‘I know exactly what you mean.’
Samantha had questions. Hugo and Adrian hadn’t rushed into marriage like Naomi and Anthony. She would’ve thought they’d had the basics figured out. ‘Hadn’t you guys agreed on those types of things before you settled down?’
‘There’s no such thing as settling down,’ Hugo said. ‘You just wake up one day and there you are.’
She went back to staring at the water. One thing was clear: none of them had anything figured out.
Jen balled up a small towel and tossed it at her. ‘I meant to ask how your date went last night. I hope you had a better time than Chris and I.’
‘We got to know each other better.’
Jen wasn’t satisfied. ‘Is that all you have to say?’
‘There’s not much more to say.’
‘We want the juicy details,’ Hugo insisted.
Samantha balled up Jen’s towel and tossed it at him. ‘We click. The chemistry is there, but it’s like we’re on a seesaw. When I warm up, he cools down.’
‘You two are exhausting!’ Naomi came up from behind, startling them all. She wore a floral kaftan and large sunglasses. She gestured for Samantha to scoot over and joined her on the lounge chair. ‘You’re overthinking this. Just get it on, already.’
Samantha gladly made room for her. It was like old times, when they hung out in each other’s bedrooms, gossiping for hours. Still, she kept her tone stern. ‘Sorry my dating life isn’t spicy enough for you.’
‘Don’t apologize, darling,’ Hugo said. ‘Just get on with it. Make your move.’
‘I see what’s going on here,’ Samantha said. ‘You’re locked into relationships and living vicariously through me.’
Jen wagged a finger. ‘I’m not locked into anything and I’m very much invested in this. You’ve only got a few days left. Take your shot.’
They heard the click-clack sound of Jasmine’s sandals on the steps leading to the pool deck before she emerged amid the potted palm trees. She ambled along, yawning all the way. ‘I woke up to make tea and saw you all from my window and was struck with FOMO.’
‘Same here,’ Naomi said.
‘You two should go back to bed,’ Jen said. ‘This is a gripe session.’
Jasmine sat cross-legged at the edge of the pool, the water rippling behind her. ‘I’ve nothing to contribute. I’m literally on cloud nine. But every session needs a moderator, right? Let’s start.’
‘Awesome!’ Naomi exclaimed. ‘A recap! I came late and missed the good stuff. Catch me up.’
‘Who wants to go first?’ Jasmine asked.
Hugo raised his hand. ‘Adrian wants to move to the ’burbs.’
‘Noooo!’ Jasmine and Naomi cried in unison.
‘Oh yes,’ Hugo said.
‘Tell him he has to put that up for a vote,’ Jasmine said. ‘Now, what about you, Sam? Want to go next?’
Samantha wanted to be a good sport, but overall, she was in a good place. ‘Roman asked me to be his date for the wedding. So you can put away your sad, pitying looks for the next person who gets dumped.’
Naomi’s response was quick. ‘You admit you got dumped, then?’
‘I admit nothing.’
Samantha’s sudden reversal of luck confirmed all of Jasmine’s convenient theories on life. ‘See? You just never know. Always err on the side of optimism.’
‘But there is one thing. We are teetering on the edge of the Friend Zone. It may well be a platonic date.’