Page 44 of Paradise Pride

“I think the correct question would be, ‘does it work?’” Florence arched a brow. “If you ask me, it doesn’t, but the principle is that the crystals give off energy that can balance your chakras. Have you heard of chakras?”

“Yes. They’re like energy points in the body, right?”

“Something like that. There are seven chakras in our body, starting with the root chakra at the base of our spine. That’s the one that grounds us. It’s connected to the earth and regulates our basic need to survive. The last one is on top of our head. That’s the crown chakra, and it’s connected with the divine and our higher selves. In between, there are five others, each related to certain organs and energy wheels in our bodies. My mother places crystals related to a certain chakra on those energy centres and claims to heal people that way.”

“You’re talking about her job like she’s a charlatan,” Meghan joked.

“She used to have her practice at home before she opened her shop, and I’ve never seen anyone miraculously heal, let me just leave it with that,” Florence said. “But it gave her a purpose in life, and that’s what’s important, I suppose.”

“Everyone needs a purpose.” Meghan shook her head. “I have no idea what mine is, though. There are lots of things that make me happy, but I don’t have anything specific that I’m passionate about.”

“I believe love is a good purpose to have in life,” Florence said. “That’s one piece of advice from my mother I haven’t discarded. “Love and you’ll receive love in return.”

“Karma?”

“Yes. I try really hard not to be an arsehole.”

Meghan laughed. “You couldn’t be an arsehole if you tried. You’re a good person, Florence.” She kissed her cheek. There was so much she wanted to say, but all those things still felt too deep to discuss. Anything that came from her heart might be a betrayal; she wasn’t even sure if she trusted her heart. Was she getting carried away or was this real? Was Florence an escape? Or was it possible that their dreamy relationship could last in real life?

They’d passed the part of the strip where most of the restaurants and bars were situated, and glancing around, she only spotted a few people on the beach. “Want to stay here for a bit?”

“Are you tired?” Florence asked.

“No.” Meghan met her eyes with a look of mischief. “I want to lie down with you and kiss you.”

44

Florence

Okay, this was painful. After a beautiful day together, Meghan was with her pretend boyfriend, and it was getting late. Florence had expected a message from her by now, saying she was on her way back, but she was clearly having fun. With Manuel at work, Florence didn’t even have him to distract her, so she’d called her ex, who was still one of her closest friends, and they’d met up in a bar in town.

“Stop torturing yourself and let her go,” Juan said. “This is so unlike you. I don’t see you for two weeks, and suddenly you’re besotted with a tourist and acting like the world is going to end when she goes back to where she came from. It’s always a bad idea to date tourists. Always. They leave you with promises and then you never hear from them again. And don’t even get me started on bi-curious women.”

“Because I used to be one?” Florence asked. Juan was long over her, and he didn’t hold a grudge, but the reminder that she hurt him badly still stung.

“Exactly. I thought we were going to get married once upon a time, and then you left me because you had to explore your sexuality.” Juan held up a hand. “Don’t get me wrong. I understand you needed to do that, and it’s also exactly what Meghan needs to do. You think that she’ll stick with the first woman she crushes on? Nuh-uh. Never going to happen.” He looked at her pensively. “And she pretends to have a boyfriend. I mean, that’s just stupid.”

“I don’t think she planned it this way,” Florence said in Meghan’s defence. “She’s just not ready to come out.”

“She might never be. This might be a phase. Surely, you can see that. And how do you know she’s not in bed with her fake boyfriend right now?”

“Meghan would never do that. I know her and—”

“You don’t know her,” he interrupted. “You can’t possibly know someone after ten days.”

“You didn’t know Elle either,” Florence protested, referring to Juan’s fiancée, who was French. “And she was a tourist, so don’t be a hypocrite.”

“Elle is different,” Juan said matter-of-factly. “We just work together.”

“Meghan and I work too.”

“When it’s convenient for her, maybe.” He took a sip of his beer, and Florence couldn’t help but smirk. Juan still drank beer like some women did; taking tiny sips and wincing like he didn’t enjoy the taste of it. He’d always done that, but she thought he might grow out of it one day. “Trust me, I’ve been there—with you—and it’s not going to end well, so take a step back and protect yourself from the pain.”

“I can’t.” Florence shrugged. “I’m already too deep in.”

“There’s always a way out.” Juan took her hand. “Look, you’re a good friend, and I truly care about you. That’s why I want you to be happy with someone who is open and available, whether that’s a man or a woman.”

Florence gave him a smile and nodded. “Thank you, I appreciate it. But it’s not that simple.” She beckoned the waiter for another round and watched Juan light up a cigarette. She felt so fidgety that she was close to asking him for one, even though she hated smoking. “I thought you gave up.”

---