Page 58 of The Player in New Zealand
“You’re welcome. She’s having a good bachelorette party?” I asked.
The redhead cocked her head at me, scanning my features. “You’re American?”
“So are you.” We grinned at each other.
“Do you know each other?” the bride asked.
We both laughed. “Do you know my cousin in Perth?” the redhead asked.
Her eyes widened. “You have a cousin in Perth?”
“No.”
She stuck her tongue out and ducked down, slurping again.
“Where are you from?” the redhead asked me while I slipped a straw into the glass for the bride.
“Boston,” I said, letting my accent really pop. “You?”
“Seattle.”
“Nice. You live here now?”
She shook her head. “Just passing through. You?”
“Same, kinda. I’m here on a working holiday visa.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I didn’t even know those were a thing until I was too old to do it.”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s been good to get out and see the country. There’s lots to do and it’s not too far.”
“Not like Straya,” the bride chimed in.
“I’m Mia,” the redhead said.
“Claire.”
“Lila!” the bride screamed. “Claire. Claire. I have to tell you something.” She put her elbow on the counter and leaned toward me.
I grinned at her, amused. “Let me guess, you’re getting married.”
Lila nodded sagely. “But also, you arebeautiful.”
That familiar cringe hit me, but not as hard as it had in the past. Mia laughed, and I did too. I knew Lila meant well.
“You’re beautiful too, Lila. And unfortunately for me, you’re taken.”
She looked down glumly. “And I’m straight.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t have a crush on me.” I winked at Mia.
“She’s taken too,” Lila said. “We’re going to be... sister-wives?”
Mia put her face in her hands. “Lila, no.”
“What are we going to be?”
“Sisters-in-law. But not really.”
