Page 63 of The Vacation Mix-Up
She scoffs. “What love life?”
Something inside me weirdly blooms to life, but I suppress it when Riles lets out an embarrassed laugh, her cheeks once again flushed.
“Not that I want a love life,” she blurts. “Not now, anyway. Too complicated. But that’s not the point, you know? Georgia steals a lot of my time. Time I need to stop willingly giving her. If I’ve learned anything recently, it’s that you can’t get time back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Leaning forward, I rest my arms on the railing as well and watch the swell come and go, much like time. “You can say that again.”
She draws in a deep breath, then lets it out. “And that is why I’m vowing to see every sunset every day of this cruise.”
I turn my head toward her and smirk.
“I’m serious. I’m not going to miss a single one. They’re too precious to miss.” She smirks back at me. “I’m a woman of my word. When I make a promise, I keep it. You watch me.”
Even though I don’t know Riles all that well, she appears to have a point to prove, if not to others then definitely to herself, so I don’t bait her this time, because I hope she succeeds. Determination is a powerful tool. When used for good things, it shouldn’t be messed with.
Silence settles over us until the sky is gray, nothing but the sound of lapping water and distant music from the poolside bar.
“I think I’ll get an ice cream,” she blurts. “Do you want one?”
Weird question, but okay. “Sure.”
“I love ice cream.”
“Who doesn’t?”
“Georgia.”
Turning my back to the water, I rest my ass against the railing. “Your boss sounds like a piece of work.”
“She is.”
“So why do you continue to work for her?”
“Because she’s a means to an end. And because, despite her tyranny, she’s the best at what she does. I’ve learned a lot working for her.”
“Surely there are other publishers less witch-like that are great at what they do?”
“There are.”
“So why not pursue careers with them?”
She sighs. “Because Georgia thickens my skin, and that’s important for a young woman who wants to make her mark. I respect her for that. She successfully worked her way up the corporate ladder in a once male-dominated field, and sadly, she wouldn’t have achieved what she has if she weren’t the evil queen.”
I nod, also respecting her response.
“Do you like vanilla?”
“Huh?”
I’m about to say,“Yes, I like all sex, even the boring kind”when she says, “Vanilla ice cream.”
Shaking my head, because of course she meant ice cream, I stutter, “I-I guess. Yes.”
“I had some yesterday, and it was amazing.”
I try not to laugh. “That good, huh?”
“Yeees,” she practically moans. “It was as if my mouth made love to a delicious cloud.” She clasps my arm and tugs me with her. “Come on. You have to try it.”
