Page 19 of Beach Bodies

‘You. Just. Thought,’ mocks Craig. ‘Well, maybe think harder! Because last I checked, I’m footing the bill here.’

Their server returns with Craig’s card and receipt.

‘Want me to add the tip?’ Brian offers humbly, reaching for the pen, but Craig smacks his palm down on the pen, blocking his husband’s hand.

‘Oh, I amnottipping the person who servedyoutwo beers at awellnessresort,’ snaps Craig. ‘I’mmeeting with your nutritionist tomorrow. Because we’re here to fuckingfixthings.’

He marches out of the Sunset, Brian behind him.

A sudden pain flares in my hand. I look down to find my left fist is clenched so tight, my nails are digging into my palm. I open my hand and splay my fingers out on the bar top, letting the cool wood soothe me.

It’s OK, I tell my pounding pulse.This is why you’re here.

My eyes stray back to Serena, who’s talking animatedly,clearly shining under the laser beam of Daniel’s attention. Her body language, together with the frequency of her laughter, is telling me she’sreallyinto Daniel. Suddenly, her eyes shift to me, widening instantly with recognition.

Damn. Other than diving behind the bar, there’s no hiding now.

‘Hey! Lily!’

OK. Now the pyjamas are really going to bite me. I’m breaking branding guidelines in front of the VP of Branding. I lift my hand and wave friendly fingers, giving her my most charming and unassuming smile. With a little bit of luck, she’ll let me scurry off without an embarrassing public reprimand…

Nope. She’s leaving her bar stool, clip-clopping over to me in her six-inch heels. She grabs my hand, and there’s a reek of gin on her breath.

‘Come over here. You have to meet… Daniel…Black.He’s a very important, erm, writer.’ She drags me behind her, then pulls up an extra stool, nearly falling out of her tube dress in the process. The bartender returns with my ginger ales and crackers.

‘That’ll be nineteen seventy-five.’

I nearly choke, but whip out my credit card and hold it out to the bartender.

‘Sorry,’ I say to Serena, ignoring Daniel for as long as I can even though I can practically feel his gaze burning me up. ‘I actually need to get this back to my roommate. Food poisoning. Not pretty.’

But Serena is already shaking her head, grabbing my arm to pull my credit card back and pulling out a Riovan-brandedcredit card of her own. ‘No, no, nooooo. I’ll have someone else get it to her. Please, let me…’ She presses her credit card into the bartender’s hand. ‘This needs to go to room…’

I sigh and make a ‘sorry’ face at the bartender. ‘2208. Vista West?’

With a quick nod, he disappears.

‘So,’ says Serena, returning to her perch and indicating the stool on Daniel’s other side. ‘Sit. And tell Daniel…Black… all about why you keep coming back to this…amazingplace. Tell him about howgreatit is here. Hey– hey– Danny– did you know Lily met… CarliElle? Thesinger? Didn’t you, Lil? Vic said… Didn’t you go to a party on her yacht last year? God, I love Carli!’ She starts singing an off-key faux-rap, running her hands down her own body. ‘My body is a temple, you’re callin’ me your goddess, the hottest, your queen, not sorry, not modest—’

Yep, she’s a step past tipsy. Maybe not the best of looks for the VP of Branding?

Daniel and I finally meet eyes. His are twinkling with suppressed amusement. I can’t help but wonder who made the first move tonight– him or Serena. He’s wearing a simple white button-up and jeans. His five o’clock shadow has thickened since this morning. Basically, total werewolf energy.I’m in trouble.

‘Hi,’ I say.

‘Hi,’ he says back. His voice is warm, questioning. Somehow, that single word conveys so much. I detect both aWhy did you stand me up?and also,I’m not mad. Just curious.Very curious, based on the way his eyes seem to be stripping me down.

A not-unpleasant chill goes over me and I wrap my arms around my chest, cursing silently. Second time today.

‘You two know each other?’ says Serena, leaning in and tugging up her tube dress again.

‘Not at all,’ I say quickly at the same time as Daniel says, ‘Yes, we met earlier.’

We laugh.

Our eyes are locked, just like this morning. He tilts his head. I tilt mine. Who’s going to talk first?

Don’t do this, I remind myself.You’re not here to get close to people.

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