Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Simone throws her fist in the air. “Yes! Cracking job. Get yourself cleaned up and we’ll go down to this little gem of a shop just around the corner. They do the most amazing clothes. I’ve been meaning to grab something from there for ages!”
I smile. “You guys go on. Grab something for me and I’ll pay you back. I really need to call my family and catch up on a load of laundry.”
Simone just stares at me. “Have you gone mad? Laundry? When Annika is in mortal peril?”
I laugh. “I’m like one day away from having no clean underwear!”
“You’ll make do, babes. Now get off your arse and let’s go. And by the way, don’t think I haven’t noticed that T-shirt you’re wearing. God, I can’t wait to hear about what it was like to fuck the hottest man on this island, but NOT TODAY. Today, we hate men and I don’t even want to hear about it, though just for curiosity’s sake, how big are we talking? Show me with your hands.”
I ignore her question.
“Oh, you’re no fun. I’ll get it out of you eventually.”
On the way to the boutique, I text my parents and Lita, apologizing for the fact that I’ve been so hard to reach.
My mom is the first to respond: Lita’s been giving us updates so we don’t feel so out of the loop, but Dad and I miss you. Call when you can.
A pang of guilt seizes me. Lita’s been covering for me with my parents, lying to them so they won’t suspect anything is wrong. I pause on the sidewalk and tell Annika and Simone to go in the shop without me, ignoring their protests.
“Two calls in one week?” Lita says when she answers. “How did I get so lucky?”
“I miss you, but I don’t have long.” Already I see Annika and Simone loading up their arms with outfits through the store’s windows. “I’m out shopping with friends.”
She hmms. “I’m envious. Tell me, how’s work? How are your friends and the island? And that man?”
I smile. “It’s so good, Lita. I love it here.”
“I knew you would. I feel your enjoyment of it. I’m living vicariously through you. Will you send me pictures when we get off the phone? I’d love to see your friends. Simone and Annika? Are they the ones you’re spending time with?”
“Yes. You could meet them if you came for a visit, you know.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
I smile. “I’ll send you photos. I promise.”
“Your parents have been calling more this week, wondering about you. You need to call them or they’re going to get suspicious about what you’re doing.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I hate lying to them.”
“Then let me do it.”
I wince. “I shouldn’t have put you in this position.”
“I’m right where I want to be,” she insists.
I groan. “Oh god. My friends are holding up an outfit they want me to try on.”
Calling it an outfit is quite a stretch. It’s a tube top with wide shoulder straps and a little ruffle detail around the square neckline paired with a shimmery sequin skirt in the same eye-popping hue.
“What color is it?” Lita asks.
“Red.”
“Ah, my favorite shade on you. Go. Try it on.”
“Okay, I love you, Lita.”
“You too, mi niña. Send me pictures.”
Later that night, after we’ve decked ourselves out in our new club clothes and gone way overboard with the makeup and hair, I make Annika and Simone squeeze in close for a selfie and send it to Lita.
“What’d she say?” Annika asks, fluffing her blond hair.
I smile at her text. “She called us beautiful.”
“Beautiful?” Simone groans like it’s an insult. “I’m meant to be slutty!”
Annika and I burst out laughing just as there’s a knock on the door. Mia and Thalia waltz into our apartment sporting skimpy outfits of their own. Mia’s holding a half-empty bottle of vodka and Thalia has a plate of brownies.
“For me?” Annika exclaims, making like she’s going for the brownies only to veer last minute and wrench the vodka out of Mia’s hands.
“Easy there.”
“No, no coddling and no mention of Ethan. I want to forget he exists, and this is going to help me.” She wiggles the vodka in the air, and already I’m internally apologizing to my liver. I’m not a huge drinker, but I don’t want to leave Annika alone on her night of need. If she’s insisting on a round of shots, well then, here goes nothing…
We put on a fun playlist while we get busy making mixed drinks. Mia hates her hair, so Simone offers to help her with it, and then Annika blows everyone’s mind with this faint body shimmer she rubs on our collarbones and shoulders, giving us all that “just got back from vacation” glow.
I’ve already had one brownie and have just taken a bite of another one when Thalia touches my arm. “Didn’t you already eat one?”