something?”
“Just get me out of here,” I managed, gasping for control.
She worked me free of the straps, and I ran for the hut, tripping once on the soft sand. All I could think about was escape. I vaguely registered West’s voice calling my name from a distance. I snatched my shoes and hurried down the side path, taking a short cut back to the parking lot. No way I was waiting around and letting him see me like this.
I dragged the heel of my hand over my cheeks as I walked, feeling the grit from the sand sticking to the sea spray and my tears. I drew in a deep, shaky breath. It was over. I was fine. I dug my car keys out of my pocket.
Fuck, I needed alcohol.
I slunk into the Wreck, hoping Wyatt wouldn’t be there. I didn’t want to see any reminders of West, nothing to remind me of my mid-air freak out. I just wanted a shot to settle my nerves. A petite, sandy-haired girl with freckles was refilling the red coolers by the front door with peanuts from a large bag. I looked around for a bartender, but the girl seemed to be the only other one here.
She wiped her hands on her jeans then walked behind the bar. “Hi. Can I help you?”
“A shot. Something strong.”
Her gaze was curious, but she didn’t say anything as she plucked a bottle from the top shelf and poured.
She slid the glass across the bar and waited while I tossed it back. I winced from the burn as I swallowed. The warmth pooled in my stomach, and I shook my head, working my mouth against the taste.
After snagging a bag of kiwis, the girl grabbed a cutting board and started chopping, dropping the pieces into another big red Coleman cooler. Fruit was spread out on the counter, and I guessed she was prepping the grog. She worked in silence for a few minutes, glancing up at me every so often like she wanted to ask me a question but was trying to hold back. What was her problem?
Then I remembered it was three-thirty on a Tuesday afternoon, and I was alone in a bar drinking. And that I was the one with a problem.
“I’m not normally like this,” I felt the need to explain. “I just had a bad afternoon. There was this gu—”
“There’s always a guy,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. “And it’s always his fault.”
I grinned. I liked her. “Well, of course it’s his fault.”
She finished with the kiwis and scooted a box of peaches closer. “Want to talk about it?”
I chewed my lip. I wanted to do anything but talk about it. I reached for my purse to pay and stopped short. My purse. It was still at the resort. Behind the parasailing hut. I swore under my breath.
“Ahhh…”
“Hailey.”
“Right, Hailey. I seem to be having an extra bad day. That guy I mentioned earlier? I had to get away, and I left so quick I forgot my bag. And my wallet. Could I maybe help you chop fruit or something for awhile in exchange for that shot?” I shot her a beseeching look, hoping for some female solidarity.
She lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t want to go get your purse? Do you have your phone?”
I was silent for a moment, embarrassment over my getaway creeping over me. “No. I guess I don’t have that either. But I’m not going back there right now. I sort of had a breakdown over something stupid and humiliated the crap out of myself in front of this guy. I-I’ll get it later.”
“Where?” she asked curiously.
“The Edge,” I said, looking at the dollar bill above my head. “It’ll be fine. I work there. Josie’ll probably stick it in my locker for me.” You be my Dairy Queen, and I’ll be your Burger King: You treat me right, and I’ll do it your way. A small giggle escaped me, and Hailey turned to see what I was looking at.
“They’re terrible, aren’t they? Do guys really think we’ll fall for that crap?”
I twisted my lips. “Some guys don’t need a line.”
She snorted. “Sounds like something my brother would say. West’s ego knows no bounds.”
I froze. “West is your brother? West
“Just get me out of here,” I managed, gasping for control.
She worked me free of the straps, and I ran for the hut, tripping once on the soft sand. All I could think about was escape. I vaguely registered West’s voice calling my name from a distance. I snatched my shoes and hurried down the side path, taking a short cut back to the parking lot. No way I was waiting around and letting him see me like this.
I dragged the heel of my hand over my cheeks as I walked, feeling the grit from the sand sticking to the sea spray and my tears. I drew in a deep, shaky breath. It was over. I was fine. I dug my car keys out of my pocket.
Fuck, I needed alcohol.
I slunk into the Wreck, hoping Wyatt wouldn’t be there. I didn’t want to see any reminders of West, nothing to remind me of my mid-air freak out. I just wanted a shot to settle my nerves. A petite, sandy-haired girl with freckles was refilling the red coolers by the front door with peanuts from a large bag. I looked around for a bartender, but the girl seemed to be the only other one here.
She wiped her hands on her jeans then walked behind the bar. “Hi. Can I help you?”
“A shot. Something strong.”
Her gaze was curious, but she didn’t say anything as she plucked a bottle from the top shelf and poured.
She slid the glass across the bar and waited while I tossed it back. I winced from the burn as I swallowed. The warmth pooled in my stomach, and I shook my head, working my mouth against the taste.
After snagging a bag of kiwis, the girl grabbed a cutting board and started chopping, dropping the pieces into another big red Coleman cooler. Fruit was spread out on the counter, and I guessed she was prepping the grog. She worked in silence for a few minutes, glancing up at me every so often like she wanted to ask me a question but was trying to hold back. What was her problem?
Then I remembered it was three-thirty on a Tuesday afternoon, and I was alone in a bar drinking. And that I was the one with a problem.
“I’m not normally like this,” I felt the need to explain. “I just had a bad afternoon. There was this gu—”
“There’s always a guy,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. “And it’s always his fault.”
I grinned. I liked her. “Well, of course it’s his fault.”
She finished with the kiwis and scooted a box of peaches closer. “Want to talk about it?”
I chewed my lip. I wanted to do anything but talk about it. I reached for my purse to pay and stopped short. My purse. It was still at the resort. Behind the parasailing hut. I swore under my breath.
“Ahhh…”
“Hailey.”
“Right, Hailey. I seem to be having an extra bad day. That guy I mentioned earlier? I had to get away, and I left so quick I forgot my bag. And my wallet. Could I maybe help you chop fruit or something for awhile in exchange for that shot?” I shot her a beseeching look, hoping for some female solidarity.
She lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t want to go get your purse? Do you have your phone?”
I was silent for a moment, embarrassment over my getaway creeping over me. “No. I guess I don’t have that either. But I’m not going back there right now. I sort of had a breakdown over something stupid and humiliated the crap out of myself in front of this guy. I-I’ll get it later.”
“Where?” she asked curiously.
“The Edge,” I said, looking at the dollar bill above my head. “It’ll be fine. I work there. Josie’ll probably stick it in my locker for me.” You be my Dairy Queen, and I’ll be your Burger King: You treat me right, and I’ll do it your way. A small giggle escaped me, and Hailey turned to see what I was looking at.
“They’re terrible, aren’t they? Do guys really think we’ll fall for that crap?”
I twisted my lips. “Some guys don’t need a line.”
She snorted. “Sounds like something my brother would say. West’s ego knows no bounds.”
I froze. “West is your brother? West
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