Page 117 of The Other Side of Paradise
“Oh, I know.” She laughed, kissing my forehead. “What do you think we should do tomorrow?”
“Mm… I’ve got a few ideas.”
Blissfully, she let her eyes flutter shut. “Can’t wait…”
Neither could I.
Epilogue
Stella
Well, wasn’t this a tidy little reversal of fate?
Even just here for a month with Allison, I’d lost count of how many times Allison had been crashed out on the resort bar or at Brooklyn’s place spilling her woes to BB, but this time, when I stepped through the doors into the lobby, it was Brooklyn slumped against the front desk groaning to Allison. I could hazard a guess what about—Ryan was leaving tomorrow for a two-week trip to Florida for some of her investigative reporting, and for whatever reason, BB was obsessed with my sister.
But hey, it had worked out well for me. Had a cute girl I got to kiss now thanks to that whole obsession thing.
I walked up behind Brooklyn, and I was never going to get tired of the way Allison’s whole face lit up when she saw me, like I was the best thing she’d ever seen. And I knew it was something she only got when she looked at me, because Brooklyn glanced back with an expression like she knew exactly what to expect as soon as she saw that look in Allison’s eyes.
Also, Allison definitely stared at my legs, but, like, I’d worn a short skirt for a reason. She was really into legs. I’d gotten a couple new short skirts since I’d found that out.
“Hey, Allison,” I said brightly. “Hey, BB. Moping about your girlfriend?”
Brooklyn laughed dryly, brushing her hair back from her face. “I do like her, as it turns out. Guess I’ll have to find a way to pretend I’ve got a life while she’s away.”
“You did just fine for years,” I laughed. “You’ll live. Could always come hang out with me and Allison.”
“And interrupt your private-time routine? I hear you put Allison through her paces.”
Allison’s soul left her body, and she spoke in a hollow voice. “Brooklyn, don’t tell her about that.”
I laughed, leaning over the counter to squeeze Allison’s arm. “You do fantastically. Not one complaint from my end.”
“Besides,” Brooklyn said lightly, “you just want to come over to my place so I can make you drinks.”
“And what about it?” I said, hands on my hips. “C’mon, we’ll have parties and stuff. Two weeks will be gone before you know it. Allison’s been introducing me to the whole events staff and the workshop organizers. We’ll get a whole schedule filled up for you.”
Brooklyn smiled sardonically. “Aren’t you considerate? Partying your nights away just for little old me.”
“Well, yeah. I’m an angel. Right, Allison?”
“I mean,Ithink so,” Allison said.
“Ha.” Brooklyn pushed away from the counter. “Well, thanks for letting me rant, both of you. I will take you up on the parties. Let me know when there’s anything going on, I’ll see if I want to go out too or sit at home missing my girlfriend. I’ll let you clock off and go have Stella put you through your paces.”
“Oh my god, BB, don’t talk about thathere,” Allison groaned, a hand over her face. I smiled sweetly at both of them.
“She’ll do great. I’d give you the updates, but I don’t think she’ll let me.”
“You think correctly,” Allison mumbled.
Brooklyn headed off too—she’d been on her shift today too, and had just finished half an hour before Allison, so apparently she’d just popped over to spend that half an hour complaining about how she was going to miss her girlfriend—and Allison was off in the other direction soon, her supervisor Gavin stepping on to replace her. We made small talk while Allison clocked off and got changed out of her uniform, since I’d hung around clinging onto my girlfriend enough that I was an honorary part of the team now, and Allison’s face fell when she came out of the back in her houndstooth blazer and neat slacks and saw me talking to him, saying quick goodbyes andhave-a-nice-weekwishes for Allison’s extended time off.
“What were you two talking about this time?” she said as we got out of the resort, heading back towards the car.
“Last night’s party, mostly. Whether Paola hooked up with anyone.”
“Oh…”
