateful smile and another bite of her bottom lip.

That seems to be her tell when she’s feeling shy. My only response is a sly smile and a wink.

“Where did you go to school?” Dex interrupts, breaking her stare from mine, causing me to miss it already.

I’ll let my friends grill her for a little while longer, but then I’ll have to put a stop to it. I know they only want what’s best for me, but again, it’s not like this is going further than the property lines of this resort. They can save the Spanish inquisition for my next future ex-wife.

I laugh dryly at myself so no one will notice my self-deprecation.

“Wharton Business School in New York City. My dad went there, so I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter,” she laughs.

“Oh? I’ve heard that’s a really nice school,” Bianca states.

This time I have to hold in a real laugh, knowing Bianca attended the school herself but she’s unable to say anything more because of the promise her and Dex made to me in the elevator. I clear my throat to keep my chuckle concealed.

Just then, there is a commotion in the lobby as a group of people enter it from the same elevator we’d come from. At once, we all turn our attention to it as we see Genevieve’s friend and a group of boys passing by.

“Oh my god,” Genevieve sighs under her breath.

I watch as she tries to shield her face and stay hidden, but when her friend happens to lock eyes on me from across the lobby, the group of rowdy beach party-goers detours to the bar. I don’t miss the glare of the boy who vied for Genevieve’s attention earlier today. He’s angry she’s with me and not him, and I love how that makes me feel.

“Hey, guys,” the best friend practically shouts, grabbing the attention of everyone else in the bar.

“Shh…” Genevieve commands, though she’s smiling.

It seems as though her friend’s bubbly, vivacious personality is one she has a love-hate relationship with.

“Everyone, this is Shelby, my best friend. Shelby, this is Trey, Dex, and Bianca.”

I have to admit, Shelby seems like a blast to hang out with, but perhaps in small doses.

“I can’t believe you’re going to miss out on all the fun tonight. Won’t you reconsider?” Shelby pleads with Genevieve before locking eyes on the rest of us. “You can all come, you know...”

“Okay, yeah,” Genevieve answers, surprising me. Earlier she had no interest in going. “We’ll be there as soon as dinner is over.”

That’s the last place I want to go after dinner, but if she really wants to make an appearance, then I’ll deal with it.

“Oh my god, yay!” Shelby squeals, hugging her friend. “Have fun at dinner. See you all later!”

“Bye,” Genevieve sings as her friend walks away. When she turns her attention back to me, she says, “We’re so not going, that was just the quickest way to get rid of her.”

With a shrug of her shoulders and wide eyes, she picks up her drink and downs the rest. Her expression pulls a genuine belly laugh from me, and a light feeling settles over me for the first time in a very long while.

She’s adorable.

“Well, on that note,” I pause to finish my own drink. “Shall we?”

I hold my arm out, and she hops down from the stool, linking her arm through mine.

“We shall.”

“See you guys tomorrow,” I say to Dex and Bianca.

“It was wonderful to meet you both,” Genevieve says to them over her shoulder as we walk away.

They respond back, letting her know the feeling is mutual. When Genevieve looks up at me with dilated pupils and a cock of her left eyebrow, I wonder if it has to do more with the alcohol, or if she’s also curious where the night will lead us.

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