Kallie wondered if she should tell her friend about the bartender. But Eris caught onto her pause before Kallie could answer.
“Oh. Holy. Hell. Spill. Right now.”
“There’s nothing to spill,” Kallie said.
“I know that pause. You're debating on whether or not to tell me something. What happened? What am I missing? Please redeem yourself in my eyes.”
“I have to redeem myself?”
“For sleeping your first full day away? Yes!”
Kallie sighed, relegating herself to whatever teasing was about to become of her story.
“There was a bartender at the beachside cabana.”
“Was he hot?” Eris asked. “Is he a native?”
“He doesn’t look like one, but he seems comfortable on the island. He was working there, so I’m really not sure,” Kallie said.
“Well, what happened? What does he look like?”
“He’s cute. Tall. Lean muscles. Hazel eyes and thick mahogany hair. Got some cute freckles on his nose too.”
“So ... nothing like James.”
“Really. You’re going to mention his name?” Kallie asked.
“Sorry. So ... nothing like the asshole?”
Kallie groaned and it caused Eris to laugh.
“Come on. Okay. I’ll stop. I’m sorry. But really, what happened? He obviously made an impression.”
“I just wasn’t in the mood to talk with anyone. I wanted a drink and I ordered one, but he was dead set on cheering me up. It was cute,” Kallie said.
“So he cared about your state of mind while he was serving you. Those guys are always good in bed.”
“Eris!”
“What? They are. If he’s attentive like that after first meeting you, he’ll definitely be attentive in bed. You should pursue it.”
“I met him once,” Kallie said.
“And he made a good enough impression for you to debate on whether or not to tell me.”
“Because I knew you would start talking like this and I’m tired of listening to it.”
“Kallie, there’s nothing wrong with striking up a little island romance. Especially after what you’ve been through. You’ve never gone through something like this, so you don’t know how you should cope with it yet. All I’m saying is keep your options open. A rebound will eventually be part of the process. There will be a guy that will swoop in and he will be the transition from James to the rest of your life.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way. I can be a grown woman about this.”
“It has nothing to do with being grown. It’s just a natural part of the coping process. Plus, a no-strings fling is exactly what you need.”
“And how do you figure this, Eris?”
“I know you were unhappy with your sex life with the asshole. Maybe this guy could open your eyes to something a little more ... exotic.”
“At least you put it lightly,” Kallie said.