Page 65 of Desert Heat

“Which is why I am getting my laptop and we are booking a girls trip.”

“Anywhere, but Mexico.”

“Why?”

“Too close to home… I can’t share his desert sky.”

“Right.” She placed her glass of wine down on a table as she went inside to grab the computer.

“You girls okay?’

“That’s debatable.” Dean was standing in the shadows. He’s always there. “Just because I’m not with him don’t think I want to be with you.”

“Ouch,” he placed his hands over his heart as he stepped into the light of the fire.

“Sorry. That sounded harsh. You’ve really been here for me. For us.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s everything. My heart… my head… everything is just so fucked up right now. I just want to be alone.”

“I get it. Semester is almost over.”

“About a week.”

“I have a ski cabin in Vermont.”

“Thank, but no. Brandi and I want ti make plans.”

“I see.”

“I—there was someone… It takes time.” I saw the flash of pain in his eyes and knew he knows exactly what I’m going through.

“She wasn’t Club life?”

“Nope. Our parents would have none of it. We were young but she was my world.”

Brandi had come back out at this point and listened intently.

“South Beach.” She dropped those two words and he went off like a firecracker.

“No. Hell, no. That place is lit. Bad shit happens there. Miami is power vortex for every gang and underground network on the planet.”

“It’s also cheap, has the ocean and according this website… nonstop mojitos till dawn.”

“I’m in. ” I grinned feeling normal again.

“FUCCCCKKKK!” Dean groaned as Brandi announced she already put a deposit down.

“Come with us,” she crooned. “If you dare.”

“Cancel the hotel. You’ll stay with someone from our South Beach Chapter,” he growled, already tapping the request in his phone. “Th etwo of you are way too hot. You still need babysitting.”

“Okay, but I just booked our flights. And thanks, we know we’re hot,” she winked.

He rolled his eyes. “I meant hot as in targets.”

“Uh-huh, sure honey.”

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